EMI RECORDS NEW RELEASE THE POWER STATION
CD & DVD
Release Date: 21st February 2005

‘We were kings of the world, notwithstanding the huge hangovers. We were 23 and we were playing with the big boys at The Power Station.’
JOHN TAYLOR 2004

What happened when Duran Duran met Chic and Robert Palmer?

EMI are delighted to announce the release of a new edition of the debut album by THE POWER STATION, to celebrate – remarkably – its 20th Anniversary. It’s big, bright, bold, daft, flamboyant and fun. It’s the sound of the 80s meeting rock of the 70s and the soul of the 60s. Few records have ever sounded quite so ferocious and, well, very, very loud. It’s a souvenir from an era when pop stars believed in dressing up rather than dressing down.

By 1984, the wheels had momentarily fallen off the Duran Duran juggernaut. From nought to worldwide success in less than four years, the band, like many others before them, found that it had all gotten a bit too much for them and the members needed some time apart. Had it been a decade earlier, the group would have all made solo albums about mystical hermits. But John Taylor was far too smart for that. These were new times. As the original synthesiser of punk and funk within Duran, he capitalised on a happy accident and masterminded one of the most successful albums of 1985.

THE POWER STATION was not originally going to be either a band or an album. Taylor knew he wanted to record with Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and make a version of T. Rex’s “Get It On”. After original vocalist Bebe Buell dropped out, he, Thompson, and his Duran cohort Andy Taylor sought a new singer. But they were now at a level where a small ad in Melody Maker would simply not suffice. They considered a revolving door policy with frontmen until partying acquaintance Robert Palmer arrived. His experience and musical erudition were warmly welcomed to the proceedings. “Get It On” was duly recorded with producer Bernard Edwards, then looking to equal his ex-Chic partner Nile Rodgers production triumphs with David Bowie and Madonna. From its spontaneous creation, the working arrangement gelled, and an album quickly followed.

As Taylor had learned to play bass a handful of years earlier to Chic’s Good Times, here he was, playing with that record’s drummer and being produced by the person who played the original part. The surprise and joy of John and Andy Taylor recording with their heroes at the New York studio which was to give the group its name courses deeply through the groove. Andy Taylor was unfettered and splashed his big rock guitar across the recording, creating a big, bright urban sound that was both of its time, yet strangely timeless.

Using every trick in the book to capture Thompson’s massive drums (including recording them down lift-shafts), their debut single, “Some Like It Hot”, a mêlée of bubbling horns and clipped guitar, shot to No. 12 in the UK and No. 6 in America. The seven other cuts, a mixture of originals and covers, helped the album reach the Top 20 both sides of the Atlantic.

In addition, there are now seven bonus tracks, including the Michael Des Barres-voiced “Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay” from the Arnold Schwarzenegger action pic Commando, appearing for the first time on a Power Station album, as well as a plethora of mixes that filled the ever-burgeoning single formats of the time.

And on top of all that, to complete this deluxe Power Station experience, the DVD features: the band in behind the scenes studio footage, interviews, the videos to ‘Some Like It Hot’ and ‘Get It On’ along with a bonus live version of ‘Some Like It Hot’ from Saturday Night Live, the only existing live footage of the band from that era performing with Robert Palmer.

Today, unbelievably, Palmer, Thompson and Edwards are no longer with us, while John and Andy Taylor are once again conquering the world with the reformed Duran Duran. Hear what they did on their holidays all those years ago, and whatever you do, play it loud.

THE POWER STATION remains a perfect testament to the giddiness of the time.

CD
1/ Some Like It Hot
2/ Murderess
3/ Lonely Tonight
4/ Communication
5/ Get It On (Bang A Gong)
6/ Go To Zero
7/ Harvest For The World
8/ Still In Your Heart
9/ Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay
10/The Heat Is On
11/Communication (long remix)
12/Get It On (7" mix)
13/Some Like It Hot And The Heat Is On
14/Communication (7" remix)
15/Some Like It Hot (7" edit)

DVD
1/ Introduction
2/ Some Like It Hot - video shoot
3/ Some Like It Hot - video
4/ On each other and recording # 1
5/ Get It On - video
6/ On each other and recording # 2
7/ Communication - video
8/ Summary/End credits
Bonus clip:
Performance of ‘Some Like It Hot’ from ‘Saturday Night Live’, February 6th 1985 (4.25)

DVD technical info:
Audio option: PCM
Screen : 4:3
Regions: All
Disc Type : DVD-5
Running Time (approx): 40 minutes
No. of Discs: 1
Subtitles: none

YAY!!!!!


now where is So Red the Rose?????

talk about MULTIPLE ORGASMS!!!! Thanks Vina! BTW, congrats on winning the DD tix!!
[Edited 12/2/04 8:45am]

Friggin' A!!!!!

I agree with JonSnow! Now they need to give us Arcadia So Red The Rose
(and give us all the extra features on it as well!!!! "Say The Word" remastered??? )
[Edited 12/2/04 8:58am]

purplegypsy said:

I KNEW you would cream over this!!!

By the way, did you catch Nick and Simon on CNN today? Simon looks guuuuud.



Thx for the congrats. I'm so excited! I'm gonna see them this Friday at the Jingle Ball http://www.histar.com/eve..._duran.php and then on Sunday at this exclusive event. YAY!

JediMaster said:

What would be really awesome to have would be the tv performances they did. I have one on tape from Spain or something. It's mimed, but still cool to see.

ok, got the answer to CNN interview, man I wanna see it. Cool something to look forward to buying in '05. Hmmm...I didn't know there was a video for Communication. Loved that song!

VinaBlue said:

DIdn't even know they were going to be on! BTW- did you hear that Simon was part of a gossip column in the UK-something about "an aging pop star (with a big nose) on a comeback trail 'powdering his nose' many times in the bathroom at some recent awards show" - someone posted it on the Strange Behaviour group and I was hoping this wasn't true since they all seem to be talking about how they are all drug-free now.

This is great news... Finally some moving pics from these guys!!!

Great you've won those tickets!! Can I come??

Great news; The Power Station was one of my favorite 80s projects; I felt that Tony Thompson's incredible drumming and Andy Taylor's rock guitar just elevated the entire thing. Thanks for the info, Vina.

I wish they had included the memorable SNL performance of "Bang A Gong" as well, but I guess you can't have everything.

Lennon said:

Oh wait, I mean
[Edited 12/2/04 14:07pm]

VinaBlue said:

Vina!! I like you

7 bonus tracks! The dvd sounds cool. I don't have this album on cd at all, so it will be cool to get back into The Power Station. I have the album on vinyl.

Today, unbelievably, Palmer, Thompson and Edwards are no longer with us. R.I.P.

It would have been cool if they included their Miami Vice appearance. Are they on the Live Aid dvd? Gotta add all these things to my collection.

VinaBlue said:

nope, no live aid stuff on the live aid dvd...too sad

Lennon said:

Damn. Duran Duran's performance has a song cut out, but I think it's because Simon hit a bum note in the song.

VinaBlue said:

that happens to him all the time!!!!! (I know, easy shot! )

abierman said:

There's a bum note in your avatar!

VinaBlue said:

luckily not Simon's!!

Looks like the release is getting pushed back.

From remembertheeighties.com:

"DURAN DURAN offshoot THE POWER STATION have delayed the expanded reissue of their eponymous album until March 21st. The release will feature a remastered and expanded CD as well as a DVD."
[Edited 1/19/05 6:29am]

purplegypsy said:[quote]Looks like the release is getting pushed back.

From remembertheeighties.com:

"DURAN DURAN offshoot THE POWER STATION have delayed the expanded reissue of their eponymous album until March 21st. The release will feature a remastered and expanded CD as well as a DVD."

Still great news.Palmer was king.Could sing anything,.amd is sorely missed.
RIP Robert Palmer 1949-2003.

I've always loved their cover of HARVEST FOR THE WORLD.

purplegypsy said:

I agree.Nice Isley's cover.

purplegypsy said:

Great duet off andy and Robert indeed!!



Didn't he die in 2004?????

13inchshoe said:

I only know Some Like It Hot and Get It On. I was wondering, looking at that track listing, if Harvest for the World was an Isley cover. Now I know

I was just listening to T. Rex today and was reminded that someone in the 80s had done a cover of their "Get it On" (Bang a Gong). I was almost going to start a thread asking who it was, and then I remembered Power Station.

I had no idea Bebe Buell was the original singer. And Michael Des Barres singing as well? Boy, there's the 70's groupie connection right there.
[Edited 1/19/05 13:16pm]

Didn't he die in 2004?????[/quote]

Nope.Sep 03.

Thank you sooooo much for posting this thread Vina

VinaBlue said:

Simon hit a really bad note during "a view to a kill".His voice did a Peter Brady during the chorus.