I've been looking for a while now to replace this CD After we had ...a burglary. This was one of my favourites it plays well and is just what I was looking for.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I seem to remember when this album came out in 1995 it was pretty mu...ch universally panned. Most of the reviews I read described it as a 'brave, but stupid' follow up to 1993s 'Wedding Album', speculating that maybe there was a lack of creativity within the band at the time and that they were 'copping out' of releasing an album of new material for fear of failure. Don't believe a word of it! I bought the album originally because I heard that there was a good version of Led Zeppelin's 'Thank You' to be heard, I didn't really care about the rest of the album... What I heard amazed me. Every song is a winner, every cover version superbly executed and slightly different to the original. The Doors' 'Crystal Ship' is slightly reworked, as are versions of 'Lay Lady Lay' by Dylan and 'Watching the Detectives' by Elvis Costello. Even more surprising is the cover of 'White Lines', featuring Grandmaster Flash himself which even I doubted could be performed by Duran Duran with any credability whatsoever. I really can't fault this album. It's as good as perfect. Lou Reed commented that Duran Duran's version of his 'Perfect Day' was the best cover version of one of his tracks he had ever heard - I think it's actually the best cover version OF ALL TIME. Forget the celebrity version the BBC recorded a few years ago, this was recorded first and beats the hell out of it. And that sums it up: Read the tracklisting and dismiss it as rubbish. Then actually listen to it and EAT YOUR WORDS. Because you will. Brilliant.
I bought this album originally in 1995 as ...I heard Duran's version of White Lines on the radio.I was blown away by White Lines and was really surprised by the other cover versions on the album,in particular Lay Lady Lady and Watching the Detectives.I had lent the album out to someone a long time ago and never got it back( I suppose that's a good advert in itself!!).I decided to see if I could get it again on ebay and sure enough I acquired the album again and have since played those excellent covers many times.Simon LeBon's voice is as good as ever and the different musical arrangements on certain songs enhance them,in particular Watching the Detectives,Perfect Day and Lay Lady Lay.I defy anyone to not get up and start making some shapes to their version of White Lines!Whoever panned this album are stubborn traditionalists and need to listen to this album again.
Never believe a music critic. According to a well ...known music magazine this album was the worst ever. Actually if you sit down and listen to it all, that statement is rather cruel. Admittedly, looking down the track listing you do wonder why Duran would cover the likes of Public Enemy and Grandmaster Flash. However, they do it well and their own interpretation of the songs, not Duran Duran doing an impression of those groups. Considering this a tribute to Duran's influences you do wonder where are the David Bowie and Roxy Music tracks though? Still, there are some outstanding covers. "Perfect Day" is so great even Lou Reed said it was exactly how it should've been recorded and it's better than his own original. "Lay Lady Lay" is just gorgeous and suits Simon's vocals beautifully and puts Bob Dylan's original in the shade. The only puzzling entry is the reworking of Duran's album track and fan fave "The Chauffeur" (retitled "Drive By") which is rather odd, otherwise this album doesn't deserve the bad reputation it has.
A fantastic cd.not the usual Duran Duran stuff but Si...mon Le Bon doing white lines is a must for music fans.