Plastic Letters

“Plastic Letters” is the second studio album by American post-punk/new wave/ pop band Blondie, released in February 1978 on Chrysalis Records. It was the second and final Blondie record produced by Richard Gottehrer.

The first single, “Denis”, a cover of Randy & the Rainbows' 1963 song “Denise”, peaked at #2 in the UK, and did very well throughout Europe and Australia. The second single, “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear” reached #10 in the UK, and was written by the band’s second bassist, Gary Valentine, shortly before he went solo, before the album’s recording sessions. Guitarist and songwriter Chris Stein wound up playing bass on the entire album.

The album peaked at #10 in the UK, where it went platinum.

Generally, Blondie was very well received by music critics; this album was a success, and anything but a “sophomore slump”.

The album has since been remastered digitally and reissued twice: the first time by Chrysalis Records in 1994 with two bonus tracks, and the second in 2001 by EMI-Capitol with four bonus tracks. The 2001 release includes the earliest demo of the band’s future hit “Heart of Glass”, then known as “The Disco Song”. Somewhat ironically, the song just didn’t make the cut on the 1st or the 2nd albums.

“Plastic Letters” and the debut did well enough the band were able to have hit-making producer Mike Chapman produce their next record and breakthrough album, “Parallel Lines”.