|
Post by RosyStain on Aug 31, 2017 5:37:06 GMT -5
As an avid "Smash Hits" reader in the 80s, I remember reading an issue in 1986 about the recording of the Notorious album. DD were particularly excited about the Skin Trade track, declaring it the best thing they've ever done. Even reviewers at the time seemed to agree. I, too, think it's an amazing track, but I don't think I've seen it on any concert setlist in years. Even fans don't seem to be that bothered about hearing it. Has it gone out of fashion? Or was it never as good as everyone thought it was?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 6:15:59 GMT -5
As an avid "Smash Hits" reader in the 80s, I remember reading an issue in 1986 about the recording of the Notorious album. DD were particularly excited about the Skin Trade track, declaring it the best thing they've ever done. Even reviewers at the time seemed to agree. I, too, think it's an amazing track, but I don't think I've seen it on any concert setlist in years. Even fans don't seem to be that bothered about hearing it. Has it gone out of fashion? Or was it never as good as everyone thought it was? I love that song. I've only ever seen them play it on the Pop Trash Tour and a teaser as part of the Electro-set for RCM. I know they've played it a couple times when Andy rejoined and they played it on The Songbook TV show. I'm surprised they don't play it more often. It was never a big hit, but it appears on "Greatest" so it's not like it's totally obscure. I would love for them to add it on the next tour.
|
|
trevgreg
PAPER GOD
[Mo0:17]
Posts: 2,613
|
Post by trevgreg on Aug 31, 2017 7:13:28 GMT -5
I don’t think it’s looked down by fans, really (although one of my Duran friends seems to, haha). I enjoyed hearing it myself in the electro version they played in 2007-08, although it was changed up a bit to fit the format, obviously.
From the versions of I see live of the original, it comes across okay… and maybe that’s part of the problem? It’s a good song either way, and imo it is a great studio track… but it’s not particularly something I would be pumped to see live if that makes any sense? Of course, they don’t have to just play upbeat stuff or things with a high bpm. I’d probably enjoy hearing it, but it doesn’t really offer too many moments of “Yeah!” or something else that really grabs your attention on a stage.
|
|
rtm
NOTORIOUS
Posts: 1,498
|
Post by rtm on Aug 31, 2017 8:33:42 GMT -5
|
|
rtm
NOTORIOUS
Posts: 1,498
|
Post by rtm on Aug 31, 2017 8:48:34 GMT -5
These days I tend to listen to the 'S.O.S Dub'' of Skin Trade solely as it is almost completely instrumental and let you revisit and discover the song in a new way imo. Its great to hear the separate bass lines, horns, guitars and little sounds and effects you usually miss out on
Live wise I think the best rendition of the song was at the time in 1987...if only for the intro by Simon preceding the song, that was pure power.
And I wouldn't mind at all if they would include this in any future setlist....and while they're at it: include Vertigo and American Science as well!
|
|
|
Post by americanscientist on Aug 31, 2017 9:31:36 GMT -5
Hold Me should have been the second single. It screams "hit" and would have only bolstered that album's commercial standing. Skin Trade would have been fine as a third single or even American Science for that matter.
Skin Trade is indeed a cool song but I regard it as an album track more than anything. Why the band is so proud of this Prince clone of a song still mystified me.
|
|
|
Post by RosyStain on Aug 31, 2017 10:02:51 GMT -5
Oh my God! Yes, that's the exact article! I must have read that 100 times.....
|
|
rtm
NOTORIOUS
Posts: 1,498
|
Post by rtm on Aug 31, 2017 10:09:14 GMT -5
In response to Americanscientist:
^ Like John said in the Smash Hits article: 'Hold me' was the track were they said lets not steer away too much from the Duran formula" I love this track but I think it's a pity they lost the original bass line from the demo because that was even much more 'driving and pulling'.
Would love to know what this track would have done as a single in 1987 but we will never know. But its logical the band chose 'Skin Trade' in favour of 'Hold me' as we all know by now they are into going forward and 'Hold me' for that regard was too much a step back for them at the time. Shame about 'American Science' though as a single that would've been great imo...that track is the pure ultimate mix between Arcadia/JT basslines.
|
|
trevgreg
PAPER GOD
[Mo0:17]
Posts: 2,613
|
Post by trevgreg on Aug 31, 2017 10:10:24 GMT -5
Skin Trade is indeed a cool song but I regard it as an album track more than anything. Why the band is so proud of this Prince clone of a song still mystified me. When I first bought Greatest around 17 years ago, I had no clue what any of the singles off Notorious/Big Thing/Liberty sounded like. Maybe with the exception of the Notorious title track. So I went into those songs one day basically not knowing to expect. Cue my first ever listen of Skin Trade, and I thought once Simon came in "Wait a second... what's with the Prince vocal here?!" Kind of funny in hindsight! Like I said, it's a good tune though. And it has a sleekness in the instrumentation and vocal delivery that makes me see why the band was so high on it.
|
|
|
Post by bwkk on Aug 31, 2017 10:20:11 GMT -5
I go through phases of listening to this song a lot, and I think it is a very strong song. I can see how it may not go over spectacularly in concert though, I think it is an acquired taste that may not induce hysteria in a concert setting lol.
|
|