Def, Dumb & Blonde

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Def, Dumb & Blonde
DeborahHarryDefDumb&BlondeAlbumCover.jpg
Studio album by
Deborah Harry
ReleasedOctober 16, 1989
Recorded1989
GenreNew wave, pop, pop rock
Length63:55 (CD)
LabelSire (US)
Chrysalis (UK)
ProducerMike Chapman, Chris Stein, Deborah Harry, Toni C., Tom Bailey, Arthur Baker, Eric Thorngren, Ben Grosse
Deborah Harry chronology
Once More into the Bleach
(1988) 		Def, Dumb & Blonde
(1989) 		The Complete Picture: The Very Best of Deborah Harry and Blondie
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4.5/5 stars[1]
Record Mirror3.5/5 stars[2]
Robert ChristgauB+[3]

Def, Dumb & Blonde is the third solo album by the American singer Deborah Harry. Released in October 1989 on Sire Records in the US and Chrysalis Records in the UK, the album saw Harry reverting from "Debbie" to "Deborah" as her professional name. Harry worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins and Mike Chapman who had previously produced the last four Blondie albums. "I wanted to do certain things that were reminiscent of Blondie," she stated.[4]

It was also revealed that the original title of the album was "Dream Season" but it was changed due to a similarly titled Pat Benatar album – presumably the previous year's Wide Awake in Dreamland.[citation needed]

Promotion and reception[]

The song "I Want That Man", which was written by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie of the Thompson Twins, was released as a lead single. It made the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and was Harry's biggest solo chart success in Australia, where it reached #2. Other singles released from the album included "Kiss It Better", "Brite Side", "Sweet and Low" and "Maybe for Sure". Ian Astbury sings backing vocals on two songs.

In late 1989, Harry toured for the first time as a solo artist extensively in Europe and the United States to support the album. Due to lack of record company promotion the album was not a commercial success in Harry's native United States peaking at #123 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. It did much better in Australia and the UK, peaking at #10 and #12 respectively, and has been certified "Silver" by the BPI.

"The crucial returns which left this set far above her two previous (and disappointing) solo LPs are those of Chris Stein and producer Mike Chapman," observed Hi-Fi News & Record Review, awarding the album an "A:1" rating. "[Stein] adds songwriting and instrumental punch to the songs, while Chapman's production sends the material flying from the speakers."[5]

Track listing[]

CD[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Want That Man"Tom Bailey, Alannah CurrieTom Bailey, Eric Thorngren3:43
2."Lovelight"Chris SteinMike Chapman3:56
3."Kiss It Better"Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, Deborah HarryTom Bailey, Eric Thorngren4:19
4."Bike Boy §"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman2:47
5."Get Your Way"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman6:13
6."Maybe for Sure"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman4:30
7."I'll Never Fall In Love ‡"Walter Ward, Thomas BushMike Chapman3:19
8."Calmarie"Mario Tolédo, Naná Vasconcelos, Deborah HarryMike Chapman4:42
9."Sweet and Low"Toni C., Deborah HarryChris Stein, Toni C., Deborah Harry4:49
10."He Is So"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman5:10
11."Bugeye"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman4:06
12."Comic Books §"Miki Zone, Paul Zone, Armand ZoneMike Chapman2:34
13."Forced to Live ‡"Deborah Harry, Leigh FoxxMike Chapman2:02
14."Brite Side"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinChris Stein, Deborah Harry4:34
15."End of the Run"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinMike Chapman7:04

§ = Bonus tracks on both Cassette & CD versions;
‡ = Bonus tracks on CD version only.

Vinyl album[]

All tracks written by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, unless otherwise noted.

Side A
  1. "I Want That Man" (Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie) – 3:43
  2. "Lovelight" (Stein) – 3:56
  3. "Kiss It Better" (Bailey, Currie, Harry) – 4:19
  4. "Maybe for Sure" – 4:30
  5. "Calmarie" (Toledo, Vasconcelos) – 4:42
  6. "Get Your Way" – 6:13
Side B
  1. "Sweet and Low" (Toni C., Harry) – 4:49
  2. "He Is So" – 5:10
  3. "Brite Side" – 4:34
  4. "Bugeye" – 4:06
  5. "End of the Run" – 7:04

Cassette[]

Side A
  1. "I Want That Man" (Bailey, Currie) – 3:43
  2. "Lovelight" (Stein) – 3:56
  3. "Kiss It Better" (Bailey, Currie, Harry) – 4:19
  4. "Bike Boy" – 2:47
  5. "Get Your Way" – 6:13
  6. "Maybe for Sure" – 4:30
  7. "Calmarie" (Toledo, Vasconcelos) – 4:42
Side B
  1. "Sweet and Low" (Toni C., Harry) – 4:49
  2. "He Is So" – 5:10
  3. "Bugeye" – 4:06
  4. "Comic Books" (Mick Zone, Paul Zone, Armand Zone) – 2:34
  5. "Brite Side" – 4:34
  6. "End of the Run" – 7:04

Cassette (Other Version)[]

Side A
  1. "I Want That Man" (Bailey, Currie) – 3:43
  2. "Lovelight" (Stein) – 3:56
  3. "Kiss It Better" (Bailey, Currie, Harry) – 4:19
  4. "Comic Books" (Mick Zone, Paul Zone, Armand Zone) – 2:34
  5. "Maybe for Sure" – 4:30
  6. "Calmarie" (Toledo, Vasconcelos) – 4:42
Side B
  1. "Sweet and Low" (Toni C., Harry) – 4:49
  2. "He Is So" – 5:10
  3. "Bugeye" – 4:06
  4. "Brite Side" – 4:34
  5. "Get Your Way" – 6:13
  6. "Bike Boy" – 2:47
  7. "End of the Run" – 7:04

Charts[]

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] 10
European Albums (Music & Media)[7] 53
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] 9
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 12
US Billboard 200[10] 123

Personnel[]

Additional personnel
  • Chris Stein – guitars, backing vocals, producing assistance, musical arrangements, producer
  • Leigh Foxx – bass guitar
  • Phil Astley – synthesizer programming, keyboards
  • Steve Goldstein – keyboards
  • Thommy Price – drums
  • Terry Bozzio – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Keith Primi – backing vocals
  • Dennis Christopher – backing vocals
  • Ian Astbury – backing vocals
  • Gary Valentine – backing vocals
  • Mike Chapman – backing vocals, producer
  • Bobby Khozouri – keyboards
  • Mac Quayle – keyboards
  • Arthur Baker – drums, additional production, remixing
  • David Bravo – keyboards, programming
  • Toni C. (Antoinette Colandero) – keyboards, programming, producer
  • Johann Brundquist – keyboards (overdubs)
  • Arif St. Michael – backing vocals
  • Adele Bertei – backing vocals
  • Biti Strauchn – backing vocals
  • Tom Bailey – Fairlight, producer
  • Geoff Dugmore – drums
  • Eric "E.T." Thorngren – producer, arranger
  • Ben Grosse – additional production, remixing
  • George Tutko – sound engineer
  • James "Doc" Dougherty – engineer
  • Bob Paustian – mix engineer
  • Paul McKenna – mix engineer
  • Steve Peck – engineer
  • Arthur Elgort – photography
  • Deborah Norcross – art direction, design
  • Jeri Helden – art direction, design

References[]

  1. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Review: Def, Dumb & Blonde". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. ^ George, Iestyn (21 October 1989). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 18.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Def, Dumb and Blonde (Sire, 1989)". Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  4. ^ Rolling Stone, precise date unknown, 1989
  5. ^ Hi-Fi News & Record Review, precise date unknown, 1989
  6. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 44. November 4, 1989. p. VIII. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ "Charts.nz – Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Deborah Harry Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
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