Against the Odds: 1974–1982 is a box set by the American rock band Blondie, released on August 26, 2022 by UMC (a subsidiary of Universal Music Group), the Numero Group and Capitol Records. The band has endorsed the box set.

Reception

Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it a "comprehensive complete chronology", noting that "these demos, abandoned ideas, and working mixes help to add a dimension and perspective to Blondie's basic canon." concluding by noting that "Those original albums and, especially, the big hits are so familiar that they can seem set in stone, but when they're paired with these raw, unheard recordings, the group's nervy, arty spirit is resurrected, so it's possible to once again understand what made Blondie such a striking, special band at their peak." Pitchfork critic Caryn Rose wrote it is "Blondie’s first archival presentation of their essential years", stating that "Against the Odds perfectly captures the band’s legacy precisely because it presents the history, music, and memories with an admirable degree of honesty and doesn’t try to make the story into something it wasn’t."

In 2023, the album was nominated for Best Historical Album at the Grammys.

Contents The deluxe edition of the set includes the following studio albums, with bonus tracks: Blondie (1976) Plastic Letters (1977) Parallel Lines (1978) Eat to the Beat (1979) Autoamerican (1980) The Hunter (1982)

Both the standard and deluxe editions include previously unreleased demos and outtakes. On the deluxe CD set, 17 tracks are compiled on two discs, titled Out in the Streets and Home Tapes.

The deluxe vinyl set includes Out in the Streets and Home Tapes on separate 10″ and 12″ discs, respectively, with "Mr. Sightseer" moved from the latter to a separate 7″ single, backing "Moonlight Drive". The standard edition combines the two albums, including "Mr. Sightseer", onto one disc, while "Moonlight Drive" is moved to Plaza Sound. Both editions compile 34 additional tracks across three further discs: Plaza Sound, Parallel Beats, and Coca-Cola. The deluxe CD set instead adds these 35 tracks (including "Moonlight Drive") as bonus tracks on their respective albums' discs.

The standard CD set likewise consists of all 52 bonus tracks, while the standard vinyl set contains 47, with both slightly altering the running order.

Track listings

Notes

Charts Chart (2022) Peakposition

References