Joined: Oct 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 28 Location: pop trash, pennsylvania
a blog from roger taylor « Result #1 Yesterday at 11:52am »
A Blog from Roger November 23rd, 2009 As it rapidly approaches the year 2010 (and of course my 49th and three quarters birthday) it has become apparent that the album is going to take a little longer that envisioned. We always tend to get carried along with the euphoria of coming up with those initial ideas and recordings that tend to flow very very quickly but invariably forget that its all the fine crafting, honing of each painstaking lyric and mixing that can really stretch the recording process out..but we pride ourselves on being an album band, and want to make sure we deliver the absolute best representation of where we are today…and I can assure you that this record really is going to be worth waiting for.
I’m spending some much needed time at home at the moment, which is great after being on the road so much over the last few years – although at times I do feel like some sort of stay at home husband in a mind warping holding pattern. I have, however, become extremely nimble and well practised in the ancient art of ‘hoover dodging’ as it roars towards my be-socked feet each morning. I now have lightening reflexes in my lower legs that I have not had for some years! I also got to DJ at a party hosted by Cindy Crawford in London. She looks amazing and is still a very down to earth girl, which is always good, and no, she didn’t request ‘Freedom’ by George Michael once throughout a long evening! I must say though that I am already starting to fantasize about stepping on board the aeroplane next year that will wing me to the first show of the Duran Duran 2010 world tour
I have also realised that when I am home, I very rarely venture more than two or three miles from my house. I love the area of London that I live in, and it has become my village, so the idea of venturing into North West London rather than my native South West London being an absolutely preposterous idea akin to being being a sailor that sets sail into what he thinks is actually a flat earth with the complete expectation of falling off into the great abyss. I think maybe a lot of people in cities live like that, I know some people that live in North London that intently resist coming to into SW London in absolute fear that they may come into contact with a ..wait for it…’a Chelsea FC supporter’..very tribal and totally ridiculous!
Talking of football (or soccer to those of an American persuasion), it has been a great pleasure having the time time to catch up with the one and only Aston Villa FC. I went with 3 generations of the Taylor family a couple of weeks ago, we had the most amazing day watching them outplay Chelsea for 90 minutes…praise to the great Agbonlahor… Incredible…thank you Martin O’Neill! (oh and thanks Sharon.B too).
Nick, Dom and went to see the re-union of one of our all time favourite bands, Mott The Hoople. They apparently hadn’t played together for about 30 years, but they were amazing, and Ian Hunter definitely still has it in spades. It took me right back to the Park Hall school disco circa 1975. I almost expected to look down and see myself wearing a high-waisted pair of Oxford bags and a Ben Sherman penny round collared shirt! Oh, and I caught with our old 80’s rivals Spandau at the O2, it really is great to see them playing together again and hope they continue to do so.
….back in the studio shortly, will keep you posted.
ARCADIA So Red The Rose (2010 issue UK Collectors Edition 3-disc [2CD/1DVD] set - Just after Duran Duran's popularity peaked in late 1984 and early 1985, Arcadia formed, comprising of three Duran Duran members: Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes & Roger Taylor. Originally released in December 1985, All Music guide describe 'So Red The Rose' as 'the best album Duran never made', and features contributions by a plethora of acclaimed artists such as David Gilmour, Sting [backing vocalist on 'The Promise'], Herbie Hanthingy & Grace Jones [whose spoken word can be heard on 'The Flame' & 'Election Day']. This deluxe edition comprises the 9-track original album expanded with 7 Bonus Recordings; plus a Bonus CD featuring 12 rare recordings; and a Bonus DVD which follows the filming of five music videos from the album 'So Red The Rose' and the interesting combination of directors, locations, behind the scene footage & photographic montages come together to give a fascinating insight into the world of video production. The collection of videos including Arcadia's first single 'Election Day' are shown in full, including Dean Chamberlain's rarely seen interpretation of the song 'Missing'). [released 08 February 2010]
CD1: 1. Election Day 5.30 2. Keep Me In The Dark 4.32 3. Goodbye Is Forever 3.49 4. The Flame 4.24 5. Missing 3.40 6. Rose Arcana 0.51 7. The Promise 7.30 8. El Diablo 6.05 9. Lady Ice 7.32
Bonus Recordings: 10. Say The Word [Theme from 'Playing For Keeps'] - 7" Edit [4.29] 11. She Moody And Grey, She's Mean And Restless [4.28] 12. Election Day - Single Version [4.30] 13. Goodbye Is Forever - Single Remix [4.16] 14. The Promise - 7" Mix [4.45] 15. The Flame - 7" Remix [4.05] 16. Say The Word [Theme from 'Playing For Keeps'] - Soundtrack Version [5.06]
CD TWO 1. Election Day - Consensus Mix [8.39] 2. Goodbye Is Forever - 12" Extended Vocal Mix [6.37] 3. The Promise - Extended Version [5.35] 4. Rose Arcana - Extended [5.37] 5. The Flame - Extended Remix [7.20] 6. Say The Word [Theme from 'Playing For Keeps'] - Extended Vocal Remix [6.30] 7. Election Day - Cryptic Cut [9.06] 8. The Promise - 12" Mix [7.02] 9. Goodbye Is Forever - Dub Mix [5.13] 10. Say The Word [Theme from 'Playing For Keeps'] - Extended Instrumental Remix [5.46] 11. Election Day - Early Rough Mix [8.41] 12. Flame Game - Yo Homeboy Mix [2.05]
DVD: 1. Filming 'Election Day' - Paris, France. September 1985. 2. Election Day - Directed by Roger Christian, Produced by Chrissie Smith [7.47] 3. Filming 'The Promise' - Cote D’Azur, France. December 1985. 4. The Promise - Directed by Marcelo Anciano, Produced by Ruth Orme and Martin Wyn Griffith [4.46] 5. Filming 'Goodbye Is Forever' - London, England. January 1986 6. Goodbye Is Forever - Directed by Marcelo Anciano, Produced by Ruth Orme [4.11] 7. Filming 'The Flame' - London Docklands. April 1986. 8. The Flame - Directed by Russell Mulcahy, Produced by Chrissie Smith [4.00] 9. Filming 'Missing' - London, England. December 1986. 10. Missing - Directed by Dean Chamberlain [3.40]
Astronaut (2004) « Result #13 on Nov 16, 2009, 1:25am »
Tracks:
01. (Reach Up For The) Sunrise 02. Want You More! 03. What Happens Tomorrow 04. Astronaut 05. Bedroom Toys 06. Nice 07. Taste The Summer 08. Finest Hour 09. Chains 10. One Of Those Days 11. Point Of No Return 12. Still Breathing
13. Virus 14. Know It All 15. Silent Icy River
Credits:
All tracks written by Duran Duran.
Co-produced by Don Gilmore, Dallan Austin, Nile Rodgers and Duran Duran. Pre-production, programming and engineering by Mark Tinley. Engineered by Don Gilmore, Dallas Austin, Rich Hilton, Daniel Mendez, Rick Sheppard, Francesco Cameli, Richard Edgeler and Dean Barret.
Additional programming: Jake Roberts, Jason Nevins. Mixed by Jeremy Wheatley at Towhouse Studios, London. Musicians: Lily Gonzalez, Guy Farley, Sally Boyden, Tessa Niles.
Recorded at Sphere Studios, London. Mastered by Leon Zervos at Sterling Sound, NYC.
Art: Faile, Toru Yoshikawa, Clarissa Tossin, Sean Hogan, Bernie Beca, Patty Palazzo, John Warwicker and Sara Syms.
ASTRONAUT EPIC · USA · E2 92900-S1 (Reach Up For The) Sunrise · Want You More! · What Happens Tomorrow · Astronaut · Bedroom Toys · Nice · Taste The Summer · Finest Hour · Chains · One Of Those Days · Point Of No Return · Still Breathing
Note: Double album.
Singles:
(REACH UP FOR THE) SUNRISE EPIC · USA · K 71976 (Reach Up For The) Sunrise · Know It All
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW EPIC · USA · ESK 51193 What Happens Tomorrow
Red Carpet Massacre (2007) « Result #14 on Nov 16, 2009, 1:00am »
Tracks:
01. The Valley 02. Red Carpet Massacre 03. Nite-Runner 04. Falling Down 05. Box Full O' Honey 06. Skin Divers 07. Tempted 08. Tricked Out 09. Zoom In 10. She's Too Much 11. Dirty Great Monster 12. Last Man Standing
13. Cry Baby Cry
Credits:
Music by Duran Duran and Nate Hills (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12), Duran Duran, Tim Mosley, Justin Timberlake and Nate Hills (3), Duran Duran and Justin Timberlake (4), Duran Duran, Tim Mosley and Nate Hills (6 & 9). Lyrics by Simon Le Bon with additional lyrics by Tim Mosley (6) and Tim Mosley and Justin Timberlake (4).
Produced by Nate Hills, Jimmy Douglass and Duran Duran (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12), Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Nate Hills and Duran Duran (3), Timbaland, Nate Hills and Duran Duran (6 & 9) and Justin Timberlake (4).
Guitars: Dom Brown. Saxophone: Simon Willescroft. Additional vocals by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Jim Beanz and Terri Walker. Art Design: Patty Palazzo, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Kristin Burns.
ERIKA RECORDS · USA · No cat. number (DD-1, 2, 3, 4 on discs) The Valley · Red Carpet Massacre · Nite-Runner · Falling Down · Box Full O' Honey · Skin Divers · Tempted · Tricked Out · Zoom In · She's Too Much · Cry Baby Cry · Dirty Great Monster · Last Man Standing
Note: Numbered limited edition double album pressed in red vinyl, housed in gatefold sleeve. Includes bonus track and 12 page colour booklet. Manufactured by Erika Records under Sony BMG Music license.
Note: Cry Baby Cry appears on the Japanese pressing:
RED CARPET MASSACRE EPIC-SONY MUSIC · JAPAN · EICP 870 The Valley · Red Carpet Massacre · Nite-Runner · Falling Down · Box Full O' Honey · Skin Divers · Tempted · Tricked Out · Zoom In · She's Too Much · Dirty Great Monster · Last Man Standing · Cry Baby Cry
Note: Includes bonus track, obi and booklet with lyrics
Singles
FALLING DOWN EPIC · USA · 88697 15399 2 Falling Down (Radio Edit) · Falling Down (Extended Version)
Note: Promo. The extended version is the same featured in the album.
FALLING DOWN EPIC-SONY BMG · EU · 88697 19130 2 Falling Down (Album Version) · (Reach Up For The) Sunrise (Live)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment EV302839 Video: 16:9 color Audio: English, DTS 5.1, Dolby surround 5.1 Subtitles: German, English, Spanish, French Extras: Extended Interview featurettes: “The Album Sleeves”, “The Roxy Ingredients”, “Introducing Eddie Jobson”, “Who’s Playing Bass for Roxy Music?”; Live Tracks: Both Ends Burning, Editions of You, Do The Strand Length: 94 minutes Rating: ****
Debunking the Myth
Certain myths prevail despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. One of those myths is that the only good Roxy Music albums are the first two, featuring Brian Eno. It is suggested by some that these albums, Roxy Music and For Your Pleasure respectively, are exciting and experimental glam pastiches, while the other albums are soft-rock fluff. This could not be further from the truth, and Eagle Vision’s excellent release The Story of Roxy Music: More Than This should confirm this for any remaining non-believers.
This documentary chronicles the rapid rise of Roxy Music in the early seventies, the artistic and personnel changes which occurred over their eight albums and their reunion in 2006. The segment about the band coming together and the recording of the first album is especially interesting, featuring interviews with all of the members of the band about their days in art school, including Brian Eno. Hearing from Eno, easily one of the most important figures in modern music, and seeing footage of him working on his earliest experimental music, is an amazing treat for any Eno fan.
The documentary contains tremendous footage of Roxy performing, both live and in music videos, including one of this critic’s favorite performances of all time, Roxy’s 1972 appearance on the BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test performing Virginia Plain and Ladytron. Unfortunately, the documentary does not feature the entirety of these performances, but the musical and aesthetic power of the performances shines through.
Members of the band openly and frankly address the changes that Roxy Music went through over the eight albums it released. Phil Manzanera, the guitar player who was one of the only members of the band to be in from start to finish, says that he believes that Roxy Music was “deluding ourselves” on later albums as Bryan Ferry moved the band away from a live rock & roll band sound to a more lush dance music sound characteristic of bands like Chic that were influencing Ferry.
The later albums speak for themselves, however. Footage from videos and live performances of Roxy’s hits like Angel Eyes, Oh Yeah, and More Than This demonstrate the quality of the later recordings. Not only are the studio arrangements simultaneously decadent and idyllic, but on later albums Ferry finds his niche as a vocalist, and becomes one of the best singers of that period in rock history.
Aside from all this, the DVD also features interviews with musicians from U2, Chic, Duran Duran, The Human League, and much more, who discuss the influence Roxy Music had on their work and what it was like hearing Roxy Music albums when they first debuted. This DVD is a treat for true believers and will hopefully silence the naysayers forever.