"The Hardest Part" is a 1979 song by the American new wave band Blondie. In North America, it was released as the second

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from the band's fourth album ''

Eat to the Beat ''Eat to the Beat'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blondie, released on September 28, 1979, by Chrysalis Records. The album was certified Platinum in the United States, where it spent a year on the ''Billboard'' 200. Peakin ...

'' (in Europe, "

Union City Blue "Union City Blue" is a song by the American New wave music, new wave band Blondie (band), Blondie. The song was featured on their 1979 studio album ''Eat to the Beat''. Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison, the song was inspired lyrically by ...

" was released as the second single). It was written by the group's principal songwriting partnership,

Deborah Harry Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981. Born in ...

and

Chris Stein Christopher Stein (born January 5, 1950) is an American musician known as the co-founder and guitarist of the new wave band Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film '' Wild Style'', and write ...

. The single achieved minor success, reaching #84 and #86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and RPM 100 Singles respectively.

Overview

The song describes an armored car robbery. The title refers to the "hardest part" of the plan – progressing past several armed guards. It would be revealed much later in an interview, that the original working title for this song was ''The Stiffest Piece''.

Reception

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' considered "The Hardest Part" to be the best song on ''Eat to the Beat'', describing it as "a solid rock - disco number featuring...icily effective vocals" and containing an "infectious"

hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...

. ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said it has a "harder-edged groove" than "Dreaming" and Uses "lyrical imagery of an armored car heist." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that the "powerful rock dance beat & Harry's vocals are superb."

Music video

As with all songs on the album, a music video was produced to promote the single. It features Debbie Harry in a long dark wig wearing a dress designed by

Anya Phillips Anya Phillips (1955 – June 19, 1981) was an American fashion designer and the co-founder of legendary New York nightclub the Mudd Club along with Steve Maas and Diego Cortez. Phillips had an influence on the fashion, sound and look of the New York ...

,Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.77 who also designed the pink dress featured on the cover of the band's 1977 album "

Plastic Letters ''Plastic Letters'' is the second studio album by American rock band Blondie, released in February 1978 by Chrysalis Records. An earlier version with a rearranged track listing was released in Japan in late December 1977. Overview This is ...

". The video was directed by David Mallett and featured a setting graffitied by

Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat (; December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Basquiat first achieved fame as part of the graffiti duo SAMO, alongside Al ...

Lee Quiñones George Lee Quiñones (born 1960) is a Puerto Rican artist and actor. Quiñones rose to prominence by creating massive New York City subway car graffiti that carried his moniker "LEE". His style is rooted in popular culture and often with politic ...

, and

Fab 5 Freddy Fred Brathwaite (born August 31, 1959), more popularly known as Fab 5 Freddy, is an American visual artist, filmmaker, and hip hop pioneer. He is considered one of the architects of the street art movement. Freddy emerged in New York's downtown ...

Track listing

US 7" (CHS 2408, February 1980) #"The Hardest Part" (

) – 3:42 #"Sound-A-Sleep" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) – 4:18

Chart performance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardest Part, The Blondie (band) songs 1980 singles Songs written by Debbie Harry Songs written by Chris Stein Song recordings produced by Mike Chapman Chrysalis Records singles 1979 songs