"In the Flesh" is a song by
American band
Blondie. Originally from the band's self-titled debut album, ''
Blondie'', the song was Blondie's second and final single on the Private Stock label.
Song information
The song has a feel reminiscent of
Phil Spector
Harvey Phillip Spector (born Harvey Philip Spector; December 26, 1939January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by ...
-produced pop from the early 60s, with prominent piano, female backing vocals, and a time signature of 12/8.
''
Record World'' said that "Deborah Harry's vocal is a knockout."
In Australia, after the song was played by mistake (instead of "
X Offender") on the nationally broadcast music program ''
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...
'', it was well received by the viewing audience.
Chrysalis Records re-released the song as a single in Australia, again with "Man Overboard" as the
B-side. When it reached number two on the
Kent Music Report in November 1977,
[ Australia became the first territory in which Blondie achieved a hit single. In Ian Meldrum's 2014 autobiography, Debbie Harry elaborated saying "We met Ian in 1977... he asked if we had any videos ndwe gave him videos for "X Offender" and "In the Flesh". On ''Countdown'', they were meant to play "X Offender", but they played "In the Flesh" instead. So our success in Australia was one big mistake."
"In the Flesh" was featured in the 1982 film '']The Last American Virgin
''The Last American Virgin'' is a 1982 American sex comedy film written and directed by Boaz Davidson. It is a remake of Davidson's 1978 Israeli film '' Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle)''.
After the success of the original film and its sequels in ...
''. The song was also featured in the film '' 200 Cigarettes'' (1999) and '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master'' and was featured on the ABC show '' Wicked City''. The song was covered by fictional band Low Shoulder in the 2009 film ''Jennifer's Body
''Jennifer's Body'' is a 2009 American horror-comedy film written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. The film stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody. Fox portrays a demonically possessed high school girl ...
''.
Release history
U.S. 7" (PS-45.141) / (PVT 1329 SP)[Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.223]
#"In the Flesh" (Harry / Stein) – 2:33
#"Man Overboard" (Harry) – 3:22
US 7" Promo (PSR-45.141)
#"In the Flesh" (Stereo Version)
#"In the Flesh" (Mono Version)
* Labeled as a promo. Contains stereo and mono versions on opposite sides[Discogs, Blondie - In The Flesh PVT 105, UK release page 3077324]
#"In the Flesh" (Harry, Chris Stein) – 2:33
#" X Offender" (Harry, Valentine) – 3:13
Australia 7"
1st release: Private Stock (PVT-11532)
2nd release: Chrysalis (K-6932)
#"In the Flesh" (Harry / Stein) – 2:33
#"Man Overboard" (Harry) – 3:22
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
1976 singles
Blondie (band) songs
Songs written by Debbie Harry
Songs written by Chris Stein
1976 songs
Song recordings produced by Richard Gottehrer
Private Stock Records singles
Chrysalis Records singles
Pop ballads
1970s ballads
{{1970s-single-stub