Big Thing
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| Big Thing | ||
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| Studio album by Duranduran | ||
| Released | 18 October 1988 | |
| Recorded | Davout Studios, Paris 1988 | |
| Genre | House-New Wave | |
| Length | 44:48 | |
| Label | Capitol/EMI | |
| Producer(s) | Duran Duran, Jonathan Elias, Daniel Abraham | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Duranduran chronology | ||
| Notorious (1986) |
Big Thing (1988) |
Decade: Greatest Hits (1989) |
Big Thing is the fifth album by Duran Duran, released worldwide in 1988. It reached #15 in the UK and #24 in the US.
A remastered reissue is scheduled for October 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Background
In 1988 the musical climate was changing, veering to a more dance-based groove. Duran Duran were known primarily as an early 80s new wave synth-pop act, and the band was sitting at a career crossroads; Big Thing was their stab at maintaining musical credibility.
Turning to more synth- and bass-heavy grooves than their previous efforts, Big Thing was seen by many as the band's "house music" album. Tracks like the first single "I Don't Want Your Love", the title track, and the album's runaway second single "All She Wants Is" cemented the band's more aggressive dance angle.
To further distance themselves from their earlier incarnation, the band decided to stylise how they spelt their name, shortening it to the single word "Duranduran" and vocalist Simon Le Bon grew his hair out into a loose perm.
To get the new music played without preconceived 'teeny bopper band' notions of Duranduran, the band sent an edited medley version of "The Edge Of America" / "Lake Shore Driving" called "Official Bootleg: The LSD Edit" around the radio stations. The band name on the promo was The Krush Brothers. (The band also played a few surprise live dates under this name.) When the medley was subsequently released on the "Do You Believe In Shame?" single, the title was changed to "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit".
Dance music and stylist respellings aside, Big Thing was an album of contrasts. While the general feel was a response to the burgeoning house music and rave scene, a number of tracks on the album harkened back to the band's more lush arrangements. Tracks like "Land", "Palomino" and the single "Do You Believe In Shame?" had more in common with "Save A Prayer" or "The Seventh Stranger" than with Chicago house.
The album also contains two short pieces entitled "Interlude One" and "Flute Interlude" which were more experimental in nature than anything the band had done before. The band would repeat the use of these "interludes" on future albums with "Shotgun" appearing on Duran Duran (1993) and "Prototypes" featuring on some versions of Pop Trash (2000).
While the album and the first two singles did quite well in the charts, the relative failure of the third single "Do You Believe In Shame?" (it reached #30 in the UK) killed off any chance for a fourth single from the album. A house version of "Drug" which had been recorded with producer Marshall Jefferson in April 1989 was tentatively slated as that single.
A brief legal challenge surrounded the close resemblance of the melody of "Shame" to that of the Dale Hawkins classic "Suzie Q" (more famously covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival). It was judged that there was no intentional plagiarism in this case.
The album was eventually reissued with the original Daniel Abraham mix of "Drug" added as a bonus track; this had originally been released only as a b-side to the 12" club single. Bassist John Taylor maintains he feels this mix to be the true "album version" of the song.
[edit] Warren Cuccurullo
Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo had begun working with Duran Duran in the middle of the recording of the previous album Notorious (1986), after the acrimonious departure of former guitarist Andy Taylor. While he was still not a full band member, nor a true songwriting partner, Big Thing was the first full album with which Cuccurullo was involved. His contributions can be felt all over the record, from the "lead vamp guitar" on "All She Wants Is" to the crazed guitar solo on album closer "Lake Shore Driving".
Contrary to popular belief, Chester Kamen plays guitar on "I Don't Want Your Love" (although it's Warren who appears in the video).
At the end of the global Electric Theatre Tour promoting Big Thing in 1989, Warren became a full-time member of the band along with drummer Sterling Campbell. Campbell would stay for one more album, 1990's Liberty, while Warren would remain with the band until 2001.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and arranged by Duranduran.
- "Big Thing" – 3:41
- "I Don't Want Your Love" – 4:06
- "All She Wants Is" – 4:34
- "Too Late Marlene" – 5:08
- "Drug (It's Just A State Of Mind)" – 4:36
- "Do You Believe In Shame?" – 4:23
- "Palomino" – 5:19
- "Interlude One" – 0:32
- "Land" – 6:12
- "Flute Interlude" – 0:32
- "The Edge Of America" – 2:37
- "Lake Shore Driving" – 3:03
- "Drug (Daniel Abraham Mix)" – 4:18 [on reissues only]
[edit] Singles
- "I Don't Want Your Love" (Sept 1988) (#14 UK, #4 US)
- "All She Wants Is" (Dec 1988) (#9 UK, #22 US)
- "Do You Believe In Shame?" (April 1989) (#30 UK, #72 US)
[edit] Promo Singles
- "Official Bootleg: LSD Edit" (as The Krush Brothers)
- "Big Thing"
- "Too Late Marlene"
[edit] Personnel
Duran Duran are:
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards
- John Taylor - bass guitar
With:
- Warren Cuccurullo - guitar
- Sterling Campbell - drums
- Steve Ferrone - drums
Also credited:
- Jonathan Elias - co-producer
- Daniel Abraham - co-producer and mixer
