Blondie's New York and the Making of Parallel Lines

00:00:02 This programme contains some strong language.

00:02:07 The band thought of themselves as New Yorkers from an early age.

00:04:17 such as Saturday Night Fever, Taxi Driver, The French Connection

00:06:30 And you can hear... those are Chris's lines...

00:08:38 Even today Debbie is not sure

00:10:38 and it just sounded bigger than any of the bands that had played there.

00:12:36 although during the Parallel Lines sessions his technique of building

00:14:42 the same parts for two hours

00:16:34 Mike was beginning to get the band working to his methodical style

00:18:23 coming together and making music together.

00:20:19 I live everywhere. I live within you.

00:22:18 If she doesn't hang around you, bad things are going to happen.

00:24:35 ♪ You got clouds on your lids and you'd be on the skids

00:27:12 Nobody wanted to smile. It was punk rock.

00:29:03 in Mutant Monster Beach Party!

00:31:24 It's just that feel, it's... it's that...

00:33:29 and that all these songs could thrive together on one album

00:36:03 And that to me was like an act of war

00:38:28 We played him everything we'd got, and then he said, "Anything more?"

00:40:36 so Clem did the bass drum.

00:42:55 "we're getting there."

00:45:15 and has to date sold around 20 million copies.

00:47:06 Much of the Bowery neighbourhood has been redeveloped

01:09:07 spotted the band and spent 1m