Demon Music Group are to about to put out a comprehensive looking 2CD set (under their Music Club Deluxe imprint) which covers the band’s output right up until the point when the Decade hits compilation was originally released (late 1989).

Although by focusing on the period in question we are denied mega-hits Ordinary World and Come Undone, this compilation looks far richer than EMI’s own 1998 collection Greatest, and remarkably can boast EVERY single released by the band in the 1980s alongside some well chosen album tracks and the odd B-side.

Rarities include the original single version of Rio track My Own Way – a string laden production that is very different to the album track, and Burning The Ground, the creative mash-up that was released as a single to promote the 1989 Decade release, but did not feature on that compilation. Hold Me and Matter Of Feeling are two excellent Notorious album tracks, although it’s unfortunate that no space could be found for Skin Trade flipside We Need You or I Believe/All I Need To Know from the All She Wants Is single. They are two of Duran Duran’s most charming B-side recordings.

Whether the world needs another Duran Duran compilation is debatable, but at least The Biggest And The Best (clumsy title) is not just rehashing The Greatest, which itself was almost identical to Decade. Moody album tracks such as The Chauffeur (“..Sing Blue Silver”), and The Seventh Stranger will always be an important part of the Duran Duran offering and it is pleasing to see them included here.

Full track listing:

CD 1

• 1 Planet Earth
• 2 Girls On Film
• 3 My Own Way (Single Mix)
• 4 Hungry Like The Wolf
• 5 Careless Memories
• 6 Hold Back The Rain
• 7 Sound Of Thunder
• 8 Faith In This Colour
• 9 New Religion
• 10 New Moon On Monday
• 11 Union Of The Snake
• 12 The Wild Boys
• 13 ‘Meet El Presidente’
• 14 Burning The Ground
• 15 Night Boat
• 16 Tel Aviv
• 17 The Chauffeur

CD 2

• 1 Is There Something I Should Know?
• 2 The Reflex
• 3 A View To A Kill
• 4 Rio
• 5 Shadows On Your Side
• 6 Of Crime And Passion
• 7 Hold Me
• 8 Notorious
• 9 I Don’t Want Your Love
• 10 All She Wants Is
• 11 Big Thing
• 12 Skin Trade
• 13 Do You Believe In Shame
• 14 A Matter Of Feeling
• 15 Lake Shore Driving
• 16 The Seventh Stranger
• 17 Save A Prayer

strange behavoir is my fave comp as it's all the excellent 12" versions. well not all of them unfortunately, but still a great 2cd set

Great collection if you want their best from all the albums before 1990's "Liberty".

In other DD news,

British rock band, Duran Duran, have been forced to cancel tonight’s show at The Revel Ovation Hall, in Atlantic City (Saturday August 25th), because keyboardist Nick Rhodes, who has been unwell for the past few days, has been advised by doctors that he should not perform. Rhodes, who along with the rest of the band, has now been on the road for almost two years in support of their latest “All You Need Is Now” album, has been experiencing an array of symptoms that doctors believe could be the result of exhaustion.

Speaking from his hotel tonight, Nick said “I have struggled through the last few nights, hoping that I could simply work through this, but today I felt so unwell I had to see a doctor. We absolutely hate to disappoint our incredibly loyal fans and cancel a show at the last minute, but unfortunately the doctor has strongly recommended that this is what we do on this occasion – so it is with enormous regret that we are unable to perform in Atlantic City tonight.”

The band are looking at whether it will be possible to reschedule the show within the next few days, so ticket-holders should hold on to their tickets until further details are announced.

- ends –

''Late Bar'' (released as the b-side to ''Planet Earth'') would've fit perfectly on this compilation. That throbbing bass line and I've always found Le Bon's lyrics rewarding.