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"In the Flesh"
Picture This (Blondie song)
Single by Blondie
from the album Blondie
B-side"Man Overboard"
ReleasedOctober 1976 (Private Stock)
1977 (Chrysalis)
Recorded1976
GenreNew wave
Length2:33
LabelPrivate Stock
Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)Deborah Harry, Chris Stein
Producer(s)Richard Gottehrer
Blondie singles chronology
"X Offender"
(1976) 		"In the Flesh"
(1976) 		"Rip Her to Shreds"
(1977)
Music video
"In the Flesh" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Australian edition of the "In The Flesh" single, the first Blondie single to be issued on the Chrysalis label.

"In the Flesh" is a song by American band Blondie. Originally from the band's self-titled debut album, Blondie, the song was Blondie's second and final single on the Private Stock label.

Song information

The song has a feel reminiscent of Phil Spector-produced pop from the early 60s, with prominent piano, female backing vocals, and a time signature of 12/8.

Record World said that "Deborah Harry's vocal is a knockout."[1]

In Australia, after the song was played by mistake (instead of "X Offender") on the nationally broadcast music program Countdown, it was well received by the viewing audience.[2] Chrysalis Records re-released the song as a single in Australia, again with "Man Overboard" as the B-side. When it reached number two on the Kent Music Report in November 1977,[3] Australia became the first territory in which Blondie achieved a hit single. In Ian Meldrum's 2014 autobiography, Debbie Harry elaborated saying "We met Ian in 1977... he asked if we had any videos [and] we gave him videos for "X Offender" and "In the Flesh". On Countdown, they were meant to play "X Offender", but they played "In the Flesh" instead. So our success in Australia was one big mistake."[4]

"In the Flesh" was featured in the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. The song was also featured in the film 200 Cigarettes (1999) and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and was featured on the ABC show Wicked City. The song was covered by fictional band Low Shoulder in the 2009 film Jennifer's Body.

Release history

U.S. 7" (PS-45.141) / (PVT 1329 SP)[5]

  1. "In the Flesh" (Harry / Stein) – 2:33
  2. "Man Overboard" (Harry) – 3:22

US 7" Promo (PSR-45.141)

  1. "In the Flesh" (Stereo Version)
  2. "In the Flesh" (Mono Version)

UK 7" (PVT 105)[6]

  1. "In the Flesh" (Harry, Chris Stein) – 2:33
  2. "X Offender" (Harry, Valentine) – 3:13

Australia 7" 1st release: Private Stock (PVT-11532) 2nd release: Chrysalis (K-6932)

  1. "In the Flesh" (Harry / Stein) – 2:33
  2. "Man Overboard" (Harry) – 3:22

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 2
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 40

Year-end charts

Chart (1977) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 36

References

  1. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. March 12, 1977. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  2. ^ Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.53
  3. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 37–38. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ Meldrum, Ian; Jenkins, Jeff (2014). The never, um, ever ending story: life, countdown and everything in between. Farnham, John (preface); Gudinski, Michael (introduction); Masterson, Lawrie (afterword). Crows Nest NSW Allen & Unwin. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-76011-205-9.
  5. ^ a b Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.223
  6. ^ Discogs, Blondie - In The Flesh PVT 105, UK release page 3077324
  7. ^ "Blondie – In the Flesh" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 13 June 2021 – via Imgur.com.


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