Blondie will release their first-ever archive box set ‘Against The Odds 1974-1982’ this summer.
Due August 26, the set features 124 tracks – 36 of which were previously unreleased – alongside remasters of original analogue tapes, which have been cut to vinyl at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Singer Debbie Harry said in a statement: “It really is a treat to see how far we have come when I listen to these early attempts to capture our ideas on relatively primitive equipment. Fortunately the essence of being in a band in the early ’70s held some of the anti-social, counter culture energies of the groups that were the influencers of the ’60s.
After six years of compiling, restoring, mixing, and remastering, we present to you the first ever Blondie Archival Project — 𝔹𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕖: 𝔸𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕆𝕕𝕕𝕤 𝟙𝟡𝟟𝟜-𝟙𝟡𝟠𝟚, out August 26. Learn more and pre-order here: https://t.co/t6BeZqLLpD. pic.twitter.com/4stuCu7pZI
— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) June 8, 2022
“I am excited about this special collection. When I listen to these old tracks, it puts me there like I am a time traveller. As bad as it was sometimes, it was also equally as good. No regrets. More music.”
“I am hopeful that this project will provide a glimpse into the ‘process’ and some of the journey that the songs took from idea to final form,” added guitarist Chris Stein. “Some of this stuff is like early sketches; the old tape machines are like primitive notebooks.
“The trickiest thing for me was always about getting the melodies out of my head into reality and the changes that would happen along the way.”
Drummer Clem Burke added: “It is amazing that after all this time, and against the odds, our Blondie archival box set will finally be released. It’s been a long time coming and we are all very happy and excited with the final results.”
“From the moment I walked into Chris Stein’s barn and saw a wall of tapes I knew we were on the precipice of something extraordinary,” reflected producer Ken Shipley. “‘Against The Odds’ is a treasure chest disguised as a box set.”
In addition to standard versions, a Super Deluxe Collectors’ Edition of the box set contains Blondie’s first six albums – ‘Blondie’ (1976), ‘Plastic Letters’ (1977), ‘Parallel Lines’ (1978), ‘Eat To The Beat’ (1979), ‘Autoamerican’ (1980) and ‘The Hunter’ (1982).
It also features a number of bonus tracks, including a previously unheard recording of Moonlight Drive, out now.
‘Against The Odds 1974 – 1982’ is available to pre-order now.
