Picture This : Debbie Harry and Blondie

Rating:
Summary: Deborah Harry is not a big icon here
Review: Debbie Harry just isn't that big an icon in the United States, maybe outside NYC vintage punk and gay circles. As someone else said she has a big head and a figure like a teenage boy, and she was in her mid-thirties when the rock media started treating Blondie as if they were The Who with a female Roger Daltrey. Mainstream rock fans and U.S. rock radio-AOR-never bought into it at all. And while I agree she has some acting talent, the fact is she needed to be out there twenty years before she was, at the very least ten.

Age isn't the only issue: Blondie's music just didn't fit in, and rock success in America-almost as much as in country, where it's everything-is about fitting in and being there, touring like a dog in towns like Cleveland, Cincinnati, St.Louis, Dallas, on and on. And going over in those towns. Blondie gigged heavily in NYC, Boston, LA, San Fran, and college towns-punk band territory-although Debbie's Doris Day pipes were sorely out of place there. In arenas, Blondie the band were variable in performance (as were the Grateful Dead-but they had a throng of fans for whom they could do no wrong that went with them) and even on good nights they lacked what more successful female acts-Heart and Pat Benatar-had: loud riffing or shredding guitars, the main obsession of arena rock audiences.

Mick Rock was a leading rock photographer and I can see where having a decent looking girl-especially one being so openly compared to Monroe and Bardot as she was back then-would have been a welcome change of pace from the short pasty Englishmen and longhaired, smelly, codpiece-stuffing American hard rockers. But that doesn't change the fact that his subject just isn't of all that much interest. Overseas sales will probably exceed those in the U.S. by such a wide margin that they will probably wonder why they didn't just let the few hardcore "Debheads" import their own from UK or Euro Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant book
Review: As the compiler of the book "Blondie, From Punk to the Present: A Pictorial History," I've viewed my share of photos and images of this band and its camera-friendly lead singer, Deborah Harry. The photographs in "Picture This" are striking and breathtakingly beautiful, and there's more textual commentary than I had anticipated (which is a plus). Mick Rock's Introduction is very insightful as he explains his craft, the realities of modern-day publishing, and the significance of Blondie and Deborah Harry all in one page, which is a feat in itself. And Deb's Foreword is a joy to read as she presents her perspective on being photographed and observations on Mr. Rock, including her appreciation that this photographer was "there for me."

The main text consists of an opening consideration of blondes and their universal appeal, beginning with Jean Harlow and later Marilyn Monroe having set the ultimate standard. And Deborah Harry certainly possesses that Monroe-like quality, according to the photographer. Mr. Rock then proceeds to relate his experiences in 1970s New York City which was characterized by a wide-open, almost wild West anything goes attitude, and places Blondie and Debbie in this larger context by relating the various photo shoots he conducted with her and the band in the late '70s.

And as if that wasn't enough, an added bonus is an accompanying DVD, "Picture This Behind the Scenes," which captures the photographer in action. The year 2000-"back to the future," as it were: "We can still do it, Deborah. Just like it was before," Mick Rock exclaims.

In the DVD, the photographer relates anecdotes from the book such as the first studio session with the band to the last session he had with Blondie before their breakup in 1981 to a more recent outdoors session with Deborah sporting a striking blue leather jacket (yes, she does look good in blue). Mick also describes a late '70s photo session he had with Chris Stein and Debbie at home. ("It was just me and them"). Mr. Rock concludes that Chris and Debbie were "first and foremost artists" and that "she's just a little lady, but a very neat package" indeed whose vulnerability made her such an inviting subject for the camera. And, in turn, Debbie describes Mick as "a brilliant photographer."

I'd like to include a personal note at this point, if I may. Two of Mick's photos grace the pages of the book I compiled on Blondie, and I had the good fortune of having several phone conversations with Mr. Rock as I worked with him on that book project. I was impressed by the time he took with me (considering his hectic schedule), and the care he exhibited in making this two-page photo spread happen. I'll always remember that.

In the DVD, the photographer made an observation something to the effect that you can't let on having too much fun practicing your craft since you can get in trouble for that. And he also noted, regarding the New York City '70s scene that: "I was in the thick of it." This book certainly serves as a testimony to that.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant book
Review: As the compiler of the book "Blondie, From Punk to the Present: A Pictorial History," I've viewed my share of photos and images of this band and its camera-friendly lead singer, Deborah Harry. The photographs in "Picture This" are striking and breathtakingly beautiful, and there's more textual commentary than I had anticipated (which is a plus). Mick Rock's Introduction is very insightful as he explains his craft, the realities of modern-day publishing, and the significance of Blondie and Deborah Harry all in one page, which is a feat in itself. And Deb's Foreword is a joy to read as she presents her perspective on being photographed and observations on Mr. Rock, including her appreciation that this photographer was "there for me."

The main text consists of an opening consideration of blondes and their universal appeal, beginning with Jean Harlow and later Marilyn Monroe having set the ultimate standard. And Deborah Harry certainly possesses that Monroe-like quality, according to the photographer. Mr. Rock then proceeds to relate his experiences in 1970s New York City which was characterized by a wide-open, almost wild West anything goes attitude, and places Blondie and Debbie in this larger context by relating the various photo shoots he conducted with her and the band in the late '70s.

And as if that wasn't enough, an added bonus is an accompanying DVD, "Picture This Behind the Scenes," which captures the photographer in action. The year 2000-"back to the future," as it were: "We can still do it, Deborah. Just like it was before," Mick Rock exclaims.

In the DVD, the photographer relates anecdotes from the book such as the first studio session with the band to the last session he had with Blondie before their breakup in 1981 to a more recent outdoors session with Deborah sporting a striking blue leather jacket (yes, she does look good in blue). Mick also describes a late '70s photo session he had with Chris Stein and Debbie at home. ("It was just me and them"). Mr. Rock concludes that Chris and Debbie were "first and foremost artists" and that "she's just a little lady, but a very neat package" indeed whose vulnerability made her such an inviting subject for the camera. And, in turn, Debbie describes Mick as "a brilliant photographer."

I'd like to include a personal note at this point, if I may. Two of Mick's photos grace the pages of the book I compiled on Blondie, and I had the good fortune of having several phone conversations with Mr. Rock as I worked with him on that book project. I was impressed by the time he took with me (considering his hectic schedule), and the care he exhibited in making this two-page photo spread happen. I'll always remember that.

In the DVD, the photographer made an observation something to the effect that you can't let on having too much fun practicing your craft since you can get in trouble for that. And he also noted, regarding the New York City '70s scene that: "I was in the thick of it." This book certainly serves as a testimony to that.

Rating:
Summary: She Looks Good In Blue
Review: As the song says, Deborah Harry looks good in blue-or wearing about anything, or, as shown in other photo essays but not this one, nothing at all.

Within the first few pages, Mick Rock discusses one key aspect of the Harry iconography: although their facial structures are almost utterly different, Debbie manages to almost eerily evoke the image of her idol, the late Marilyn Monroe. Indeed, she does so far better than does Madonna (who made a much more conscious and public effort to do so) or Gwen Stefani, both of whom have more similarity in facial shape. Debbie has an unusually large cranial structure and an extremely wide face, factors that make her universally admired looks even more remarkable. Unfortunately, Rock fails to effectively deal with the issue, but this is of tertiary importance in a book that could as easily have no words at all.

Rock is a thoroughly competent photographer by the standards of rock journalism, but he's no Sam Shaw, Cecil Beaton, George Barris, Eve Arnold, or any of the other classic era Leica/Rollei wielding pre-papparazi photographers, who made enduring idols not only of MM but so many of the other Classic Era actresses. As a result, a hundred years from now these images will probably be reviewed with interest, but not the unadulterated awe one might give to classic images of MM,Cyd Charisse, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor or others, none of whom-even the now-canonized Monroe-were objectively "more beautiful" than Harry.

These images-taken from too few photo shoots-are fine photographs on their own, and a fine document of Deborah Harry, who is a first-rate vocalist and a fine character actress who, unlike a lot of rock-and-roll stars, might have been as successful as _almost_ any of her childhood idols in the worlds of film and music in the pre-rock-and-antihero 40s and 50s and early 60s, before an awful August night in Brentwood and an equally bad November afternoon in Dallas turned a decade-and a nation-disillusioned and sour.

Deborah Harry is, almost everywhere except her own country, a major league rock star, and this book is a decent exposition of part of the reason why: she's a stunning-looking woman who can effectively employ everything she's got. The other lies in her music, both the "classic five" Blondie albums and her daring and eminently competent modern jazz and standards work with the Jazz Passengers, Stewart Copeland, and others. If you have a backward cousin in, say, Kansas City, who thinks that rock and roll means boring and dopey AOR warhorses like REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Rush, this book and a couple of Blondie albums might do him, or her, a lot of good next holiday season.

Rating:
Summary: Debbie forever
Review: Beautiful work. Immortal and rare photos of Debbie Harry and her band in the late 70's. And amazing pictures of Miss Harry in 2003. A must-have for every fan around the world.

Rating:
Summary: Could Be Better, But Who's Complaining!
Review: Debbie Harry is caught at the peak of her appeal by Brit photog Mick Rock in this portfolio of photographs ranging from 1976 to the present. The one session that yielded the most famous results was in late 1978 and features a long haired Debbie dressed in Steven Sprouse's single strapped mini's and op-art threads, against both red and blue backgrounds. From Penthouse magazine to Lester Bang's 1980 Blondie bio, to picture sleeves, magazine covers and posters, they went around the world and played a large part in establishing the iconography of Debbie Harry.

Of the five "vintage" photo sessions (excluding pix from two live shows in 1976 and 1978), two are Debbie solo (the aforementioned 1978 shoot and one a year later with short hair in 79), one is a candid at-home session with Debbie and Chris--again from 1979. The other two are full band sessions from '79. The full band sessions are a little weird. Debbbie looks too business like in one, wearing a tweed jacket and leather cap with a mans' tie and vinyl pants. Lots of "whacky" outtake shots of the band goofing around here shed some light on the different personalities at work.

In the other full band session,Debbie appears almost hyper-feminine as the band poses amidst a pile of old transistor radios. Beautiful but homogenized into a very '70's look by the stylist, Debbie lacks her usual timelessness in these. It's as if someone has hammered the character out of her. Still, she is stunning, if not edgy, and this session enjoys the benefit of the highest quality reproduction in the whole book, boasting gorgeous color saturation and crystal clarity.

Of course, the centerpiece of the book is that 1978 photo session from which the cover picture was culled. Disapointingly, many photos from this session have been cropped and enlarged to the point of bluriness, and many of the very strong shots you may remember are not present here. What IS here appears to be mostly outtakes with only a few of the key shots represented, and of those-- only one or two are presented in high resolution. It's almost as if Mr Rock purposely held back the strongest images for some future use! Still, Debbie is so stunning from this era that even outtakes are amazing to behold.

Closing the collection are a few sessions of Debbie from the late nineties and one that is new. These lack the organic soulfullness evident in their earlier collaboration but still offer interest. Interspersed throughout the book are various notes, captions, and comments from Mick Rock and a few from Debbie (who also wrote the forward). There is a short DVD showing footage from the most recent photo session in which Debbie--in a bizarre makeup that makes her look as if she has bruises around her eyes-- appears to be a very patient subject!

Despite its exasperating omissions and arguable editing choices, this volume will none the less be endlessly fascinating to fans of Debbie & Blondie, as well as giving the unenlightened a glimpse into Ms Harry's powerful appeal.

Rating:
Summary: Book and DVD from Mick Rock on the beautiful Ms. Harry!
Review: This is a book of classic rock photographer Mick Rock on this time his photos of God herself- Debbie Harry. It starts in the early part of Blondie's career- 1974 and goes up to 2003 with the main focus being 1978-1980 which were that main part of Debbie's career with Blondie the first time around. You get some never before shots and some that are famous. The cover of the Book was a shot taken for Bob Guccione's Viva but later was the cover of February 1980's Penthouse magazine. Awesome stuff. The newer pictures show Debbie looking as glamourous as ever. Check out the dvd- but be careful when taking the dvd out not to unglue the holder it comes with from the book. The dvd runs around 21 minutes and is basically an interview with Mick Rock about the pictures and some with the 2003 photo shoot with Debbie . Also fun to watch is the fact that Debbie curses on this dvd and when Mick curses all his stuff is bleeped out. A great book of photos and a fun dvd to go with it. A++++.