Autoamerican cemented Blondie’s reputation as pioneers, capable of blending diverse musical streams to create a unique and visionary sound. Cult, this historical classic has the first(?) recorded woman’s rap
Released in 1980, Autoamerican is an emblematic Blondie album, which testifies to their artistic audacity and their ability to push the boundaries of musical genres. Before Rapture, rap was little known outside of New York City’s outer boroughs, but Debbie Harry’s rap, name checking scene legends Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash (alongside ’60s film auteur Francois Truffaut, for the downtown hipsters), helped brought the style worldwide ! This seemingly innocuous title is actually historic : it’s the very first pop song including rap to rank number 1 on US charts. Back in 1981, Rapture was omnipresent on radio’s Top 40, only Kim Carnes’s Bette Davis Eyes had more airplay…
Few words about the record
Debbie Harry’s distinctive vocals and the album’s ambitious production helped establish Blondie as one of the most forward-thinking bands of their era. This diverse album explores a range of styles, from jazz and pop to reggae and rap, illustrating the group’s desire to constantly reinvent themselves. Two flagship titles particularly stand out: The Tide Is High, a cover with reggae accents which enjoyed worldwide success, and Rapture, an innovative piece which fuses disco, new wave and one of the first examples of rap in a mainstream piece.
This rap was so groundbreaking, that the reference helped Grandmaster Flash to expand its audience : « My audience at one point was mostly black and Hispanic, She introduced me [mentioning it in Rapture], and there, whites and others began to wonder : who is Flash? She really opened a door for me! ». Blondie was « Bronx friendly », especially in 1983, when the movie Wild Style was released. Considered as the first hip-hop film shot in the Bronx, with all the protagonists of the scene, it will have a decisive influence on many rappers. Chris Stein, Blondie’s guitarist, produced part of the film’s soundtrack, considered cult. A famous photo shows him on the set, along with Debbie Harry, with Grandmaster Flash and Fab Five Freddy.
