Greatest [CD + DVD]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
While 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 CD and DVD 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

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Description
A collection of the most popular tracks by the new romantic/pop act who formed in Birmingham in the late 1970's. Between 1981 and 1989 Duran Duran had 13 top ten hits, and they are all included here, including 'Is There Something I Should Know' and 'The Reflex', which were both no.1 singles. This repackaged version also includes a bonus DVD featuring all ofthe band's videos, including the epic video for 'Wild Boys'.

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Customer reviews

review by: croydon music date: 2007-12-07 rating:
Exactly what it says on the tin
Duran Duran are still huge, even now. Some of these tracks are classics. This is their best material up to 1998, and a DVD is thrown in for good measure. Tracks like 'ordinary world' and 'view to a kill' make you realise just how good Simon Le Bon and the rest of the crew were. If your a fan, BUY IT.

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review by: date: 2007-02-07 rating:
A Hugely Rewarding Guilty Pleasure
Confessing that Duran Duran have been my secret guilty pleasure over the years has not given me much cause for regret. I doubt I'm alone in my admiration for a band that provided a bright, optimistic soundtrack to the cold, cynical `80s that were my formative years. With their star once again in the ascendancy, this 1998 retrospective demonstrates the superior quality of their material compared to most of their pop contemporaries.

Duran Duran have not only had their own distinct and evocative sound, but the calibre of their songwriting also impresses. "Save A Prayer" still sounds as rich and luscious as it did in 1982, and it won't surprise a new listener that the poignant and moving "Ordinary World" won an Ivor Novello award for songwriting in 1994.

Listening to "Planet Earth" and "Girls On Film", it's strange to think that chart-busting pop music was once this fresh and versatile. I can also still recall the "night versions" of these tracks - the band were certainly among the first to remix extended versions of their standard tracks. Back then people with dangerously flammable hair danced to them in discos and nightclubs, now the remixes usually are the standards.

Having the videos on the second disc of "Greatest" is fantastic value for money, as the band's videos are some of the most (in)famous in music history and terrific nostalgia. The "Wild Boys", "Girls On Film" and "Rio" videos bring back all sorts of memories and imitating Simon Le Bon's ludicrous dancing on "Planet Earth" with a friend is the most fun I've had in my front room for months.

I had assumed that the more obvious pop anthems such as "The Reflex" and "Wild Boys" would sound much more dated to my 21st century ears than it actually turned out, and more recent material such as "Serious" and "Electric Barbarella" gives you the sense that you really may have missed something when Le Bon and Rhodes soldiered on with the franchise through the 90s.

This really is a terrific collection, great value for money.

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review by: date: 2006-06-26 rating:
What a treat !
I don't like writing reviews but this time I can't help it ! I don't understand why this CD isn't enough reviewed yet ! This is a true must-have for any Duran fan and an excellent way for newcomers to start with. The compilation is beyond my expectations, the DVD is simply awesome ! Buy it before it disappears.

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review by: Welshboy date: 2006-06-16 rating:
Wonderful
I have never been a fan of Duran Duran, having my female cousins worship them in the 1980's! Having recently heard a few of their songs on the radio I thought I would look to see if they had a greatest hits CD.

When I listened through it I did not realise how many wonderful songs they had created. Some brilliant, subtle chord changes and Simon Le Bons amazing voice. The songs range from really good to great.

The songs have not really dated. They still sound fresh, however they do bring back a feeling of nostalgia.

I have heard some of their recent music on the UK's Radio 2 and these songs have been great. Unlike other 80's bands such as The Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran's material has been consistently good.

I had the pleasure of meeting Simon Le Bon on a British Airways flight to New York recently. He was asked if a smitten stewardes could come and say hello to him in First Class, he actually got up, walked to the galley in Economy. Sat on an upturned container and chatted with us crew for half an hour!

This CD is a brilliant addition to my collection. I am a convert! Duran Duran are the greatest!


review by: date: 2006-06-11 rating:
A Complete DD Collection
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.

The DVD has all the songs from the CD in addition to The Chauffeur and Burning the Ground. The clean version of Girls on Film is included which in my case works well since my 3 year old son watches these videos a lot. The bulk of the videos have aged well, in particular the early songs and those from the Wedding Album. The sound quality here, however, is sub-par, with no surround alternatives.

Overall this is a fine anthology of DD both Sight & Sound wise, although it is tempting ducking a star due to the lack of surround sound in the DVD format.

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