Andy Taylor also worked with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) on his album Thunder. I was there at the Record Plant while they were recording it and John Taylor popped by for a visit.
I completely forgot about Arcadia, so thank you—I feel like my ears have aged enough to hear it better than when I was 11 years old and wanting more of Andy Taylor's guitar. Over the past few years I've gone back to revisit just why I loved Duran Duran so much in their early years, while trying to convince friends who think I'm joking why they might too. I'm going to sit down with Arcadia on the headphones, maybe I can add that arrow to my quiver.
😁 Keep me posted Jamie. Curious if you agree that Arcadia's album has aged quite well (and if it can become an "arrow"). Thanks for reading & reacting !
There was a big change in the market in the mid 80s with the teen demographic who had brought DD to fame in the early 1980s in decline and records (specifically CDs) being sold primarily to the over 25s for the first time since the 1950s. I guess Power Station fitted better into that market although I prefered Arcadia by far. Both, however, lack that post punk grit of early DD like Friends of Mine or Careless Memories and I must admit I largely lost interest until the Notorious album in 86 when they really began to engage with the dark side of fame on tracks like Skin Trade and Do The Demolition. BTW, good to hear Spagna in the mix as Hot Cold and Don't Walk by The Big Supreme still sounds fab. Do you know Bonk, one of Barry Flynn's other projects and in particular The Smile and the Kiss - another early/mid 80s 12 inch pop banger!
Great insight Paul. I hadn't taken the switch from vinyl to cd into account but you're right this must have had an influence on the changing taste. One thing is sure that mid eighties the switch in musical taste was bigger than you might think. Writing the post, I was thinking by myself : What if they had continued without the side projects and the "sabbatical"? Would they have endured on the level of 82-83 ? I've got more Duran Duran twelve inches on my list so I'll be surely revisiting that question. It's an interesting one. And no I never heard the Bonk twelve inch before. I'm not that familiar with The Big Supreme rep. I just looked it up and listened to it. Great stuff ! Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts ! Enjoy your weekend !
While I always liked Some Like it Hot, I'd completely forgotten about Election Day. Even listening to the original version now it barely sounds familiar! Still, it has elements of that great Duran Duran sound which I really love!
I was a huge fan of Duran Duran! I had the Wild Boys 12” (still do!). I loved the Arcadia album/project. I listened to the album on repeat for quite a while (it’s one I sold while in college sadly). I preferred Arcadia over the Power Station. I was probably just starting to get to the point where I was rejecting “popular” music.
I'm with you on preferring Arcadia over the Power Station Kristin 😃. The fact is that, for some strange reason, So Red The Rose has aged much much better than the Power Station album. I listen to it much more than I did then. Anyway thanks for reading & reacting Kristin ! Enjoy your weekend !
Yes, it aged better than Power Station for sure. The production is less dated, less tied to the mid-80s. But Power Station had the songs and as much of a Durannie as I am, Robert Palmer was a better vocalist than Simon Lebon.
I recently played both albums and could barely get through all of Power Station. It was this era of pursuing other projects that has ultimately led DD to have a 40-plus year career.
Andy Taylor also worked with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) on his album Thunder. I was there at the Record Plant while they were recording it and John Taylor popped by for a visit.
Thanks for reading and sharing the info Lori ! Have a great weekend !
Sure thing! Enjoy your weekend!
I completely forgot about Arcadia, so thank you—I feel like my ears have aged enough to hear it better than when I was 11 years old and wanting more of Andy Taylor's guitar. Over the past few years I've gone back to revisit just why I loved Duran Duran so much in their early years, while trying to convince friends who think I'm joking why they might too. I'm going to sit down with Arcadia on the headphones, maybe I can add that arrow to my quiver.
😁 Keep me posted Jamie. Curious if you agree that Arcadia's album has aged quite well (and if it can become an "arrow"). Thanks for reading & reacting !
There was a big change in the market in the mid 80s with the teen demographic who had brought DD to fame in the early 1980s in decline and records (specifically CDs) being sold primarily to the over 25s for the first time since the 1950s. I guess Power Station fitted better into that market although I prefered Arcadia by far. Both, however, lack that post punk grit of early DD like Friends of Mine or Careless Memories and I must admit I largely lost interest until the Notorious album in 86 when they really began to engage with the dark side of fame on tracks like Skin Trade and Do The Demolition. BTW, good to hear Spagna in the mix as Hot Cold and Don't Walk by The Big Supreme still sounds fab. Do you know Bonk, one of Barry Flynn's other projects and in particular The Smile and the Kiss - another early/mid 80s 12 inch pop banger!
Great insight Paul. I hadn't taken the switch from vinyl to cd into account but you're right this must have had an influence on the changing taste. One thing is sure that mid eighties the switch in musical taste was bigger than you might think. Writing the post, I was thinking by myself : What if they had continued without the side projects and the "sabbatical"? Would they have endured on the level of 82-83 ? I've got more Duran Duran twelve inches on my list so I'll be surely revisiting that question. It's an interesting one. And no I never heard the Bonk twelve inch before. I'm not that familiar with The Big Supreme rep. I just looked it up and listened to it. Great stuff ! Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts ! Enjoy your weekend !
While I always liked Some Like it Hot, I'd completely forgotten about Election Day. Even listening to the original version now it barely sounds familiar! Still, it has elements of that great Duran Duran sound which I really love!
Well that's why I'm here Dan ! 😁 To re-connect with those forgotten gems. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend !
I was a huge fan of Duran Duran! I had the Wild Boys 12” (still do!). I loved the Arcadia album/project. I listened to the album on repeat for quite a while (it’s one I sold while in college sadly). I preferred Arcadia over the Power Station. I was probably just starting to get to the point where I was rejecting “popular” music.
I'm with you on preferring Arcadia over the Power Station Kristin 😃. The fact is that, for some strange reason, So Red The Rose has aged much much better than the Power Station album. I listen to it much more than I did then. Anyway thanks for reading & reacting Kristin ! Enjoy your weekend !
Yes, it aged better than Power Station for sure. The production is less dated, less tied to the mid-80s. But Power Station had the songs and as much of a Durannie as I am, Robert Palmer was a better vocalist than Simon Lebon.
I recently played both albums and could barely get through all of Power Station. It was this era of pursuing other projects that has ultimately led DD to have a 40-plus year career.
I'm with you on the comparison Robert Palmer vs Simon LeBon 😃. Thanks for reading & reacting Steve !