The tide is high - Blondie

'The tide is high' was written in 1967 by John Holt and performed by The Paragons with John Holt as lead singer. The song was popular in Jamaica and became popular amongst West Indians and skinheads in the UK when a deejay version by U-Roy was released in 1971. The song went mainly unnoticed in the rest of the world until it was rediscovered in 1980 by Blondie.

They recorded the song in a reggae/ska style that included horns and strings. It was released as a single from their fifth album 'Autoamerican'. It reached number 1 in the USA and the UK, while peaking at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 119
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The tide is high' / 'Suzy and Jeffrey'