Duran Duran: Rio (Japanese Black Triangle) CD Track Listing

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Duran Duran Rio (Japanese Black Triangle) (1982)
Originally Released May 1982\nCD Edition Released \nRemastered CD Edition Released July 3, 2001\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: From its Nagel cover to the haircuts and overall design - and first and foremost the music -Rio is as representative of the eighties as it gets, at its best. The original Duran Duran's high point, and just as likely the band's as a whole, its fusion of style and substance ensures that even two decades after its release it remains as listenable and danceable as ever. The quintet integrates its sound near-perfectly throughout, the John and Roger Taylor rhythm section providing both driving propulsion and subtle pacing. For the latter, consider the lush semi-tropical sway of "Save a Prayer" or the closing paranoid creep of "The Chauffeur," a descendant of Roxy Music's equally affecting dark groover "The Bogus Man." Andy Taylor's muscular riffs provide fine rock crunch throughout, Rhodes' synth wash adds perfect sheen, and Le Bon tops it off with sometimes overly cryptic lyrics that still always sound just fine in context courtesy of his strong delivery. Rio's two biggest smashes burst open the door in America for the New Romantic/synth rock crossover. "Hungry Like the Wolf" blended a tight, guitar-heavy groove with electronic production and a series of instant hooks, while the title track was even more anthemic, with a great sax break from guest Andy Hamilton adding to the soaring atmosphere. Lesser known cuts like "Lonely In Your Nightmare" and "Last Chance on the Stairway" still have pop thrills a-plenty, while "Hold Back the Rain" is the sleeper hit on Rio, an invigorating blast of feedback, keyboards and beat that doesn't let up. From start to finish, a great album that has outlasted its era. -- Ned Raggett \n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nIn the decade of decadence, Duran Duran knew how to live the life. It was reflected in their videos (sailboats, silly white hats, tropical surroundings, grease-painted feral women) and garishly displayed in their public lifestyles. But if you can remove these connotations from the album that started it all, you'll be left with music that is anything but gaudy. For the most part, Rio is an eerie and sumptuous record. With their raspy, arpeggio synth sounds and Simon Le Bon's uninflected vocals, the misty ballads "Lonely in Your Nightmare" and "Save a Prayer" can still tear your heart right out of your chest and abandon it bleeding on a rain-soaked cobblestone street. With the dance-oriented singles "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf," you dry out a bit, but the songs are far from airy or whimsical. One anomaly in this release, though, is the inappropriate prominence of John Taylor's bass lines. In every song, it sounds as if he is mixed more in expectation of a solo than as an integral part of the rhythm section. Ignore this technical distraction, however, and you'll enjoy rediscovering this gorgeous body of water-colored synthpop. --Beth Bessmer \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nthe definitve RIO, April 8, 2004 \nReviewer: J. Brady (PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States) \nHere's the short story on why so many of you are griping about the "re-editing" of Rio in this newest remastered form. Rio was released internationally in 1982 EXACTLY as it appears here. It was a huge hit in Britain and Europe, but not in America. David Kershenbaum was brought in to remix some of the tracks, three of which ( Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, and My Own Way ) made it a mini lp ( or EP, as they were then called ) called Carnival ( I still have my copy ). After the extended version of Hungry Like the Wolf became a club and radio hit, Rio was re-released in the US with the extended versions of these three songs, and a very slightly altered Kershenbaum mix of Lonely in Your Nightmare, added to the album. ( Again, I actually have both versions of this LP ) So, to make a long story short, this IS the original, definitive version of the Rio album, in its full glory. If you like the extended versions, I suggest you look for "night Versions" ( now out of print, sadly ), or buy the singles box set, which will contain the remixes. I can also recommend the British cd called Strange Behaviour, which contains an excellent extended ( but not remixed ) version of Planet Earth, as well as a remixed and extended version of Hold Back the Rain, both of which are unavailable elsewhere, as far as I know. Rio, in and of itself, it a delightful slice of early Eighties dance-pop, with a slightly arty influence. Very highly recommended. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe Duran Duran band conquers America, March 31, 2005\nReviewer: Timothy Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) \nI was fortunate to interview Simon LeBon while DD was on the road in America for a tour of club dates after the surprise success of "Girls On Film" in US dance emporiums. He mentioned that he was thrilled to be in New York city and had been writing songs non-stop since the band had arrived. Those inspirations must have been the seeds for the songs that evolved into their second album, "Rio." There is an amazing amount of youthful exuberance to be found throughout this disc's nine songs, and the band plays with confidence that belied "Rio's" sophomore album status. (And contrary to what many reviewers have posted, this is closer to my original copy of the album before Capitol did an American remix to capitalize on the breakout of "Hungry Like The Wolf.") \n\nOn this album, Duran Duran hit their stated ambition of mixing the do-it-yourself energy of punk with the dance grooves of Chic. DD's concept of punk may have been rooted more in Bowie and Roxy Music than the MC5, but they were the earliest to transcend the New Wave/New Romantic label and have massive pop hits. "Hungry Like The Wolf" beat like nobody's business, undoubtedly helped by the orgasmic moans of an uncredited female. The video for that song was embraced by MTV and "Rio" became a smash. \n\nTake away that hit, and the rest of "Rio" still comes away as imaginative, melodic and brash. The musicianship was greater than the sum of its parts, as each member locked in flawlessly with the others (and Nick Rhodes keyboards a standout), while Simon LeBon shoots for earnest passion and hits his mark, even when the lyrics are fluffy ("Hold Back The Rain"). The manic dual vocals of "New Religion" were also a highlight, something most bands wouldn't have the maturity to pull off on a second record. \n\nMore than 20 years later, "Rio" maintains its vitality, better than many of the "important" bands of the period have. Rio maybe have been dancing across the sand, but for Duran Duran, this solid album was sugar sweet and remains their best work.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nCaveat Emptor, December 16, 2004\nReviewer: Conner G. Ellis "modewarrior" (Rockville) \nI wish I had read all the reviews, particularly the 1 star reviews, before I bought the CD versions of Rio and Duran Duran's first album. \n\nWhen I first listened to these CD's, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Why weren't these songs as good as I remembered them to be? Why were the moans from `Hungry like the Wolf' all but nonexistent in the mix? Had my hormone-filled adolescent mind of yesteryear imagined them? Why did the songs seem shorter? Why were all the cool guitar hooks drowned out by obnoxious, amateurish synth noises? Where was the piano in `Lonely in your Nightmare'? \n\nI really loved my 1982 vinyl versions (of Rio and their first album), and these CD mixes are a poor substitute for my experience of the "original" tracks. From reading the other reviews, I now realize that technically I am listening to the original mixes - that is before they were polished, extended, and made commercially desirable in the States - but these are NOT the mixes that most US Duran Duran fans know and love. \n\n[...] They have a responsibility and obligation to objectively present the audio quality and properly identify the content that the public is buying. By saying nothing, and then letting less than audiophile sock-puppets litter the reviews with their 4 & 5 stars to stack the deck, is inexcusable. \n\nAny mainstream US fan who raves about these mixes with nostalgia either has a poor memory, or just heard these songs in passing on a static-filled radio, or was drunk at the time, mindlessly bouncing to the beat and nothing else. \n\nI have no argument with the style, musicianship, songwriting, or the band. I loved Duran Duran, and that's what I paid good money to hear in the digital domain. I would have been better off making my own digital copy of my vinyl albums, which is what I now intend to do. \n\nThe only reason to buy music again is to hear it with the benefit of advanced technology. To not warn people that the mix is different from the vinyl copy one probably has, is irresponsible. To not mention that there was an original, inferior mix, and that this is it, is shameless. But to actually deceptively tout it to be the "original mix", fully implying that this what we want to hear, is criminal. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\n"And if the fires burn out, there's only fire to blame...", December 5, 2004\nReviewer: J. Wills (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) \nWell, well, well. What can be said about this album that hasn't been said already? Two decades hence, it is almost a moot point to suggest that "Rio" is the band's definitive work. I think the sonic consistency of Duran Duran's early material had a lot to do with the technical and creative chemistry of the original five-piece band with their first producer, Colin Thurston. Regrettably, after they ditched Thurston in favour of Alex Sadkin and other collaborators, Duran Duran never managed to maintain the sterling standard and focus of their first two albums. \n\nIn 1981-82, Duran Duran were part of the colorful brigade of postpunk new wave bands strongly influenced by Roxy Music. Interestingly enough and perhaps not surprisingly, most of these bands mixed the influence of Roxy with that of another musical inspiration. And so, the Cars combined the deadpan alienation of Roxy Music with the skewed relationship problems, wounded sincerity, and synthesized Farfisa-organ hooks of fellow Bostonians, the Modern Lovers; ABC combined Bryan Ferry's tortured camp romanticism with blue-eyed neo-soul after Smokey Robinson; and early Duran Duran combined Roxy's self-conscious, fragmented artiness and flamboyant jet-set hedonism with the brooding, sultry disco of Chic. \n\nThe pop critic Robert Christgau (who did not like Duran Duran and tartly dismissed their second album with a C- grade) once described the music of the Cars as "fleet, efficient, and essentially meaningless". Well, that could serve as a pretty apt and fair summation of the music on "Rio" as well. Yes, there is certainly music out there that is much more meaningful and imaginative and deeply felt than Duran Duran. However, "Rio" has always remained a sentimental favorite of mine and an indispensable guilty pleasure simply on account of its infectiously melodic hooks, flighty, na

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