Last night I decided to listen to Notorious (haven't listened to it in months). It's still so fresh and ultra funky, John Taylor's bass is divine and Niles Rodgers production and guitar moments.

Also I might add that the non-single tracks are superb. Time 2 proclaim my eternal love for A Matter of Feeling!

.

Also the 12'' mixes of this era are like butter!

I still can't believe that "Meet el presidente" flopped!
[Edited 8/24/08 6:22am]

Matronik said:

This shows the difference between a PRODUCER and a BEATMAKER. Just look at what Nile was doing in his "heyday" with artists like Duran Duran, he kept the band sound while taking another side of them. Timbaland did the exact opposite with his work with Duran DUran, he sucked the life out of the band.

lastdecember said:

Niles did the same with the 2 Bowie albums he did. Let's dance and Black tie...are still Bowie.

Also Notorious is result of the Arcadia vs. Power Station equation (more of Power Station...especially in Hold me)
[Edited 8/24/08 6:29am]

Matronik said:

Nile was one of the last "producers" to actually go into the studio with the artist(s), today i feel and know that most of the so called producers dont even meet the artists, they email the beats and the artist email the vocals, etc..thats where the disconnect comes and it shows in the output.

lastdecember said:

But what about miss ross?

I sampled it ages ago and loved it better than the other duran duran albums, so I'm eventually going to buy it. It's probably their funkiest.

alphastreet said:

Download these versions from the 12'' singles:

Notorious (Extended Mix)
Skin Trade (Stretch Mix)
'Meet El Presidente' (12'' Version)
We Need You (B-Side)

best duran cd by far...every song is brilliant...even though they now claim it was a ''mistake''...'matter of feeling'' is even better than ''save a prayer''...also love ''winter marches on''.....pity they followed it with the undercooked ''big thing''

peppeken said:

Big Thing had kiss-ass singles like All she wants and Do you believe in shame. Still it misses the "funkyness" of Notorious.

Big Thing has a big cult among duranies

Gonna have to get that album. "Notorious" is still the jam, all these decades later.

That one is my 2nd fave Duran Duran album. All 12" and other mixes and versions are must haves.

funkyslsistah said:

I think my favorite DD 12'' mixes was one of Arcadia:

Goodbye Is Forever (Extended Remix)

I think it's one of the few I have left to hear. I am not a big fan of Skin Trade...that could be where my issue lies.

superspaceboy said:

It's a great album - here are a songs:

"American Science":


"A Matter of Feeling":


"Vertigo (Do the Demolition)":



Some have mentioned Arcadia here...I think they were one of the most overlooked bands of the 80s:


"Missing"



"The Promise"



"Keep Me in the Dark"


Also, I loved their latest CD "Red Carpet Massacre" I think it's one of their best. It's hot. My 76-year-old momma even loves it. I think it's Grammy-worthy.

"Nite Runner"




"Falling Down"

applekisses said:

Notorious and Red Carpet Massacre are my favorite DD albums outside of the first three.

AlexdeParis said:

I love the first three too!
It seemed like a lot of people really didn't like Red Carpet Massacre - I'm not sure why.

applekisses said:

For me its BIG THING and Pop Trash, i still feel that Warren is the most missed member at this point especially. Its not so much about not liking RCM, because i do like some tracks on it, its just the emptiness and lack of sounding like a band, to me this was Simon LeBon's first solo album.

'Liberty' also has some great tracks...'Serious', 'Venice Drowning' and 'My Antartica'is gorgeous..they have since said this cd was overproduced.....which make some tracks like 'Read my Lips' and 'Hot Head' sound dated.....still that's the one problem with Duran....they should take more time on each album as far too many filler tracks which bring the project down....