Duran Duran [CD+DVD, Deluxe Edition]

Duran Duran | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: CD+DVD, Deluxe Edition
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B00362DRNG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,103 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Girls On Film

2. Planet Earth

3. Anyone Out There

4. To The Shore

5. Careless Memories

6. Night Boat

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Girls On Film - Previously Unreleased (AIR Studios Versions [recorded July 29, 1980])

2. Tel Aviv - Previously Unreleased (AIR Studios Versions [recorded July 29, 1980])

3. Anyone Out There - Previously Unreleased (Manchester Square Demos (recorded December 8, 1980))

4. Planet Earth - Previously Unreleased (Manchester Square Demos (recorded December 8, 1980))

5. Friends Of Mine - Previously Unreleased (Manchester Square Demos (recorded December 8, 1980))

6. Late Bar - Previously Unreleased (Manchester Square Demos (recorded December 8, 1980))

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Planet Earth (Music video) [DVD]

2. Planet Earth (Club Version) (Music video) [DVD]

3. Careless Memories (Music video) [DVD]

4. Girls On Film (Long Uncensored Version - explicit) (Music video) [DVD]

5. Girls On Film (Short Censored Version) (Music video)[DVD]

6. Night Boat (Music video) [DVD]

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2010 remaster. CD1 is their original 1981 debut album. CD2 is packed full of previously unreleased material including: The AIR Studios versions, The Manchester Square Demos, BBC Radio 1 Peter Powell session and Night Versions of Planet Earth & Girls on Film. The PAL DVD includes Original Videos plus previously unreleased versions of TOTP, Old Grey Whistle Test, Get Set For Summer and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop footage. Specially packaged in a clamshell box with lift off lid & includes an 8 page booklet, 5 postcards of individual band shots plus a collectors folded poster that was used in Japanese original LP. 42 tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible remastering - Loud, distorted, unpleasant, June 17, 2010

By 

S. Davies - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duran Duran (Audio CD)

For anyone wanting to read a multitude of honest reviews of this product, rather than all of this nonsensical blind praise listed here, please read the reviews at Amazon's UK site.

The "remastering" on the two latest DD releases is terrible! The remastering engineer turned the volume WAY TOO LOUD, creating heavy compression and severe distortion. It's resulted in an all around unpleasant listening experience. This has become too common place among CD reissues, especially over the past several years. The "Loudness War", as it is termed, is the result of the iPod generation. The labels, and sometimes the artists (who may not necessarily know the downfalls of their request), want their songs to POP from the speakers when in shuffle mode or added to a playlist, so the result is the volume on CD's gets louder and louder. Of course, this is at the sacrifice of the dynamics and definition of the original music. EMI are already in financial turmoil, and the negative reviews of their products are not going to do anything to help their sinking ship stay afloat.

Some artists go out of their way to ensure their CD's do not suffer from the pitfalls of the loudness war. Thomas Dolby posted a message during the remastering of his first two albums to inform concerned fans that he was going to ensure the dynamics of his music remained. The result was two stunning remasters of his classic albums.

Alan Wilder oversaw the remastering of the Depeche Mode back catalog, and as a result none of those albums were compressed, and most were completely satisfying to fans. If these labels are blasting their music for the sake of standing out on an iPod, then release a CD with proper dynamics, then turn up the music another 100 decibels for the MP3's that you make available on iTunes or other download sites. That way everyone wins. This overblown volume and distortion/destruction of music has got to stop.

UPDATE: EMI have recently responded to the loads of negative comments regarding these two reissues. The only thing they admit fault on was the damaged intro to 'Girls on Film'. They blame a damaged tape, but anyone with an ounce of simple home PC audio software experience can tell you a glitch like this can be fixed in seconds. What's worse is EMI mention nothing about the overblown volume, distortion, and generally terrible sound quality, and state they do not intend to rectify any of the problems. Funny, but I don't recall a single negative review about the sound quality of the original DD CD's from the 80's. It's pretty bad when a CD mastered 20 years ago sounds worlds better than a CD done today. Great job EMI. Just another hole in your already sinking ship.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Studio Version of "Tel Aviv" is reason enough to purchase!, May 21, 2010

By 

Shannon "Big Bond Fan" (Canton, Gabon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duran Duran (Audio CD)

Okay, I had some skepticism of the Collector's Edition of "Duran Duran" since I was unsure of the sound quality and the various selections that were being offered up. To get the remastering issue on the table, the original album tracks (including "To The Shore") and the B-Sides of "Late Bar", "Faster Than Light", "Khanada", and "Fame" all sounded fantastic and the sound quality was enhanced to the degree that you can tell a significant difference between the original CD of this album and this remastered version.

The other reason that I had hesitated was that I was that I thought that the demos would not have been up to the same caliber of the original songs, but how wrong I was! There are some rarities and unreleased versions included that will help bump up the collectibility of this volume. Case in point, when I heard the studio version of "Tel Aviv", I was skeptical because the song starts out very brooding and dark (much like the debut DD album material), but during the instrumental bridge of this song, Andy Taylor just ROCKS IT with some really powerful guitar, complemented by the pulsating drumbeats from Roger Taylor. Towards the end of the instrumental bridge, John Taylor KICKS IT with a pounding, bass beat to Andy Taylor's guitar. It is by far one of the best tracks on the collection and I much prefer this version to the original instrumental version of "Tel Aviv", which was included on the original album. Also, if you listen to the studio version of "Girls Of Film", it sounds like you are magically transported back to the days of the early 80s when synth pop was just beginning to take off (If you are older than 40, you know what I mean! Anyone under 40, sorry you were not there to experience the magic and wonderment of the 80s, which DD was a big part of!)

All in all, I have purchased the Collector's Editions of "Rio" and "Seven And The Ragged Tiger" along with this Collector's Edition and this one by far surpasses "Rio" and "Seven And The Ragged Tiger"! (I know, I know, a lot of the Duranies are probably saying, "Well, wait a minute, "Rio" is a bonefied New Wave Classic and "Seven And The Ragged Tiger" includes "The Reflex", which was the band's first Number 1 hit in the US) But, it is a matter of opinion and how much of a DD fan that you are. I run a continuous MP3 track of DD songs on my MP3 player of my all-time DD favorites and I had to include the Studio Version of "Tel Aviv" - it's that GOOD!

All in all, I recommend this as a strong purchase, as even though I'm an original DD fan from 1981, there were even a few pleasant gems that even surprised me! The only thing I could not figure out are the differences between the Extended Night Version and the Club Mix of "Girls On Film" - they sound exactly the same! You can tell a huge difference between the Night Version and the Club Mix of "Planet Earth", so I'm not sure why the band felt like they had to distinguish these 2 versions of "Girls On Film". The rest of the goodies are included here including, "Careless Memories", "Night Boat", and the long-lost (but always welcome!), "To The Shore". A great, great purchase that I am not regretting - Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars BAD Remaster, Great Content, July 29, 2010

By 

litemakr (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Duran Duran (Audio CD)

I am at a loss for words about what quality control at EMI was thinking when they approved these "remasters". This album isn't as bad as Seven and the Ragged Tiger, which is just disgraceful, but it's not good. Not sure why there are so many good reviews on here, if you look on Amazon UK, people are not happy with the sound. It is flat and way over compressed, plain and simple. It's not even compressed WELL. Very amateurish and inexcusable for a highly anticpated (and pricey) classic album release. My original CD release sounds much better, and that is what I will listen to.

On the plus side, the content is fantastic. Remixes, B-Sides and demos are all here. Plus ALL of the videos (finally!) are on here and in excellent quality.

I bought the first 3 "remastered" DD albums blindly, but will wait for reviews before I purchase any more in the series.