Next up in Wet Thud's series of countdowns devoted to the greatest acts of the past forty years is Duran Duran. Coming out of the New Romantic scene of late-1970s England, the group combined disparate influences ranging from punk to ambient electronica to disco, creating a unique sound that helped define the first half of the following decade. Over the course of their first trio of studio albums, the original five-piece lineup of Duran Duran became one of the biggest bands in the world, making the newly-popularized format of music videos their plaything in the process.
A wave of fan hysteria surrounding the group only subsided when they announced a hiatus in late 1985, to allow members time to work on side projects. Though they regrouped just a year later, it would be as a threesome, with original guitarist Andy Taylor and original drummer Roger Taylor (no relation) leaving the fold. During this period, there were still hit songs, but each of the next three Duran Duran albums sold progressively less.
By the time of 1993's self-titled album (not their first), the group had regrown to a quartet, with Warren Cuccurullo, formerly of Missing Persons and Frank Zappa's band, having officially joined. This became one of the most successful albums in Duran Duran's career, despite arriving fifteen years after their formation. The group was again playing venues the size they'd grown accustomed to filling on their early tours.
This second coming was short-lived though, with the band releasing in 1995, a much-maligned album of cover versions that sold relatively poorly and was ravaged by critics. Original bassist John Taylor (again, no relation) parted ways with the group during sessions for the follow-up, an album for which the label had such low expectations, it didn't even garner a release in the band's native England. Finally, in 1997, Duran Duran was dropped by EMI, their home since their 1981 debut.
Though it had its highlights, an album in the year 2000 generated little buzz, and singer Simon LeBon and keyboardist Nick Rhodes made the decision to part ways with Cuccurullo and attempt a reformation of the group's original lineup. The resultant album, 2004's Astronaut, was the band's best-selling in years, proving that the requisite ingredient in Duran Duran is more Taylors.
Andy Taylor may have jumped the Duran ship again a few years later, but the remaining original members, LeBon, Rhodes, Taylor and Taylor, have continued on, releasing a further three albums together since 2007. They continue to headline international tours and play to festival crowds today, a full forty years after they first formed at the Rum Runner in Birmingham.
Did your favourites make the list? These are Wet Thud's Top 40 Duran Duran Songs. Find a Spotify playlist of the entire countdown following number one.
040. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
039. "Electric Barbarella" (single from Medazzaland, 1997)
038. "Too Much Information" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
037. "Burning The Ground" (single from Decade, 1989)
036. "Careless Memories" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
035. "Tiger Tiger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
034. "Perfect Day" (single from Thank You, 1995)
033. "American Science" (album cut from Notorious, 1986)
032. "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) [live]" (b-side from "The Reflex" single, 1984)
031. "Night Boat" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
030. "Skin Trade" (single from Notorious, 1986)
029. "What Happens Tomorrow" (single from Astronaut, 2004)
028. "Someone Else Not Me" (single from Pop Trash, 2000)
027. "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
026. "Serious" (single from Liberty, 1990)
025. "Do You Believe In Shame?" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
024. "My Own Way" (single from Rio, 1981)
023. "A View To A Kill" (single from the 'A View To A Kill' soundtrack, 1985)
022. "Girl Panic!" (single from All You Need Is Now, 2010)
021. "Pressure Off" [with Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers] (single from Paper Gods, 2015)
020. "All She Wants Is" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
019. "Rio" (single from Rio, 1982)
018. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (single, 1983)
017. "Violence Of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" (single from Liberty, 1990)
016. "I Don't Want Your Love" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
015. "Friends Of Mine" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
014. "The Seventh Stranger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
013. "Girls On Film" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
012. "The Wild Boys" (single from Arena, 1984)
011. "Union Of The Snake" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
010. "Hold Back The Rain" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
009. "Notorious" (single from Notorious, 1986)
008. "Come Undone" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
007. "New Moon On Monday" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
006. "Hungry Like The Wolf" (single from Rio, 1982)
005. "The Reflex" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
004. "Planet Earth" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
003. "Save A Prayer" (single from Rio, 1982)
002. "Ordinary World" (single from Duran Duran, 1992)
001. "The Chauffeur" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
***** text-only version of the list *****
###. "Song Title" (release format from Album Title, Year)
040. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
039. "Electric Barbarella" (single from Medazzaland, 1997)
038. "Too Much Information" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
037. "Burning The Ground" (single from Decade, 1989)
036. "Careless Memories" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
035. "Tiger Tiger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
034. "Perfect Day" (single from Thank You, 1995)
033. "American Science" (album cut from Notorious, 1986)
032. "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) [live]" (b-side from "The Reflex" single, 1984)
031. "Night Boat" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
030. "Skin Trade" (single from Notorious, 1986)
029. "What Happens Tomorrow" (single from Astronaut, 2004)
028. "Someone Else Not Me" (single from Pop Trash, 2000)
027. "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
026. "Serious" (single from Liberty, 1990)
025. "Do You Believe In Shame?" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
024. "My Own Way" (single from Rio, 1981)
023. "A View To A Kill" (single from the 'A View To A Kill' soundtrack, 1985)
022. "Girl Panic!" (single from All You Need Is Now, 2010)
021. "Pressure Off" [with Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers] (single from Paper Gods, 2015)
020. "All She Wants Is" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
019. "Rio" (single from Rio, 1982)
018. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (single, 1983)
017. "Violence Of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" (single from Liberty, 1990)
016. "I Don't Want Your Love" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
015. "Friends Of Mine" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
014. "The Seventh Stranger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
013. "Girls On Film" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
012. "The Wild Boys" (single from Arena, 1984)
011. "Union Of The Snake" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
010. "Hold Back The Rain" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
009. "Notorious" (single from Notorious, 1986)
008. "Come Undone" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
007. "New Moon On Monday" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
006. "Hungry Like The Wolf" (single from Rio, 1982)
005. "The Reflex" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
004. "Planet Earth" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
003. "Save A Prayer" (single from Rio, 1982)
002. "Ordinary World" (single from Duran Duran, 1992)
001. "The Chauffeur" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
001--020, 023--027, 030--040 EMI Records
021 Warner Bros. Records
022 Tapemodern Records
028 Hollywood Records
029 Epic Records
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