The Hardest Part (Blondie song)

"The Hardest Part" is a 1979 song by the American new wave band Blondie. In North America, it was released as the second single from the band's fourth album Eat to the Beat (in Europe, "Union City Blue" was released as the second single). It was written by the group's principal songwriting partnership, Deborah Harry and Chris Stein. The single achieved minor success, reaching #84 and #86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and RPM 100 Singles respectively.[4][5]

"The Hardest Part"
Single by Blondie
from the album Eat to the Beat
ReleasedJanuary 1980
GenrePunk,[1][2] Disco-rock, new wave[3]
Length3:42
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Chris Stein
Debbie Harry
Producer(s)Mike Chapman
Blondie singles chronology
"Union City Blue"
(1979)		 "The Hardest Part"
(1980)		 "Call Me"
(1980)
Audio sample
The Hardest Part
  • file
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Music video
"The Hardest Part" on YouTube

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.

Billboard Magazine 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.[6]

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,[7] who also designed the pink dress featured on the cover of the band's 1977 album "Plastic Letters". The video was directed by David Mallett.

Track listing

US 7" (CHS 2408, February 1980)

  1. "The Hardest Part" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) – 3:42
  2. "Sound-A-Sleep" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) – 4:18

Chart performance
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[8] 86
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 84

References
  1. "Blondie The Hardest Part". All music. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  2. "Blondie The Hardest Part". Discogs. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  3. "Blondie The Hardest Part". All music. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  4. "Eat to the Beat awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  5. "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 24, March 08 1980". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  6. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. January 5, 1980. p. 75. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  7. Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.77
  8. "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 24, March 08 1980". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  9. "Eat to the Beat awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
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