Blondie

Although Blondie made several first-rate albums, most of their best songs were released as singles, which makes The Best of Blondie an essential collection. The Best of Blondie glosses over their punk roots – very little from the first album, apart from the vicious "Rip Her to Shreds" and the seductive "In the Flesh" – but the band's pop hits are among the finest of their era and encapsulate all of the virtues of new wave. Apart from genuine chart hits like "Heart of Glass," "One Way or Another," "Dreaming," "Call Me," "Atomic," "The Tide Is High," and "Rapture," Best of Blondie picks up several of the group's best album tracks, like "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" and "Hanging on the Telephone." The Best of Blondie isn't all you need to know, but it is an excellent introduction to one of the best new wave bands.

Though Debbie Harry has generally worked in a pop/rock vein, she's had her share of exposure in dance clubs thanks to hits like "Heart of Glass," "Rapture," and the Chic-produced "Backfired." In 1988 – a few years after she had left Chrysalis – the label set out to exploit her club/dance appeal with Once More Into the Bleach, a generally decent, though not exceptional, collection of remixes. Those singles were obvious choices for this CD, which ranges from Blondie classics (including "Call Me," "Sunday Girl," and "The Tide Is High") to such solo material as "Feel the Spin" and the humorous "French Kissin' in the USA." The most interesting remixes here include a house-influenced version of "Backfired," and a Europop recasting of "Denis."

The 2011 box set rounds up Blondie's three latter-day comeback albums: No Exit, Livid, and The Curse of Blondie. This may not be Blondie's prime, but they had a strong comeback, and this is a good, wallet-friendly way to hear it all at once…