The album introduced the Birmingham band to the world as New Romantics, a label Duran would soon shed. But the now-classic album is so much more: a new wave opening salvo with a touch of darkness that has inspired countless musicians over its four decades.
Hit singles “Planet Earth” and “Girls On Film,” with their unforgettable videos, are the album’s most recognizable moments. The second single, “Careless Memories,” and “Friends Of Mine” are high-energy tracks that became concert staples.
But there is dark beauty lurking under the new wave sheen. “Anyone Out There?” and “(Waiting for the) Nightboat” almost veer into goth. “To the Shore” produces another deeper moment, though the track was removed from later pressings of the album in favor of the stand-alone single “Is There Something I Should Know?”
“Sound Of Thunder,” the first song the band wrote together shortly after joining forces with singer Simon Le Bon, rounds out side two of the album, along with “Tel Aviv.” A demo of the latter song, which ended up as a mostly instrumental track, shows a rock side of Duran the band may have decided was best kept hidden in the synth-centric ’80s. As for “Sound Of Thunder,” the fact that Duran wrote the song straight out of the gate truly shows that the band was meant to be.
There really isn’t a bad track on “Duran Duran.” Here’s to 40 years of this classic album, and to many more 40th anniversary celebrations to come.
