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Post by Guapito on Apr 5, 2020 18:57:45 GMT -5
The follow-up to TWA should have been the release of the full 11 song MTV unplugged performance with a bonus disc/LP of the covers. Any criticism of these songs could have been deflected by arguing that the band was giving fans extra content for free. To promote the album they could have released a double A-side single of “Serious” (live) and “Perfect Day”. Maybe then we might have had those songs as regulars on their set lists instead of "White Lines". I never got that either. Sure, they jumped on the MTV Unplugged bandwagon a bit late, but everybody was releasing MTV Unplugged albums at the time. A Duran MTV Unplugged album would have benefited their soft rock credibility AND revitalised interest in their backcatalogue. It would have sold better than TY, making them more money through royalties as they did not get any from TY (well there was Drive By of course). Remember this was at a time when Greatest was not available yet and the height of the physical CD era... ‘Old’ fans would have bought it and new fans would have liked it too. ‘Serious’ (live at MTV) as the lead single could have worked very well indeed. There were plans to release the MTV Unplugged recording. Back in early 94 I was working weekends at a hotel in Spain and EMI/Hispavox had a conference there. They left a calendar of albums due for release, two them being DD albums. One was labelled “Covers Album” the other “Unplugged”. Why Unplugged was never released is unknown. I “Asked Katy” a few year back but never got a response.
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Post by aftertherain on Apr 5, 2020 20:08:22 GMT -5
I agree with some of the comments here but mostly with Paul’s analysis on SDE. It’s not a good album, especially because of the selection of songs, making this whole thing a WC vanity project, but as a collection of songs TY is IMO a much more enjoyable listen than both Medezzaland and Pop Trash. Until know I never realised that Tony Thompson and Terry Bozo played drums on it, but I always wondered about the story with Roger being back for one song and even ending up in the video. I guess it was a ‘let’s ask all drummers we worked with in the past’ thing? But did they ever comment on it at the time? There was a lot of publicity at the time but I cannot recall any comments how great it was to have Roger back or why they contacted him in the first place. Good cover albums are a rarity. Even Bowie’s got trashed at the time. Only Bryan Ferry gets away with it and maybe Marc Almond. Duran may not have gone for the biggest of hits, the songs weren’t obscure either. Covering unknown songs is usually a wiser thing to do, making people even forget the original or not even knowing it is a cover at all (eg Tina Turner’s The best). Roger also played on Watching The Detectives. You’ve just reminded me of Bryan Ferry’s Taxi. A great album which I have but have not listened too in years a great latenight album. 1993's Taxi is indeed a great lategight 'party' LP & Steve Ferrone played drums on it. Steve F also played drums on Bryan's Mamouna LP of original material in 94
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Post by nileblogers on Apr 5, 2020 23:04:57 GMT -5
The follow-up to TWA should have been the release of the full 11 song MTV unplugged performance with a bonus disc/LP of the covers. Any criticism of these songs could have been deflected by arguing that the band was giving fans extra content for free. To promote the album they could have released a double A-side single of “Serious” (live) and “Perfect Day”. Maybe then we might have had those songs as regulars on their set lists instead of "White Lines". Jeepers you’re right. That’s so simple, the answer was right in front of their (band, label, management) noses!!!
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Post by coolbarn on Apr 5, 2020 23:07:28 GMT -5
“The album is not about our favourites but more about songs that were landmarks in history.” - Simon Le Bon So we need to lose this misconceived idea that the collection of songs on the Thankyou album were odes to the bands hero’s. That is the band's massive miss-step right there. Like any music reviewer in history is going to take a "band of pretty boys and music videos" recording landmark songs seriously . Did they really think Ordinary World and Come Undone, as amazing as they were, were enough to catapult Duran Duran into "serious rock musician" territory? No, Ordinary World and Come Undone were seen as aberrations, not game-changers for Duran Duran. The press were still looking forward to pass off The Wedding Album as a fluke and crucify them where possible. And Thank You was so crucifiable it should have come with its own set of nails. At best Duran should have written an EP of the best versions of songs of their ACTUAL HEROES while their creative juices were refreshing, and released it in 1994. Then in 1995 they could have released the triumphant follow-up to The Wedding Album and just HOPED that it would contain songs as good as Ordinary World and Come Undone. Sure hindsight has 20/20 vision. But I remember back in the day, even though I like quite a few of the songs on Thank You, that it was a bad idea. And it was. EDIT: Absolutely love the idea of them releasing their Unplugged concert instead. Sure there were a few crappy renditions (Girls On Film and Hungry Like The Wolf I'm looking at you), but most of the rest was fantastic! While it wouldn't have taken the public's attention like The Wedding Album did, it certainly wouldn't have kicked them into oblivion like Thank You.
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Post by josefk on Apr 6, 2020 7:49:53 GMT -5
Here are 2 of the 3 takes of "Serious" from the MTV unplugged concert which I found on YouTube (sorry if this had been posted before). Any idea why Warren is so pissed off at John at the end of take 1 around the 5:12 mark? Then they start another take and Warren makes them all start over again (around 6:03).
Love that Simon calls John out at the beginning as "Mr. Perfect" who "never makes mistakes." Of course, Warren is the real perfectionist.
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Post by americanscientist on Apr 6, 2020 11:22:22 GMT -5
Releasing the Unplugged session with Serious as the single would have been ideal. Unplugged as a platform was still going strong between 94-96. An acoustic Serious being played on radio in 1994 makes perfect sense.
Consider that the now legendary Nirvana Unplugged aired at the same time as Duran’s in 1993 and was then release as a proper album in late 1994. The Alice In Chains from summer 1996 is also now considered a classic.
I actually remember of dual review of the Duran and Nirvana episodes and DD got higher marks!!!
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Post by medazzaboy1997 on Apr 6, 2020 14:55:23 GMT -5
I don't know if it would be worthwhile to release Unplugged. I don't know if anyone would buy it except the fans.
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oakey
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Posts: 2,600
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Post by oakey on Apr 7, 2020 0:52:02 GMT -5
I don't know if it would be worthwhile to release Unplugged. I don't know if anyone would buy it except the fans. We’re talking back in 1994...
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Post by Guapito on Aug 2, 2020 10:34:42 GMT -5
Nirvana’s gig was two days DD’s. They even borrowed some the candelabras!
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Post by More Play Time on Aug 2, 2020 11:08:09 GMT -5
They went with some really obscure choices, the album seemed rushed and a collection of ideas.
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