all you need is now

I adore the worldwide web. Where else can you opine, spew your blatherings and be recognized for your innermost thoughts being blurted out in a public forum?

Having been a busy bee, I haven't properly announced and reviewed my fave raves of 2011. So, I've decided to place my top ten albums of last year in alphabetical order, on their own, without commentary. Over the next few days, I will expand this entry to include my ramblings on each one. I know you're quivering in anticipation.

It was a year of near drought for pop music elpees. We are back to the Sixties! The single is king. The year fluctuated between anemia and euphoria. There would be a purple patch of longplayers and then an extended dearth of material punctuated by a fun, effervescent, standout track. 2011 was inconsistent at best.

Without further delay, let me introduce you to my ten favorite longplayers of 2011.

CocknBullKid - Adulthood
Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now
Erasure - Tomorrow's World
Foster The People - Torches
Darren Hayes - Secret Codes And Battleships
Penguin Prison - Penguin Prison
Roxette - Charm School
Sneaky Sound System - From Here To Anywhere
Will Young - Echoes
Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

Honorable mentions include "Panic Of Girls" by Blondie, "50 Words For Snow" by Kate Bush" and "Credo" by The Human League.

Lavish them with praise. Roll your eyes in disgust. Whatever you do, please do it with equal parts passion and dignity! Roll on 2012!

panic on the streets of London

Must dust this thing off from time to time. It's all gone a bit mental at So Hip It Hurts HQ. A little plug, darlings. Keep an ear out for a few, brand new tracks I produced for Bright Light Bright Light and Fingersnap (aka David McAlmont and Guy Davies). That's where much of my creative energy has been flowing these days. But enough, shameless self promotion.

The mighty Duran Duran return with "Girl Panic!", the second single from their latest longplayer, "All You Need Is Now". Another return to the sound of their halcyon days when Nagel prints and eyeliner were everywhere. Actually, go to any suburban hair salon in the US and you will still find copious amount of both. Some things never change.

Anyway, the marketing and promotional campaigns behind a new Duran single would not be complete with a video from the lads. This time, like many times before, they have splashed some cash on a new clip. Shot in London, the video for "Girl Panic!" finds some role and gender reversal wrapped up in a massive, sprawling, nine minute, fashion drenched extravaganza. It's the 80s all over again, my friends.

Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen and Cindy Crawford all star in the video. I will leave the surprise unspoken. If you haven't seen the clip before, you will find that it has a few twists that make it quite unique. Let's take a gander.




A little wink and a nod to George Michael ("Freedom 90") and Robert Palmer ("Addicted To Love") with that piece of celluloid. "Girl Panic!" is, without a doubt, one of the best videos of the year and a high water mark in the Duran Duran canon. It was expertly directed by Jonas Åkerlund who has lensed many clips including "Frozen" by Madonna.

Now, where is the companion album of Night Versions you're supposed to be releasing, laddies? We, the fans, demand it!

Duran deluxe redux

Sir Nicholas Of Rhodes, the arch and arty member of worldwide superstar pop combo Duran Duran, has been up all night mixing some new material for the forthcoming physical configurations of their latest longplayer, "All You Need Is Now".

Please give him your undivided attention as he rattles off a number of upcoming special events for the fearsome foursome.



The fresh incarnation of "All You Need Is Now" will be available on CD, vinyl and a deluxe edition CD with a bonus DVD. The deluxified package will include an additional song called "Networker Nation" along with a DVD featuring rare studio footage, as well as exclusive commentary from the band about the nine songs on the previously released digital album.

The following is the expanded tracklisting for "All You Need Is Now".

1. All You Need Is Now
2. Blame The Machines
3. Being Followed
4. Leave A Light On
5. Safe (In The Heat Of The Moment)
6. Girl Panic!
7. A Diamond In The Mind
8. The Man Who Stole A Leopard
9. Other People's Lives
10. Mediterranea
11. Too Bad You're So Beautiful
12. Runaway Runaway
13. Return To Now
14. Before the Rain

The expanded physical configuration of the elpee features five new songs including "A Diamond In The Mind" (a reference to a lyric from the first single and title track of the album), "Other People's Lives", "Mediterranea", "Too Bad You're So Beautiful" and "Return To Now".

The addition of "Networker Nation" on the deluxe edition brings the tally of songs to fifteen. I'm curious as to where the other three songs will turn up. Nick mentions "Too Close To The Sun", "Early Summer Nerves" and "This Lost Weekend". However, none of them are featured on the tracklistings for any of the physical releases. Could there be another version of the longplayer in the works?

I heard you making patterns rhyme

The Fab Four once proclaimed, "It was 30 years ago today...". Slowly but surely, it crept its way into becoming an appropriate rock n' roll catchphrase as the youth of the 1960s began to slip into adulthood.

Now, one band I've been following since the very beginning is celebrating a landmark moment in their career. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Planet Earth", Duran Duran's debut single.



I distinctly remember the very first time I saw the video. As I've mentioned previously, my dad used to work at a production house in NYC that duplicated UK sourced videos for US labels. Everything was transferred from PAL to NTSC and lovingly delivered to the record companies for distribution to clubs and a fledgling cable channel called MTV.

The site of Simon Lebon prancing around in a tea towel made me feel a bit sexy before I explored the real meaning behind that twitch in my loins. I was very taken with Lord Nicholas Of Rhodes and his sense of "fashion". The pink feather duster wig. The frilly shirt. He looked like a futuristic, colonial soldier. Roger's awkward shyness and plain attire made him seem at odds with Duran's visual aesthetic. Still, he was droolworthy and I needed an endless supply of hankies. For my overactive saliva glands, natch.

Somehow, their rag tag look worked. The band were made up of distinct individuals not characters. The sum of their parts pulled all the threads together in a cohesive sonic and visual unit.

As a teenager in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline, I had no clue about the New Romantic movement. The music spoke to me. The Rum Runner and Blitz Club didn't even make a ripple on my radar until I started reading i-D and The Face, THE essential Brit mags for a self-proclaimed Anglophile. That was about two or three years after "Planet Earth" touched down on my small home stereo.

But what about the song? I remember being obsessed with the sound of it. I could pick out bits of Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk and Chic. The chorus could've been lifted from an old Bay City Rollers single. The past, present and future collided in one swift three and a half minute pop opus.

And what about the b-side? Strong enough for an a-side! I couldn't believe "Late Bar" had been relegated to the flip of "Planet Earth". In fact, when "Late Bar" didn't appear on Duran Duran's debut longplayer, I was shocked. I remember making a cassette tape of the elpee and adding the b-side to the end of it. There are few bands that boast b-sides as a-side contenders. And the mighty DD has had many of them.



So, here we sit with our lattes and iPads as Duran Duran release their thirteenth longplayer, "All You Need Is Now". Certainly a strong album. One worthy of their long and distinguished career. And "Planet Earth" doesn't sound out of step with the current league of electro flavored pop stars. It's deliciously retro and super fresh at the same time.

In terms of a timeline, imagine if The Beatles had released a new album in 1994. That's the length of time between Duran's debut and their current elpee. That blows my mind. I think I need to rest my weary head after that little realization.

And I'm not the only who can't bend their brain around that. Check out John Taylor's thoughts as he ruminates about that inaugural pop explosion. You can read his recollections over at the official Duran Duran website.

all you need is eyeliner

The mighty Duran Duran deliver a double shot of goodness today. Firstly, they've unleashed the vid for their latest single, "All You Need Is Now". Let's take a look.



The boys are in fine fettle. Lots of eyeliner is the order of the day. Didn't they do the black jacket and tie shtick when they reemerged victoriously with "Ordinary World" back in *cough, sputter* 1993? And what's with the aluminum foil background? Budgetary constraints, lads?

Secondly, Duran Duran released their new longplayer today. Huzzah! Their thirteenth elpee, christened "All You Need Is Now", will require a deeper dive in between the moments of madness as we run up to Christmas. I've lived with it for about a week and I'm busting at the gut to write about it.

After several listens, it appears that Simon still loves to sing at the top of his range. This always causes problems for Monsieur Le Bon when the band hit the road. Often, in a live setting, he has to reach for the high notes from deep within and his voice tends to get a little screechy. Let's hope he does his vocal exercises before the boys go out on their impending, worldwide trek. Come around for some tea and honey, Simon. We'll make sure your pipes are in tip top shape before the tour.

I noticed a couple of things now that I have the proper artwork and credits. For instance, Dom Brown steps closer to being an official member of the group as he is credited with writing contributions on seven tracks on the album. Do they dare deliver him into the kingdom of Duran Duran with a permanent residence?

And don't forget, kittens, the album will feature three additional tracks when the band releases the physical configurations at the beginning of February.

Most importantly, they are doing it all without being signed to a label. DIY for Duran Duran, darlings! Excelsior!

new, now, next

Ladies and gentlemen, get the glitter ready! Duran Duran will return on December 21 with their thirteenth longplayer, "All You Need Is Now". Knobs were sufficiently twiddled by man of the moment, Mark Ronson.

The cover art was revealed only minutes ago. That is the power of the interwebs, my children. Looks like Lord Nicholas of Rhodes had a bit of fun with photoshop and a box of fonts.

Actually, the artwork was created by contemporary English multimedia artist Clunie Reid.

You'll be able to download a nine track version of the elpee from iTunes before Crimbo. Then, in February, the Brummie lads will make deluxe editions of the physical configurations available with the tracklisting expanded to include three additional tunes.

The tracklisting for the nine track, digital edition of "All You Need Is Now" will feature the following songs.

1. All You Need Is Now
2. Blame The Machines
3. Being Followed
4. Leave A Light On
5. Safe
6. Girl Panic
7. The Man Who Stole A Leopard
8. Runway Runaway
9. Before the Rain

Next week, Simon, John, Nick and Roger will be shooting a vid for the title track from the album. It will be directed by Nick Egan who's no stranger to pointing a camera at the boys. He committed them to digital celluloid for "Ordinary World" and "White Lines (Don't Do It)" in the early 90s.

Since the album is supposed to be a return to the sound that made Duran Duran a household name in the 80s, I can't help but think Russell Mulcahy would've been the perfect choice for director of the first single from the new longplayer.

now that's what I call music

It seems like it's been a very long time between albums for the mighty Duran Duran. However, a quick look at the calendar will reveal that it has only been three years since their last meisterwerk, "Red Carpet Massacre".

Yes, you read that correctly. Although, many people have slagged off that particular beat heavy longplayer, I believe it's quite special. It's a Duran elpee for the 21st century groove. Great songs. Inventive. On the cusp of something more interesting.

Shitty promotion was handled expertly by Epic, the label from which the lads have extricated themselves. Let's face it, children. "Nite-Runner" should have been the first single.

Now? A new album. "All You Need Is Now" will be their thirteenth longplayer in 30 years. Yikes! That reminds me. I must get some hydrating lotion for my the delicate wrinkles around the corners of my eyes. I prefer the ones with soothing botanicals, natch.

Produced by knob twiddler of the moment, Mark Ronson, "All You Need Is Now" will hit iTunes in its downloadable configuration on December 21. Huzzah!

Physical configurations of the elpee, including a CD and some limited edition versions replete with nifty packaging, will be available in February. With all design elements being overseen by Lord Nicholas Of Rhodes, I bet cash money some of those special editions will be pricey!

Undoubtedly, now that they are free from the shackles imposed by "the suits", "All You Need Is Now" will appear on Duran Duran's own label. Let's hope it lives up to its hype.

Duranticipation

I heart Lord Nicholas Of Rhodes. Duran Duran would not be the same without his arch and arty antics.

Here's an update from the keyboard wonder regarding the new album. Provisionally titled "King Of Nowhere", it should be in our Google dirty hands very shortly.



A new Duran longplayer is always an event. I'm terribly excited. May you be imbued with the euphoria of 20,000 screaming teenage girls.

my heart goes bang

It's all about a squadron of über-producers these days, innit? Greg Kurstin, Stuart Price, Mark Ronson, etc. You could be forgiven for thinking they are interchangeable. Each one takes cues from the past and weaves it with technology of the now, thus creating their own variations on a similar theme.

Also, each of them cut their teeth on being a bit of a reluctant pop star. So what do you do when you're not quite the frontman of your dreams? Hire the talent like you're ordering out for Chinese! Alternatively, use your talents wisely, produce other artists and strike pop gold.

While Mark Ronson was busy producing the next Duran Duran album, he was inspired to pull together the follow up to his previous longplayer, "Version". "Record Collection", which is credited to Mark Ronson & The Business International, is another all star potpourri of collaborations. However, this time all the songs on the album feature original material rather than cover versions.

First single, "Bang Bang Bang", just crashed into the UK top 10 singles chart at #6 with the combined efforts of Amanda Warner from MNDR and some old school, rap flava from Q-Tip. Both take turns mixing it up on the mic.

Here's the fabulous, 80s nerd chic video with a splash of Japanese superhero inspiration for good measure.



For the lingually impaired in our audience, "je te plumerai la tête" roughly translates as "I will pluck the hair from your head". How do I know that? Well, besides being an international traveler of fine distinction, j'ai étudié la langue sur le genou de ma grand-mère.

And there you have it, mes petits chatons.

maximum big surprise

Just unwrapped my copy of the newly remastered edition of "So Red The Rose", the only album by Duran Duran side project, Arcadia.

AMAZEBALLS!

More to follow as I bathe in its arty textures, arch presentation and dark musings. In the meantime, cast your memories back to the shoulder pad days of 1985.



Apparently, they've played this little gem at least twice in their recent live show. I think I would wet myself if I heard them whip out "Election Day".





Excuse me. I think I peed a little.

two before true

It has been a helluva week. I didn't mean to neglect my little corner of the blogosphere. Sometimes things get in the way of our creative endeavors. Thankfully, I have music as my backdrop and soundtrack everyday. So, with apologies behind us, let's move forward with the tunes I've been spinning on my old Victrola all week long. Indeed, it was a LONG week.

Before we knew this much was true, Spandau Ballet released two, bold, slightly rough musical statements. "Journeys To Glory" was their debut which saw the band plucked from the tastemaker, New Romantic glitz of London's Blitz Club and dropped onto "Top Of The Pops", tartan dishcloths and all.

Their second album, "Diamond", traded in the more stately, dramatic elements of the first longplayer for a more urban, funky backdrop. However, both clearly derived their inspiration from the dancefloor.

Now, after nearly 30 years since they were first released, and over 20 since they first appeared on CD, Spandau Ballet's first two sonic offerings have been brushed up just as the band has reformed for a reunion tour. It has been a long time coming.

The Spandau story started in 1980 with their debut single, "To Cut A Long Story Short", which rocketed to #5 in the UK. The insistent, dramatic and somewhat militaristic synth number was followed by another goosestep groover, "The Freeze", and the hunky sleaze of"Musclebound". The parent album pulled in Old English folk influences which, when played on synths, gave the album a futuristic Renaissance flair with a Germanic twist.

Together with Tony Hadley's art house bravado, which has since become a formidable croon, "Journeys To Glory" certainly didn't sound like anything else in the early decade's dawn. Even though they were joined at the hip with Duran Duran in the press, the two bands sounded nothing alike.

At this point, Spandau were mixing slightly Goth and Middle Ages imagery in their videos. Much different than the slightly futuristic and sexualized look of Duran Duran's early clips.

The video for "The Freeze" features the rare sight of a bearded Tony Hadley! I've known Mr. Hadley for nearly two decades and I've never seen him sport whiskers of any sort. However, he's always smartly attired.



As with most reissues, a slew of bonus tracks have been added to the original tracklisting. This expanded, 2 CD edition is plumped up to included non-album b-side and funky favorite, "Glow" in both its 7" and extended 12" versions, both of which have rarely appeared on CD. However, for some odd reason, the 12" mix of "Musclebound" has been strangely omitted. This is a disappointment considering the entire package is nearly complete.

The rest of the set is filled out with 12" mixes, some of which mark their first appearance on CD with this collection. For the generation that grew up in the 80s, many of Spandau's unique remixes became the soundtrack to most weekend club crawls. They were clearly influenced by the likes of late era disco as well as acts like Chic and Roxy Music, both of which are often name checked by Duran Duran as influences.

As an added bonus, previously unreleased BBC recordings fill out the rest of the package which give an inside look into the bands rugged, live roots.

"Diamond", Spandau Ballet's second slab of longplaying vinyl, was a funkier affair that dabbled with Middle Eastern and Turkish flavors. It's quixotic and somewhat confused. Looking back on it, you can hear the shift from the first album and the move toward the smoother, smoochier worldwide breakthrough of "True".

Slap bass is the order of the day for Martin Kemp on groovy numbers like "Chant No. I (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", "Instinction" (which is not a real word, BTW) and "Coffee Club".

More world music undertones are featured on the hushed tones of "Innocence And Science" and the obtuse "Missionary" which conjures up images of David Sylvian and Japan.

"Diamond" went four singles deep with its campaign having been introduced by the high octane funk of "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" highlighted by a signature, metallic guitar riff and Earth Wind & Fire style horn arrangement.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to locate the video clip for the song without the embedding having been disabled. So, instead, let's revisit Spandau Ballet's performance of the hit on "Top Of The Pops" from 1981. Keep your eyes on Martin Kemp's wonky, bedraggled presence. What was he smoking before the show? Oh, the evils of YouTube. There's no where to hide these days.

Subsequent singles failed to crack the top 10 in the UK. However, they are all worthy of attention in the Spandau cannon. For instance, "Paint Me Down", second single from "Diamond", features a darker element and more chanting choruses. It's easy to see why it was considered a formidable follow up to "Chant No. 1".

Perhaps the homo eroticism of the video prevented it moving past its #30 peak, a far cry from the #3 success of previous single, "Chant No. 1". At the time, Mother Beeb didn't take kindly to shirtless men painting each other with tender care.

Third single, "She Loved Like Diamond", a foreshadowing of the soul boy ballads for which they became most remembered, missed the top 40 completely and crashed out at a lowly #49.



"Instinction", the final single lifted from "Diamond", restored the band's fortunes on the singles chart with a little reswizzling from man of the moment, Trevor Horn. If you get a chance to play the album version back to back with Trevor's mix, you can hear how much depth and polish he added to one of Spandau's funkiest moments.

The reissue of "Diamond" follows the same path as its predecessor. The 12" mixes and previously unreleased BBC recordings round out the collection. Of special note is the non-album b-side, "Gently". It's only one of two songs the band recorded that never appeared on one of their longplayers.

Unlike Duran, Spandau weren't prolific and had a more continental appeal. In fact, Gary Kemp as sole songwriter for the band, shows them in complete contrast to their 80s heyday rivals. Of course, the contribution of all the band members brought added depth, color and style to songs. On one of the occasions when we worked together, Gary mentioned to me that he only ever wrote enough material for an album with very little extra material available for inclusion as b-sides.

The inclusion of the remixes that were released as an EP with a limited edition, boxed set of "Diamond", are a nice surprise. Some of them were never issued on CD and appear on this collection for the first time.

Unfortunately, neither reissue was serviced with liner notes. Surely there is a Spandau Ballet historian who could've regaled us with colorful accounts of the band's exploits. But if you want to know more about a band from the big 80s that doesn't get the glory which seems to be reserved for other groups from that era, pick up Spandau Ballet's first two albums. There's more to them than "True".

Notorious Big

With only a couple of weeks before Duran Duran reissue deluxified editions of their debut album and "Seven And The Ragged Tiger", the band just revealed the tracklistings for the remastered versions of "Notorious" and "Big Thing", the first two longplayers from their post quintet output.

"Notorious", their fourth studio album, was produced by Nile Rodgers and released in 1986 after the individual members spent most of the previous year with splinter projects Arcadia and The Power Station.

The newly remastered, special edition of "Notorious" will be released in a variety of funkadelic flavors. For those of us who still worship the physical configuration, there will be a special edition, two disc version as well as a limited edition, three disc set.

The three disc set will include a DVD of live footage, album era videos and a clip from the BBC. The CDs will feature the original album with a wealth of bonus material including single versions, b-sides, remixes and live tracks.

The live tracks are of note as they will be the second official release of "Duran Go Dutch", a bootleg EP that was sort of a pseudo sanctioned document of the band's 1987 "Strange Behaviour" world tour. The first time it appeared on CD was as a bonus disc on the original, Japanese pressing of "Big Thing".

As for the remixes, many of the ones that were commissioned for promotional use will finally see the light of day on a commercial release approved by the band. The bonus DVD will include the original music videos for the three singles that were lifted from the album, a performance of "Notorious" from "Top Of The Pops" plus "Working For The Skin Trade", a live show originally released on VHS.



With the departure of Andy Taylor, due to musical differences, and Roger Taylor, from exhaustion brought on by endless tours and the prying eye of the ever growing media circus around the band, the remainder of the Brummie boys - Simon, Nick and John - were left to soldier on. "Notorious" was a bold move forward for the paired down Duran machine.

Nile Rodgers brought the funk he cultivated in his days with Chic. You can hear them soaking it in. With John arriving fresh from his stint with The Power Station, which included Chic drummer Tony Thompson, it's no wonder "Notorious" is full of funk references. From the slamming title track to Simon's Princely turns on "Skin Trade", the album is slinky, chunky and groovy from beginning to end without ever sounding like a pastiche.

Then there's third single - a high octane remix of "Meet El Presidente" reswizzled by The Latin Rascals. By this time, Duran were settling into more mid-table hits rather than seeing their singles skyrocket to the top of the charts. "Meet El Presidente" should've been a bigger hit, IMHO. And much like "I Don't Want You Love", the first single from "Big Thing", was a nod to "Notorious", "Meet El Presidente" can be thought of as a sonic foreshadowing of "Big Thing".



Crush your toes into the glorious, plush, pile carpeting of the deluxe edition of "Notorious" with a glimpse at the final tracklisting.


"Notorious"

CD1

Original album:

1. Notorious
2. American Science
3. Skin Trade
4. A Matter Of Feeling
5. Hold Me
6. Vertigo (Do The Demolition)
7. So Misled
8. Meet El Presidente
9. Winter Marches On
10. Proposition

Single versions and b-sides:

11. Notorious (45 Mix)
12. Skin Trade (Radio Cut)
13. We Need You
14. Meet El Presidente (7″ Remix)

CD 2

"Duran Goes Dutch" EP (recorded at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, May 7, 1987):

1. Notorious (Live)
2. Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (Live)
3. New Religion (Live)
4. Hungry Like The Wolf (Live)
5. American Science (Live)

Mixes:

6. Notorious (Extended Mix)
7. Skin Trade (Stretch Mix)
8. Meet El Presidente (Presidential Suite Mix)
9. American Science (Chemical Reaction Mix)
10. Skin Trade (Parisian Mix)
11. Notorious (Latin Rascals Mix)
12. Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (Mantronix Mix)
13. Notoriousaurus Rex

DVD

"Working For The Skin Trade":

1.Intro
2. A View To A Kill
3. Notorious
4. New Religion
5. Vertigo
6. The Chauffeur
7. Save A Prayer
8. Skin Trade
9. Hungry Like The Wolf
10. Wild Boys
11. Outro

Videos:

12. Notorious
13. Skin Trade
14. Meet El Presidente

Top Of The Pops:

15. Notorious (first transmission - November 6, 1986)

"Notorious" will also be released as a limited edition, 180 gram, vinyl LP with a bonus disc of mixes. If you're type that enjoys retrieving your music through a wireless connection, then the deluxe, digital download edition is for you! It will include an exclusive, live set recorded at The Beacon Theater in New York City, August 31, 1987.

Furthermore, the digital configuration will also feature a 4 track EP of mixes which couldn't fit on the CD edition due to time restrictions. The tracks include the following:

1. Skin Trade (S.O.S. Dub)
2. Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat)
3. American Science (Meltdown Dub)
4. Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (B-boy Mix)

Only two years on from "Notorious", Duran Duran returned with "Big Thing", their fifth longplayer, in the midst of the acid house explosion and the second summer of love. By the way, nobody bought their "name change" to duranduran. That was utter nonsense.

It's clear that "I Don't Want Your Love", the first offering from "Big Thing", was the transition from the funk of the previous album. "Big Thing" was different. Equal parts raved up and blissed out.

"IDWYL", given the Shep Pettibone production treatment, had its eyes on the charts and its heart of the dancefloor. How it only managed to peak at #20 in the UK is beyond comprehension. The US gave the single a more favorable chart placing when it peaked at #4.

The album was also sleazy in spots ("All She Wants Is") while being languid and laced with high grade amphetamines in others ("Palomino", "Too Late Marlene" and "Land"). There was further exploration of sexual innuendo in the title track. Even some of the songs directly referenced not-so-thinly veiled, mind altering substances ("Lake Shore Driving" and "Drug"). And then there is the inclusion of trippy, fruity, fluted interludes. What were they smoking? Or snorting, as the case might be.

"Big Thing" might be one of Duran's most misunderstood albums. But in retrospect, it's a fine example of a band growing older, figuring out where they might fit in, rolling with the times, exploring new sonic territory and bringing old favorites forward without dragging them behind like a ball and chain. All the while they remained dedicated to the highest level of melody and groove. After all, rhythm is the power.



As with the deluxe retooling of "Notorious", "Big Thing" is scheduled to be released in a colorful array of formats. There will be a standard, two disc version as well as a limited edition, three disc set. The limited edition configuration will include the original album neatly slotted next to single versions, b-sides and mixes along with a DVD of album era videos and a rare, live show from their "Big Live Thing" world tour.

Sidenote... I was lucky enough to see DD on the "Big Live Thing" tour when it stopped at a dilapidated, 500 seat theater in the heart of the dirty, seedy streets of downtown Newark, New Jersey. Talk about taking your life in your own hands! I had second row seats. Simon flung his stringy hair around quite a bit and he sprayed me with his sweat many times that evening. You like it hot, but I like it wet! Indeed. But I digress...



Once again, for the vinyl hearted, a limited edition, 180 gram LP will be released with a bonus disc of mixes. A digital download version will be made available as well with an exclusive, live set which was recorded at the Manchester Apollo on April 25, 1989. Additionally, as with its predecessor, a 4 track EP of dub mixes will be available as a digital download from all fine, online music portals.

Some of the interesting tracks on the spruced up, juiced up edition of "Big Thing" include previously, unreleased mixes of the title track which nearly confirms rumors that it was scheduled as a single at the time. Supposedly, it was shelved at the last minute when the content seemed a bit too pervy for radio. What were they on about?

Essentially, with an album that wasn't considered one of their strongest, time has borne that out as a serious misnomer. Five singles could have easily been plucked from it with "Drug (It's Just A State Of Mind)" as the fifth and final release.

Thankfully, "Big Thing" has been expanded to include Simon's two, Jim Morrison-esque spoken word pieces which featured as b-sides to the album's third single, "Do You Believe In Shame?", with "God (London)" being eerily relevant after having been recorded more than 20 years ago.



The only track that doesn't make an appearance is the Daniel Abraham mix of "Drug (It's Just A State Of Mind)" which appeared as a bonus track on various reissues of the CD over the last decade or so. I wonder why they chose to hold that one back?

Without further adieu, cast your eyeballs over the acid tripping tracklisting for the deluxified, modified, fortified and elongated edition of "Big Thing". Please note that the tracks adorned with an asterisk were previously unreleased and mark their first appearance anywhere.


"Big Thing"

CD 1

Original album:

1. Big Thing
2. I Don’t Want Your Love
3. All She Wants Is
4. Too Late Marlene
5. Drug (It’s Just A State Of Mind)
6. Do You Believe In Shame?
7. Palomino
8. Interlude One
9. Land
10. Flute Interlude
11. The Edge Of America
12. Lake Shore Driving


CD 2

Singles and b-sides:

1. I Don’t Want Your Love (7” Mix)
2. All She Wants Is (45 Mix)
3. I Believe All/I Need To Know (Full Version)*
4. The Krush Brothers LSD Edit
5. God (London)
6. This Is How A Road Gets Made
7. Palomino (Edit)
8. Drug (It’s Just A State Of Mind) (Original Version)
9. Big Thing (7” Mix)*

Mixes:

10. I Don’t Want Your Love (Big Mix)
11. All She Wants Is (US Master Mix)
12. Big Thing (12” Mix)*
13. All She Wants Is (Eurohouse Mix)


DVD

"Big Live Thing" (recorded live at Palatrussardi in Milan, Italy on December 12, 1988):

1. Introduction/God
2. Big Thing
3. I Don’t Want Your Love
4. Hungry Like The Wolf
5 .Do You Believe In Shame?
6. All She Wants Is/Planet Earth
7. This Is How A Road Gets Made/Winter Marches On
8. Palomino
9. Too Late Marlene
10. Girls On Film
11. Notorious
12. Skin Trade
13. Is There Something I Should Know?
14. The Wild Boys/Drug (It's Just A State Of Mind)
15. Band Introduction/Save A Prayer
16. The Reflex
17. Rio
18. The Edge Of America

Videos:

1. I Don’t Want You Love
2. All She Wants Is
3. Do You Believe In Shame?

For you dub lovers, the digital download EP of dub mixes will include the following:

1. I Don’t Want Your Love (Dub Mix)
2. All She Wants Is (Euro Dub Mix)
3. All She Wants Is (Eurohouse Dub)
4. All She Wants Is (US Master Dub)

It's clear that Duran Duran are putting a lot of thought, love and care into brushing up their catalog by giving their substantial fan base nearly everything they would want to see and hear from the band. We would expect nothing less from a project curated by Nick Rhodes who is casting a watchful eye over every aspect of the DD deluxe editions.

Can we assume "Liberty" and "The Wedding Album" are in the pipeline?

deluxe Duran

I've been feverishly putting together a few reviews but all things seasonal and work related have been requiring my already limited availability. When the details around the next slate of Duran Duran deluxe editions were announced, I jumped at slapping together the info. Therefore, this entry is a bit of a gap filler until I can reach the surface and breathe again. But let's face it. Anything involving Duran Duran and their glorious back catalog is worth the attention.

Deluxification dust has been loving sprinkled upon Duran Duran's self-titled, debut longplayer and third album, "Seven And The Ragged Tiger". It follows in the footsteps of the remastered and expanded edition of "Rio", a gleaming jewel in the band's crown.

Both are scheduled for release on March 10, 2010 in three varieties. Firstly, there will be a standard, 2 CD set including the original album, b-sides, mixes, BBC sessions and demos. Then the super deluxe flavor will combine the 2 CD set with a bonus DVD which will feature BBC footage and original music videos for the singles and other relevant tracks from the era. And if you prefer your music in the increasingly popular downloadable format, you'll get the whole kit and caboodle with an original, live concert as an added treat.

Now, allow yourself to luxuriate in the full tracklisting for both deluxified Duran Duran releases. All tracks marked with an asterisk indicate they are previously unreleased. Apparently, "Notorious" will make an appearance very soon, as well.

"Duran Duran"

CD 1

Original album:

1. Girls On Film
2. Planet Earth
3. Anyone Out There
4. To The Shore
5. Careless Memories
6. Night Boat
7. Sound Of Thunder
8. Friends Of Mine
9. Tel Aviv

B-sides:

10. Late Bar
11. Khanada
12. Fame
13. Faster Than Light

CD 2

AIR Studios versions (recorded on 29th July, 1980):

1. Girls On Film*
2. Tel Aviv*

Manchester Square demos (recorded on 8th December, 1980):

3. Anyone Out There*
4. Planet Earth*
5. Friends Of Mine*
6. Late Bar*

Radio 1 Peter Powell session in mono (recorded 19th June, 1981 transmitted 11th August, 1981):

7. Night Boat*
8. Girls On Film*
9. Anyone Out There*
10. Like An Angel*

Mixes and versions:

11. Planet Earth (Night Version)
12. Girls On Film (Extended Night Version)
13. Planet Earth (Night Mix)
14. Girls On Film (Night Mix)

DVD

Videos:

1. Planet Earth (Club Version)
2. Planet Earth
3. Careless Memories
4. Girls On Film (Long Uncensored Version)
5. Girls On Film (Short Censored Version)
6. Night Boat
7. A Day In The Life (Featurette)

BBC footage:

8. Planet Earth (Top Of The Pops - 05.03.81)*
9. Careless Memories (Top Of Pops - 21.05.81)*
10. Girls On Film (Top Of The Pops - 30.07.81)*
11. Night Boat (Old Grey Whistle Test - 07.07.81)*

12. Anyone Out There (Old Grey Whistle Test - 07.07.81)*

13.Girls On Film (Get Set For Summer - 08.08.81)*

14. Friends Of Mine (Multi-Coloured Swap Shop - 27.02.81)*

15. Girls On Film (Multi-Coloured Swap Shop - 27.02.81)*

"Seven And The Ragged Tiger"

CD 1

Original album:

1. The Reflex
2. New Moon On Monday
3. (I’m Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement
4. I Take The Dice
5. Of Crime And Passion
6. Union Of The Snake
7. Shadows On Your Side
8. Tiger Tiger
9. The Seventh Stranger

CD 2

Non album singles and b-sides:

1. Is There Something I Should Know?
2. Faith In This Colour
3. Faith In This Colour (alternate slow mix)
4. Secret Oktober
5. Tiger Tiger (Ian Little Remix)
6. The Reflex (Single Version)
7. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) (Live)
8. New Religion (Live At The LA Forum - o9.02.84)
9. The Reflex (Live At The LA Forum - 09.02.84)

Mixes:

10. Is There Something I Should Know? (Monster Mix)
11. Union Of The Snake (Monkey Mix)
12. New Moon On Monday (Dance Mix)
13. The Reflex (Dance Mix)

DVD

"As The Lights Go Down":

1. Intro: Tiger Tiger
2. Is There Something I Should Know?
3. Hungry Like the Wolf
4. Union of the Snake
5. New Religion
6. Save a Prayer
7. Rio
8. The Seventh Stranger
9. The Chauffeur
10. Planet Earth
11. Careless Memories
12. Girls On Film

Videos:

Is There Something I Should Know?
Union Of The Snake
New Moon On Monday (EP Version)
The Reflex
New Moon On Monday (Movie Version)

BBC footage:

Is There Something I Should Know? (Top Of The Pops - 23.03.83)

The Reflex (Top Of The Pops - 26.04.84)

"Rio" revisited

It was 1982. MTV began beaming into select homes across the US and millions of teenagers found solace and excitement in a colorful, new medium. The visual side of music had previously been relegated to late night television, afternoon chat shows and "American Bandstand". MTV would obliterate all before it with its promise of a steady diet of music videos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Programming was thin. So they relied on untested sights and sounds from the UK where the music video had become a promotional tool for bands and singers who couldn't be in several, European countries simultaneously when promotional duties required them to make appearances outside Mother Britannia.

With peroxide and eyeliner in hand, Duran Duran instantly became the pin up boys for the burgeoning, MTV generation. Their second album, "Rio", was released in the UK in May 1982. With its videos shot in exotic locations and its sonic blueprint of Chic inspired basslines, Moroder-esque keyboard sequences and rock guitar married with Simon Le Bon's obtuse prose, the Fab Five from Birmingham shot like the proverbial bullet from a gun and threw convention in the face of the UK recessionista. This was art, escapism and deft musicality all dressed up in one, uniquely designed, smartly tailored (or is that "Taylored") package.

Now, 27 years after its original release, EMI have reissued and remastered the album with a much deserved, double CD, deluxe edition complete with b-sides, demos, alternate mixes and their era defining, dance reconstructions known as "night versions". Among fans, this is the definitive representation of "Rio".

I've been wanting to write about the new reissue for weeks. Truthfully, I got lost in it several times and completely forgot to jot down my thoughts. Thankfully, this, the second swipe at reissuing "Rio", was one which fans were holding their collective breath in anticipation of owning a proper, historic view of the album complete with the appropriate bonus tracks from the sessions surrounding its original release.

The first attempt in 2001 resulted in a direct reissue and remastering of the CD that was already in existence. While it sported vastly superior sound quality, it did not feature any additional tracks. It was a tremendous disappointment for fans who knew there were numerous versions of several of the album's tracks. It took the painstaking and laborious work of dedicated producers and Nick Rhodes' attention to detail which resulted in the newly released, definitive, 2 CD edition being issued.

The first disc is the complete album in its original UK running order. Five tracks at the end of the CD have been included as an addendum for this edition. The songs were remixed specifically for the US version of "Rio", when it was issued on the Capitol label in November 1982 and appear here, together, for the first time since the original, American, vinyl release.

I remember being mesmerized by the Patrick Nagel image on the album sleeve. I recall describing the magenta used on the cover as "juicy". It was designed by Malcolm Garrett at Assorted Images, one of my favorite design firms next to Stylorouge, Farrow and Me Company which were all UK based. Natch! The entire look, lovingly adapted for the deluxification of this landmark longplayer, was aimed at the heart of the aesthetic ethic. And in one gelled, felled swoop, a million hair salons were born.

Much has been made of the style. But what of the substance? Firstly, this was a band in top form at the height of their powers with deep talent on tap. They had all the bases covered from the soundscapes to the styling. The aural and visual were married into one discussion. Each was an extension of the other. The music spoke volumes while the image pushed boundaries.

While the overprocessed and hypersynthesized efforts of many of their contemporaries have dated quite considerably, "Rio" has aged gracefully. It's simultaneously timeless and of a particular moment in time. A rare feat in any era.

After the urgency of their debut, "Rio" was a little more polished yet still urgent. The album could easily have spawned six or seven singles. Amazing to think that the first single pulled from it was "My Own Way" which was rerecorded for its inclusion on "Rio" in a style quite different from the glitterball gallop of the single version which is a thrilling combination of Chic and latter period Roxy Music.

Thankfully, the original 7"single and night version of "My Own Way" have been restored to their rightful place on "Rio" as part of the second disc in the collection.

The sensual and muscular "Hungry Like The Wolf" was the song that set Duran Duran sailing into the stratosphere. The percolating, Jupiter 8 synth sequences, female moans, slap bass, Simmons drums, and Andy Taylor's chunky guitar riffs occupying the space between disco funk and rock power chords was a heady mix and an instant hit. It rocketed to #5 on the UK singles chart. It followed suit in the US where it peaked at #3.

What stands out most to me now, as it did back then, is that "Hungry Like Wolf", as well as its entire attendant album, sounds authentic and original. Stripped of its teen appeal of the time, it's an art rock album which stands head and shoulders high with some of the best work of the artists that inspired them like David Bowie, Japan and Roxy Music.

In fact, two of my favorite tracks (which is a tough decision regarding an album without any identifiable filler) are the dark, funky stance of "New Religion" and the stark, icy electronics of "The Chauffeur". The former sounds like a cross between the detached, plastic elegance of "Stay" from Bowie's "Station To Station" and "Siren" era Roxy Music jams like "Love Is The Drug" or "Both Ends Burning". The latter marries the chilly stillness of "Ghosts" by Japan with the eeriness of Roxy Music's "In Every Dream Home A Heartache".

My favorite inside story on the production of this incredible album closer is the time I found out that the crunchy, clinky sound that occurs at 2.38 is the sound of ice cubes dropped in a glass. Take a listen.

At one point, it was impossible to listen to "The Chauffeur" without recalling its brilliant video which was the height of Helmut Newton inspired, 80s, romantic, art house chic.

"Save A Prayer", Duran Duran's ethereal anthem, strangely was not issued as a single in the US until it was lifted from the live album, "Arena". It was skipped over in favor of the album's title track which rounded out the campaign for "Rio". I'd love to know the story behind not releasing "Save A Prayer" in the US. It was all over MTV. Radio played the bejeezus out of it. Essentially, the US got only two singles off "Rio" which is a little odd considering the album having been an omnipresent force on radio and television for the better part of two years.

As previously mentioned, the US album mixes, which were handled by David Kershenbaum, have never appeared on CD. Those mixes, the concept of which was to garner more significant radio airplay across America, featured Simon's vocals pushed more prominently to the front, punched up drum sounds, very few overdubs, and and a sonic sheen that smoothed out the slightly raw edges of the original UK masters.

The US mixes are tastefully done. They aren't glaringly obvious remixes. In fact, the most obvious change is at the end of the song, "Rio". At around the 3.45 mark their are background vocals which don't appear at all on any of the UK mixes and the saxophone solo has nearly disappeared from the end.

A deluxe edition of "Rio" wouldn't be complete without the extended, night versions which were at the forefront of dance culture in the 80s and ushered in the era of requisite club mixes for rock acts, thus creating blurred lines between two camps which radio pitted against each other only five, short years earlier. The night versions close out the second disc of rarities.

The b-sides are essential, particularly "Like An Angel", which was the original flip of "My Own Way", and the early, acoustic guitar version of "The Chauffeur". The demos, recorded at the old Manchester Square studios at EMI in London, give insight into just how fully formed the songs were before Colin Thurston, producer of the album, got his hands on them. Interestingly, the demos were recorded barely eight months before the album was released and only a couple of months after their debut hit the shops.

If you are one of the downloadably inclined masses, then you can pick up the deluxe edition of "Rio" on iTunes with two bonus tracks, an instrumental version of "My Own Way" and an alternate remix of "Hold Back The Rain".

The only black mark on the entire collection is the omission of the original, UK 7" single of "Rio" which clocks in at around 4.40. It has only ever been available on a Japanese promo CD released in 1988. The elusive, UK single version of "Rio" has never been released on any greatest hits collection or as part of the box set, "The Singles 81-85".

It has taken a very long time to get properly reissued albums from Duran Duran. Better late than never, I suppose. Thankfully, Nick Rhodes is now overseeing deluxified editions of their debut, self-titled longplayer, "Seven And The Ragged Tiger", "Notorious" and the woefully overlooked masterpiece that is "So Red The Rose" by the Le Bon/Rhodes/Taylor spin off project, Arcadia.

Along with their forthcoming 13th album (14th if one counts "Arena"), produced by man of the moment, Mark Ronson, the next round of reissues should see the light of day within the next twelve months. If they're as lovingly put together as the current "Rio" reissue, then I shall start saving my shekels now. Hey Nick, add "Big Thing" to that list while you're at it.