This was written by former 'Blondie' bass/lead guitar player, Gary Valentine, for his then-girlfriend Lisa Jane Persky before he departed the band. The song was about the alleged telepathic connection they had between them. When he was on tour they'd discover they'd been having the same dreams, but more troublingly she also always seemed to call just when Valentine had taken a pretty girl back to the hotel!
The song has been covered by many artists, including Tracey Ullman for her 1983 album, "You Broke My Heart in 17 Places", and Annie Lennox as the B-side of her 1995 cover of the 'Procol Harum' hit "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Very much a Europe-only success story around the time of this hit, the US band only broke in their own country with the release of their iconic LP "Parallel Lines" in 1978, and the advent of the single "Heart of Glass" in 1979.
That was the first of four Billboard number ones from that point until 1982, when they disbanded. This more or less coincided with a 1983 diagnosis of "pemphigus vulgaris" (a rare auto-immune disease of the skin) for the band's leader (and also Debbie Harry's then-boyfriend) Chris Stein. Harry continued with a solo career while caring for Stein, who made a decent recovery in time.
Following Valentine's departure, Frank Infante was the main guitarist in the band from 1978 to 1982. He played on all the recordings from "Plastic Letters" to "The Hunter". Infante performed lead guitar on all the US hits, including "Heart Of Glass". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28I%27m_Always_Touched_by_Your%29_Presence%2C_Dear
Wikipedia: In May, Television embarked on a highly successful theatre tour in the UK and were enthusiastically received by audiences. Verlaine said that it was refreshing to perform at large theatres after having played clubs for four years. However, he felt that supporting act Blondie did not suit their show because they were too different artistically, even though both bands had emerged from the music scene at CBGB.[31]
Blondie's Chris Stein said that Television were "so competitive" and unaccommodating on the tour and that they did not treat it like a joint effort. He recalled one show where "all our equipment was shoved up at the [Glasgow] Apollo and we had like three feet of room so that [Verlaine] could stand still in this vast space." I'm assuming this was the gig at which that happened?
16 Comments (since 31 Aug 2014)
leejohnson
This was written by former 'Blondie' bass/lead guitar player, Gary Valentine, for his then-girlfriend Lisa Jane Persky before he departed the band. The song was about the alleged telepathic connection they had between them. When he was on tour they'd discover they'd been having the same dreams, but more troublingly she also always seemed to call just when Valentine had taken a pretty girl back to the hotel!
leejohnson
The song has been covered by many artists, including Tracey Ullman for her 1983 album, "You Broke My Heart in 17 Places", and Annie Lennox as the B-side of her 1995 cover of the 'Procol Harum' hit "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Very much a Europe-only success story around the time of this hit, the US band only broke in their own country with the release of their iconic LP "Parallel Lines" in 1978, and the advent of the single "Heart of Glass" in 1979.
leejohnson
That was the first of four Billboard number ones from that point until 1982, when they disbanded. This more or less coincided with a 1983 diagnosis of "pemphigus vulgaris" (a rare auto-immune disease of the skin) for the band's leader (and also Debbie Harry's then-boyfriend) Chris Stein. Harry continued with a solo career while caring for Stein, who made a decent recovery in time.
leejohnson
Following Valentine's departure, Frank Infante was the main guitarist in the band from 1978 to 1982. He played on all the recordings from "Plastic Letters" to "The Hunter". Infante performed lead guitar on all the US hits, including "Heart Of Glass". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28I%27m_Always_Touched_by_Your%29_Presence%2C_Dear
leejohnson
And it is SUCH a clever title! AKA "I'm Always Touched By Your Presents, Dear"?
daved
I saw their disastrous support to Television. Still to this day the worst ever live gig I've seen. Tantrums and walk-offs included.
leejohnson
Wikipedia: In May, Television embarked on a highly successful theatre tour in the UK and were enthusiastically received by audiences. Verlaine said that it was refreshing to perform at large theatres after having played clubs for four years. However, he felt that supporting act Blondie did not suit their show because they were too different artistically, even though both bands had emerged from the music scene at CBGB.[31]
leejohnson
Blondie's Chris Stein said that Television were "so competitive" and unaccommodating on the tour and that they did not treat it like a joint effort. He recalled one show where "all our equipment was shoved up at the [Glasgow] Apollo and we had like three feet of room so that [Verlaine] could stand still in this vast space." I'm assuming this was the gig at which that happened?
jackiepatie
Great song
AndyWilkinson
My favourite Blondie song.
obadiah99
Superb! Thanks for jamming.
andypritchard
Agree with @AndyWilkinson. Close to a perfect pop song.
marissapicone
Terrific!
dutchbeeblebrox
P
jackietheripper
Congrats on 400 jams!
leejohnson
@jackietheripper Thanks, Jack!! And many more of 'em! ;)