Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent collection: Essential, but..., June 18, 2002
This CD contains the best of the DURAN DURAN remixes available, and it's clearly a must for fans because, it's an excellent package of pictures & liner notes in addition to the music. And, there are a few benefits of ownership when you hit the Duran Duran Web Site as well.I own both this and "Strange Behavior". This gets 4 stars because it omitted the [excellent] remix versions of "All She Wants Is", "Notorious" and a few other later songs -- and I suspect that this is why "essential -|- night songs" is no longer in print (more people opted for the expanded song selection on STRANGE BEHAVIOR than the unique packaging & web-access offered on this CD). A minor point here: I also wish that the verison of "New Moon On Monday" had been placed on the same CD as the rest of the music. But at just over 70:30, the main CD is certainly not "too short", by any strech. Like DURAN DURAN "Decade" which featured superior packaging, but was superceded by "Greatest" which featured more songs, this CD, sadly, has not remained commercially competitive. On the plus side, people who did buy it have what is arguably one of the best dance and pop CD's available. I debated giving this 5 stars, but decided that if it is not good enough to keep in print because it was "outcompeted" by a more comprehensive set, then 4 was all that this CD package merited (if AMAZON.COM ever goes to a "10-scale", this one's a "9"). The 5 star rating would be merited if the remixes of "All SHe Wants Is" and "Notorious" were included here -- but then the package would be so good that fans might not ever buy anything else...
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally on CD - the Remixes!, March 6, 2002
This is the CD I've been waiting for since CDs started to be created. Duran Duran's music and remixes epitomize the 1980s. From the title of the CD, yes it is essential for you to have. In the 1980s I was (and still am) a huge Duran Duran fan. I bought everything from trading cards to posters to magazines to pins and even a satin jacket. The one thing I was obsessed with having were the extended mixes of their songs. Being a teenager and under the drinking age, I never was able to hear these in a club setting and rarely on the radio. However, they were available in my local record store in the import section on vinyl. I can remember taking my allowance and getting the next extended mix that I didn't have from week to week. This CD contains extended mixes of their hit songs as well as a bonus disc for "New Moon on Monday" which can only be listened to after visiting their official web page. This disc worked when the CD was first released in 1998. I have recently contacted the official web page to find out if they have a way for people to listen to this disc now since it is for Windows 3.1 and 95 and the web page doesn't reference this compilation. The CD also has a booklet attached to the cardboard case containing the story of Duran Duran with some early photos as well as during their tour in 1983-84. When buying and listening to this CD remember, these are not what you heard on the radio in the 1980s. These are extended re-mixes of the songs. If you are a fan of 1980s re-mixes and a Durannie, then this is the CD for you! On This CD, my favorite re-mixes are "The Reflex" (6 minutes and 36 seconds), "Is There Something I Should Know?" (A predominantly instrumental mix and 6 minutes and 42 seconds), and "Girls on Film" (5 minutes and 29 seconds). This version of "Girls on Film" is featured in the 'rated X' video which was not shown on MTV or VH-1. It was only found on their video compliations or Sony's Video 45s of the 1980s. This CD was an excellent addition to my Duran Duran collection. It is great to have these re-mixes on CD. No more scratchy noises from the LP or having to think about transferring the LPs to tape or CD.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fans Rejoice (If You Can Find It), May 18, 2004
Back in the late 80's, EMI/Capitol embarked on a limited series of "Essential" packages of artists, highlighting B-sides, rare and unreleased material. While must were just junk, some (like a Pet Shop Boys and Blondie set) were treasure troves of out of print and never before seen on CD collections.Duran Duran were in the treasure chest. As one of the first "New Wave/New Romantic" groups to recognize that the future of rock and roll was hidden somewhere on the dance floor, they consistently released amazing 12 inch singles during a time when many bands just taped extended interludes into pre-exisiting tracks. But DD went even farther, frequently reentering the studio to re-record entire arrangements and release them under the banner of "Night Versions." There was even a great four song EP called "Carnival" that was used to hype the new "Rio" album. (Long since deleted.) To that end, if you're either a Durannie from the 80's or an ancient habitue of nightclubs from that era, this collection will have you twitching with delight. Superb versions of "Planet Earth," "The Reflex" and "New Religion" are all here. The mix from the X-rated video version of "Girls On Film" is here. A fun look at Duran History courtesy of Nick Rhodes is also included. While not for a casual fan ("Greatest" will feed your appetite), "Essential Duran Duran" gives you a chance to hear some clubland oldies without the scratches and pops of the old 12 inchers.
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by Duran Duran 
