By Dorrie Williams-Wheeler your imissthe80s.com webmaster
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I am sure you know by now that the original members of
Duran Duran are all back together. They are recording and
planning a new album and world tour. They have two upcoming
U.S. dates-a show in Costa Mesa, California and a Las Vegas
show. They also have several Japan dates, one which sold
out in one hour.
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Duran Duran are red hot again and now is the
perfect time for the release of the highly anticipated box
set. Duran Duran-the singles 81-85 includes 13 CD's.
Each CD is packaged in it's own individual sleeve which recreates
the art work from the original 12 inch singles. The compilation
includes the singles themselves, the rare and hard to find
B-sides, and the ever popular Night Versions of the songs.
The compilation includes 40 songs in total. The compilation
ranges in price from $37.50 (the current AMAZON.COM price)-$49.00
(the current price at FYE's on-line store.)
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True blue Duranies will be inclined to purchase
the compilation, we have to have everything that Duran Duran
puts out, right? However, some of us may need more convincing
than others. essential-Night Versions was released
in 1998. This 11-song CD included the Night Versions of
many of the popular early songs, such as "Planet Earth",
"Girls on Film" and "Hungry Like the Wolf."
1999 brought Strange Behavior, the two-disc import
CD which included several Night Versions and various mixes
of the early songs and their later work.
So why buy Duran Duran the singles 81-85?
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The packaging is exquisite. The compilation
comes in an unassuming black box, but when you open the
box, the individual CD's with the original artwork are so
bright and colorful, they almost remind you of little Duran
Duran trading cards. They look so nice, you almost don't
want to listen to them. Even the individual discs themselves
have artwork on them.
Noticeably missing from the compilation is a color booklet
or something personal from the band. Included with the compilation
is a folded white pamphlet that opens up into a mini black
and white poster of the group in their early days. The flip
side of the poster includes thank you's various individuals
who helped in the preparation of the box set, including
a thank you to the group themselves.
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The best thing about this compilation is the
music itself. This is the first time that all of the B-sides
are packaged on an official release.
B-sides in the compilation include: "Late Bar,"
"Khanada," "Fame," "Faith In This
Colour," "Secret October," and "Make Me
Smile."
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If you aren't a die hard Duranie and don't care
about the B-sides don't worry, all of your old favorites are
there. The compilation includes all of the major release singles
from that era, and includes "Planet Earth," Rio",
"Hungry Like The Wolf," "New Moon On Monday","
and "The Reflex."
The music sounds excellent, the recording quality is absolutely
superb. The only Night Version I noticed that was missing
is "New Religion" and I am assuming this is because
this song was never released as a single nor was it a B-side.
This means, don't quite toss out your essential-night versions
CD just yet. |
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This box set is the perfect addition to a Duran
Duran collectors collection. It is also just the thing Duran
Duran fans need to get us hyped for the upcoming reunion tour
and the new album. This is the first time since 1985 that
the original line-up are performing together. Do you know
how many Duran Duran fans have been waiting for Simon, Nick,
John, Andy and Roger to get back together again?
All of our dreams our coming true. The original line up is
back together, they are touring, we have our box set and hopefully
we will be getting a DVD of the videos soon.
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Now Available for order!
Duran
Duran-The Singles Box Set 1981-1985
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