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"The Hardest Part"
"The Hardest Part"
Single by Blondie
from the album Eat to the Beat
B-side	"Sound-A-Sleep"
Released	January 1980
Genre	Funk rock
Length	3:42
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Chris Stein; Debbie Harry
Producer(s)	Mike Chapman
Blondie singles chronology
Audio sample
	The Hardest Part file; help;
Music video
	"The Hardest Part" on YouTube

"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.^[3]^[4]

Overview

The song describes an armored car robbery. The title refers to the driver of the armored truck: "The hardest part of the armored guard, big man of steel behind the steering wheel."

Chris Stein said, "That was the first white funk song ever recorded. It was heavy metal funk, genre-breaking stuff."^[5]

Reception

Billboard 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] Cash Box said it has a "harder-edged groove" than "Dreaming" and Uses "lyrical imagery of an armored car heist."^[7] Record World said that the "powerful rock dance beat & Harry's vocals are superb."^[8]

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,^[9] 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 and featured a setting graffitied by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lee Quiñones, and Fab 5 Freddy.

Track listing

US 7" (CHS 2408, February 1980)

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

Chart performance

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)^[10]	86
US Billboard Hot 100^[11]	84

References

^ Masley, Ed (July 29, 2009). "Blondie keeps its edge after all these years". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
^ Molanphy, Chris (October 14, 2023). "This Ain't No Party?! Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
^ "Eat to the Beat awards at Allmusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 24, March 08 1980". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
^ Glenn O'Brien (January 1986). "Debbie's Back". Spin. No. 9. p. 49.
^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. January 5, 1980. p. 75. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 29, 1979. p. 24. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 29, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.77
^ "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 24, March 08 1980". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
^ "Eat to the Beat awards at Allmusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2013.