Customer Reviews
Definitive Duran Duran. 
2008-07-03
"We used to be a very chi-chi name to drop in '79, but then the Fab Five hype started and something went wrong. Something went really wrong."--John Taylor.
I confess. I became hooked on Duran Duran's "Fab-Five" sound from the very first time I saw the Godley & Creme video of "Girls On Film" (banned in Britain and heavily-edited for MTV) in 1981. It was that video (featuring women pillow fighting and mud wrestling) that prompted me to hunt down copies of Duran Duran and Rio at my local record store. Those two albums, with a big push from MTV, sparked a worldwide Duran Duran version of Beatlemania for the polished, yet Wild Boys in the band: Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, and Simon Le Bon. By 1986, the hysteria had waned and the band was losing much of its momentum due to fatigue and tension.
Greatest is an update of the band's earlier, ten-year anniversary compilation album, Decade: Greatest Hits (1989). It captures the band in peak form, including a definitive selection of the Duran's hits from the 80s ("Girls on Film," "Rio," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Save a Prayer," "Notorious," and the James Bond theme song, "A View to a Kill") and four singles from the 90s ("Ordinary World" and "Come Undone"). Complete tracks include:
1. Is There Something I Should Know 4:10
2. The Reflex 4:23
3. A View To A Kill 3:35
4. Ordinary World 4:42
5. Save A Prayer (Single Version) 3:47
6. Rio (US Edit) 4:44
7. Hungry Like The Wolf 3:25
8. Girls On Film 3:27
9. Planet Earth (Single Version) 3:57
10. Union Of The Snake 4:22
11. New Moon On Monday 4:16
12. The Wild Boys 4:17
13. Notorious 4:00
14. I Don't Want Your Love (Shep Pettibone 7'' Mix) 3:47
15. All She Wants Is (45 Mix) 4:26
16. Electric Barbarella (Radio Edit) 4:17
17. Serious (7'' Edit) 3:56
18. Skin Trade (Radio Cut) 4:25
19. Come Undone (Edit) 4:14
G. Merritt
Duran's Big Hits 2008-04-01
The CD has all the main hits (pre Astronaut) plus a few lesser known hits. Some songs are edited versions so if that is an issue, beware. This is especially evident on the Rio tracks and Ordinary World. For most people, though, these are the versions they know having heard them on the radio for 20+ years. I could say that such and such song should have been included (OK, Violence of Summer) but can not find any real fault in the selection. The sound quality is fine which should not be a surprise; the sound quality of DD was always top class.
Great 2008-01-17
Great CD. I has the most popular tracks on it. Very good length for a CD with 19 songs. Does not dissapoint.
Greatest? Not Entirely. 
2007-12-07
This is a great compliation of Duran Duran hits from the awesome 80s and the lackluster 90s. However, when I purchased this CD, I was dismayed to see that DD decided to add in "Serious" from the Liberty bomb of 1990 and "Electric Barbarella" from the Medazzaland bomb of 1997. There are several DD tunes that could have been added (all of which performed better on the charts than these 2 stinkers). DD could have added, "My Own Way", "Careless Memories", "The Chauffeur", "New Religion", and "Hold Back The Rain".
But, even though these two disappointing anchors weigh down this album, the rest of the songs bring back great memories for those of who were lucky enough to grow up in the 80s. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (my all-time favorite DD song) starts the CD off on a rollicking clip. This song just cannot be ignored and your feet start dancing before your brain can start thinking. One other big asset is the #1 Bond Hit, "A View To A Kill" (the only James Bond theme song to ever hit #1). This 1985 classic is when DD was at the top of their game and could have dominated the remaining 80s, if it hadn't been for the band breaking up. The CD builds momentum with the great dance hits of "The Reflex", "Wild Boys", "Union Of The Snake", "Hungry Like The Wolf", "Planet Earth", and "Girls On Film".
The only thing that the production company compromised was the slow-build towards the opening dance riff in "Rio" was omitted and "Save A Prayer" was completely butchered in favor of a shorter version. I assume this was due to space limitations of the CD capacity. I can see why "Notorious", "Skin Trade", "I Don't Want Your Love", "Ordinary World, and "Come Undone were added to "Greatest". But, why oh why, waste time and space with "All She Wants Is", a very low-performing hit from mid-1989.
If you are a fan of the 80s DD, this is still a great compilation to pick up, especially with the addition of "New Moon On Monday", which was stupidly omitted from their first greatest hits release, "Decade". If you are a fan of the 90s DD, there is still some stuff here for you (although I'm convinced the band sold out to please the 90s fans with the additions of "Electric Barbarella" and "Serious", so that they could sell more CDs). I think even if these 2 song-bombs had been omitted originally and nothing was put in its place, the CD would have still sold millions of copies.
The next time DD puts out a greatest hits compilation, I hope that they will release at least a 2 CD set with a heavy emphasis on the founding 80s, less emphasis on the band changes of the 90s, and lots of "Astronaut" hits from 2004. If "Reach Up For The Sunrise" and "What Happens Tomorrow" were added and "Serious" and "Electric Barbarella" were dumped, then this will be a true stretch to the greatest. Unfortunately, DD production teams will probably litter the 2 CD release with some current bombs from the "Red Carpet Massacre".
Get it for your car! 2007-09-18
I love Duran Duran. This CD is great for your car, so you can drive along, singing and tapping your foot to the groovy music, however, a few of the songs are edited---the endings are dropped off, i.e., the very end of "Rio". Also, I would just like to say that if you like Duran Duran and think that this CD is representative of their work, then you are missing out on some great music. I especially recommend "The Wedding Album".
This is epic 2007-08-14
While English pop monarchs Duran Duran have remained active for two decades, it's clear that the indomitable ensemble was at its peak during those mercurial '80s. This greatest-hits collection documents the band's ambitious beginnings as a funky glam-rock outfit and follows its gradual transformation into a high-tech pop band with loads of commercial appeal. Featuring now-classic tunes like "Girls on Film," "Rio," and "Planet Earth" as well as more recent songs like "Ordinary World,"
Greatest focuses on Duran Duran's unending string of hit singles. Although the young quintet that performs "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "A View to a Kill" has little in common with the posh, aging trio featured on 1997's "Electric Barbarella," vocalist Simon Le Bon provides some impressive continuity to these proceedings.
--Mitch Myers
the wild boy are calling ,and i'm answering! 2007-07-24
why do i like duran duran so much? because they made some great music in thr'80s,and continue to make great music today. this collection has a lot of great songs on it.those songs are planet earth,girls on film,is thre something i should know,rio,hungry like the wolf,save a prayer,the reflex,the wild boys,a view to a kill,notorius,,i don't want your love,all she wants is,ordinary world,and come undone. if you like duran duran,you will like this album. also check out the original albums,the power station album, and arcadia's so red the rose. ed wilson
Duran Duran leave a strong legacy 2007-07-16
One great song after another on this disc. Duran Duran took the 80s by storm but the later part of the decade there was a backlash against them. Maybe it was the big hair and pretty boy attitude among other things. Grunge and Nirvana hit the scene and it became uncool to like Duran Duran, Hair Metal, and other things 80s. Overshadowed by all this is that Duran Duran are great musicians and songwriters and had a unique sound that has never been matched. Simon Le Bon wrote interesting lyrics with striking imagery and sung with a force and conviction that brought the songs to another level. Under appreciated bassist John Taylor drove these songs with cool, funky basslines (a good example is "Rio".)
These songs have stood the test of time and still sound good. Proof is that most of their work is still in print and selling over 20 years later. Here are some highlights:
1) Is There Something I Should Know? --A good opening and one of my favorites. Catchy as hell and a prime example of Simon Le Bon's talent for giving a song energy and urgency with intense singing and lyrics. "People stare and cross the road from me/And jungle drums they all clear the way for me/Can you read my mind, can you see in the snow/And fiery demons all dance when you walk through that door" --How many pop song's today have fiery demons in them? None.
2) The Reflex --One of their biggest hits and it was overplayed on the radio, but you can't deny the originality of this song. It goes in all kinds of unexpected directions and we'll never hear a pop song like this again. Some of Le Bon's most obscure lyrics.
3) A View to Kill --One of the best Bond themes and I think what makes this song is the pounding drums and the Bond-like horns.
4) Ordinary World --A later hit for them and one of their most beautiful. Highlights are the guitar solo and soaring vocals at the end.
5) Save a Prayer --Very close to Ordinary World as one of their best ballads. The magical keyboards by Nick Rhodes grab you immediately and "You saw me standing by the wall/Corner of a main street/And the lights are flashing on your window sill" --draws you in.
6) Rio --A defining song for them that everyone knows. John Taylor drives this song with killer bass, Nick Rhodes with great keyboards, Roger Taylor with excellent drumming, and Andy Taylor completes a band in top form. Even though this is the edited version the memorable sax solo is there. I bought this cd so I felt justified downloading the full version from the net which is about 5:37.
7) Hungry Like the Wolf --One of the most famous uses of "do do do do do, do do." The song that made them famous in America because of the video. Has that signature sort of tribal, jungle Duran Duran sound. A classic.
10) Union of the Snake --Another one of my favorites. Unorthodox verses and choruses make this song unique.
11) New Moon on Monday --Once again Simon Le Bon brings a song to great heights with an excellent vocal performance and "I light my torch and wave it for the/New moon on monday/And a firedance through the night/I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite". You ponder those words during the song and interesting images are put in your mind and that's what good lyrics do.
12) Wild Boys --This song might be a bit over-the-top for some but it's power can't be denied. Simon sings the hell out of this one.
13) Notorious --Does it ever end? Yet another ridiculously catchy song.
14) I Don't Want Your Love (Shep Pettibone Mix) --A solid dance song that has aged well. Can't be resisted.
19) Come Undone --The sister hit to Ordinary World. Dreamy underwater sound with the backing beat made famous previously by Erik B. & Rakim.
Pretty female backing vocals and nice lyrics: "Words, playing me deja vu, like a radio tune I swear I've heard before/Chill, is it something real, or the magic Im feeding off your fingers."
And the other songs I didn't mention are good too. I bought "Astronaut", their latest cd as of this writing, and it's pretty good I like it. It doesn't match these songs though and I don't fault them. They were at their peak of creativity during this period and these songs are too good to be topped. Fortunately the 80s backlash is long over and it seems Duran Duran are finally getting the recognition they deserve, especially after people see them live in person or on TV (Live Earth for example). It's about time!
not too good... 
2007-07-09
Geesh, I remember them being better than this. Perhaps it was because I was 10 years old back then. Mea culpa, sentimentality trumped by reality.
Slick sounds by guys in white suits 2007-05-26
Few bands during the 1980s churned out as many recognizable pop hits as Duran Duran, and this "Greatest" CD captures them all. The guys in Duran Duran (no matter the band lineup) always had an ear for melody, great vocals and exotic sounds. Plus, they carried on as a true band, with everybody writing and contributing. If you like the band's radio hits, then this CD is a must-have; songs one through 13 have been played on the radio for eons. What drew me to this disc, however, was the tunes that aren't as well known.
Besides just catchy, synth-laden pop, Duran Duran were capable of adding soul to their sound ("I Don't Want Your Love"), a cold but sexy club-music vibe ("All She Wants Is") and real emotion and exoticism ("Come Undone"). Songs from the first three Duran Duran records are well represented here, and nice offerings from the same era such as "A View to a Kill" and "Wild Boys" are also present.
Duran Duran also had a nice, somewhat reinvented run in the 1990s, especially the early `90s. The songs "Serious," "Ordinary World," "Come Undone" and "Electric Barbarella" (from Medazzaland) prove that. "Serious," from 1990, sounds like a wonderful `80s leftover, updated in an organic fashion for the new decade, while "Skin Trade," a tune released in 1986, has a slick, catchy sound, but also displays some real soul and great vocal work by Simon LeBon. Though they barely received any radio airplay, each of these tunes could lay claim to being two of the strongest tracks on "Greatest," a CD that is chock full of classics. My only complaint is that "Too Much Information" from Duran Duran 2 (The Wedding Album) was left off, but beggars can't be choosers. Many non-hits by the band have been great, but if you're looking for your fix of the most popular Duran Duran music over the years, this CD is the way to go.
