Def, Dumb & Blonde
Studio album by
Deborah Harry
ReleasedOctober 16, 1989
Recorded1989
Genre
Length63:55 (CD)
Label
Producer
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
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewA:1[3]
New Musical Express7/10[4]
Record Mirror[5]
Smash Hits8/10[6]

Def, Dumb & Blonde is the third solo studio 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.[7]

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.

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 number 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 number 123 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. It did much better in Australia and the UK, peaking at numbers 10 and 12 respectively, and has been certified Silver by the BPI.

Hi-Fi News & Record Review commented that "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," (although Stein had actually been heavily involved as both a songwriter and musician in Harry's previous two solo LPs). The magazine awarded the album an "A:1" rating, noting that "[Stein] adds songwriting and instrumental punch to the songs, while Chapman's production sends the material flying from the speakers."[8]

Track listing

CD

CD track listing
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

"Bike Boy and "Comic Books" are bonus tracks on both the cassette and CD versions; while "I'll Never Fall in Love" and "Forced to Live" are bonus tracks on the CD version only.

Vinyl

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 (alternate 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

Personnel

  • Deborah Harry – vocals
  • Phil Ashley – keyboards, synthesizer programming
  • Steve Goldstein – keyboards
  • Tom Bailey – Fairlight CMI (1, 3)
  • David Bravo – keyboards (9), programming (9)
  • Toni C. (Antoinette Colandero) – keyboards (9), programming (9)
  • Johann Brundquist – keyboard overdubs (9)
  • Bobby Khozouri – keyboards (14)
  • Mac Quayle – keyboards (14)
  • Chris Stein – guitars, musical arrangements, backing vocals (4), all other instruments (14)
  • Leigh Foxx – bass guitar
  • Terry Bozzio – drums
  • Geoff Dugmore – drums (1, 3)
  • Thommy Price – drums
  • Arthur Baker – drums (14)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (8)
  • Ian Astbury – backing vocals (2)
  • Mike Chapman – backing vocals (4)
  • Gary Valentine – backing vocals (4)
  • Adele Bertei – backing vocals (9)
  • Arif St. Michael – backing vocals (9)
  • Biti Strauchn – backing vocals (9)
  • Dennis Christopher – backing vocals (13)
  • Keith Primi – backing vocals (13)

Production

  • Tom Bailey – producer (1, 3), mixing (1, 3)
  • Eric "E.T." Thorngren – producer (1, 3), mixing (1, 3)
  • Ben Grosse – additional production (1), remixing (1)
  • Mike Chapman – producer (2, 4-8, 10-13, 15), mixing (2, 4-8, 10-13, 15)
  • Toni C. – producer (9)
  • Deborah Harry – producer (9, 14)
  • Chris Stein – producing assistance, producer (9, 14)
  • Arthur Baker – additional production (9, 14), additional mixing (9, 14)
  • Mike O'Hora – engineer (for Deborah Harry and Chris Stein)
  • George Tutko – engineer (2, 4-8, 10-13, 15)
  • James "Doc" Dougherty – engineer (9)
  • Rob Paustian – mix engineer (9)
  • Steve Peck – engineer (14)
  • Paul McKenna – mix engineer (14)
  • Mike Kloster – studio assistance
  • Arthur Elgort – photography
  • Deborah Norcross – art direction, design
  • Jeri Helden – art direction, design
  • Gary Kurfirst – management

Charts

Chart performance for Def, Dumb & Blonde
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] 10
European Albums (Music & Media)[10] 53
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] 9
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 12
US Billboard 200[13] 123

References

  1. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Review: Def, Dumb & Blonde". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Def, Dumb and Blonde (Sire, 1989)". Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Clark, Pete (December 1989). "Review: Deborah Harry — Def, Dumb & Blonde" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 12. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 141. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ Kirsch, Michele (21 October 1989). "Long Play: Def Leopard. Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde (Chrysalis)". New Musical Express. London: IPC Limited. p. 42. ISSN 0028-6362. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 – via Flickr.
  5. ↑ George, Iestyn (31 October 1989). "Review: Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 18. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
  6. ↑ Vincent, Vincent (1–14 November 1989). "Deborah Harry: Def, Dumb & Blonde". Smash Hits. Vol. 11, no. 21. Peterborough: EMAP Metro. p. 73. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via Flickr.
  7. ↑ Rolling Stone, precise date unknown, 1989
  8. ↑ Hi-Fi News & Record Review, precise date unknown, 1989
  9. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 44. November 4, 1989. p. VIII. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "Charts.nz – Deborah Harry – Def, Dumb & Blonde". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Deborah Harry Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
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