Blondie
Now that Deborah Harry and Blondie are reunited and back at it in the new millennium, folks are remembering what a great pop band they always were--and this 1979 concert in Glasgow, Scotland offers definitive proof. They were lumped in with the '70s "new wave" movement, but actually, it was the way Blondie melded older sources--like punk, disco (especially on the hit "Heart of Glass"), and the classic sensibility of Phil Spector and the Brill Building ("Pretty Baby" and "Sunday Girl" are only two of the contagiously melodic tunes performed here)--that helped them create an irresistible pop sound. The band's playing is good (especially by powerhouse drummer Clem Burke); Harry's sexy, slightly Warhol-esque vibe is in full effect; they even bring on some bagpipers for the finale. Sure, the set is short (11 songs, 41 minutes); on the other hand, few complained when the Beatles used to perform for less than half an hour. And if the DVD film quality is a little grainy and the sound is kinda tinny, well, these are quibbles when measured against the sheer charm of seeing Blondie in their prime.--Sam Graham