My Own Way

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“My Own Way”
Single by Duran Duran from the album Rio
B-side	"Like an Angel"
Released	16 November 1981
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	Townhouse Studios, London Oct 1981
Genre	Dance, New Wave
Length	3:39
Label	EMI - EMI 5254
Writer(s)	Duran Duran
Producer	Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Girls on Film" (1981) "My Own Way" (1981) "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
Rio track listing
"Rio" (1) "My Own Way" (2) "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (3)

"My Own Way" is the fourth single by Duran Duran, released on November 16, 1981.

The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of "Girls on Film" and to provide a gateway to the band's forthcoming second album. The 7" single and 12" versions were recorded in October 1981, well before the rest of the Rio album was recorded in the early months of 1982.

"My Own Way" was another hit, peaking at #14 on the UK Singles Chart, and was even more successful in Australia, where it became Duran Duran's second Top 10 hit at #10.

Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as their least favourite and is rarely played live [1]. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has expressed astonishment that "My Own Way" performed better than 1987's "Skin Trade", which ended the band's record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.

Contents 1 About the song 2 Music video 3 B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes 3.1 Complete list of mixes 4 Chart positions 5 Track listing 5.1 7": EMI 5254 5.2 12": EMI 12 5254 5.3 CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981-1985" boxset 6 Other appearances 7 Personnel 8 References

[edit] About the song

The single release of "My Own Way" has a fast tempo and a "disco strings" layer (performed by Nick Rhodes).

A much slower version was later recorded for the Rio album, with slightly different lyrics. This version was later remixed by David Kershenbaum for the Carnival EP, and this altered track appeared on the American re-issue of the Rio album on vinyl and cassette late in 1982. All CD pressings of Rio have used the original UK album mix.

The band's dislike of "My Own Way" is evidenced by the song's omission from all of Duran Duran's compilation albums. Neither 1989's Decade or 1998's Greatest included the track, although it came close on the latter. A promo for Greatest included both "My Own Way" and "Careless Memories", but the commercial release replaced them with 1990's "Serious" and 1997's "Electric Barbarella".

[edit] Music video

The video for "My Own Way" was set to the fast-paced single version of the song. It was rarely played on MTV or VH1, and was quickly overshadowed by the other more famous videos for the Rio album. Like those other videos, this one was directed by Russel Mulcahy.

"My Own Way" was filmed in a studio decorated entirely in red, black and white. The band performs the song while flamenco dancers twirl in the background, and a colourful parrot sits on the keyboards.

Small snippets of this video was seen on the projection screen in the video for "Is There Something I Should Know?" released in 1983, and it was part of the band's 1983 video album Duran Duran. However, it was not included on the video compilations Decade (1989) or Greatest (1999), nor any official DVD.

[edit] B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The b-side on the 7" and 12" singles was "Like An Angel", and the 12" included the "Night Version".

An instrumental version of the night version of "My Own Way" was released solely on a promotional 12" in 1981. It also surfaced on a bootleg of remixes around 1998 called Night Versions Companion.

The "Brazilian edit" was released on the Brazilian 7" single. It's an edit of the album version which fades with over a minute left of the song.

A further version of "My Own Way" surfaced on the b-side of the "Rio" 12" single. This mix, by David Kershenbaum, was the same as the version on the Carnival EP, it just faded out a few seconds earlier.

[edit] Complete list of mixes

1. "My Own Way" - 4:49
2. "My Own Way [Single Version]" - 3:40
3. "My Own Way [Night Version]" - 6:34
4. "My Own Way [Instrumental version]" - 6:33
5. "My Own Way [Carnival Remix]" - 4:31
6. "My Own Way [Remix]" - 4:36
7. "My Own Way [Brazilian Edit]" - 3:42

[edit] Chart positions

Chart	Peak position
UK	14
Australia	10
Ireland	20

[edit] Track listing

All release details pertain to the UK only.

[edit] 7": EMI 5254

1. "My Own Way [Single Version]" – 3:39
2. "Like An Angel" – 4:41

[edit] 12": EMI 12 5254

1. "My Own Way [Night Version]" – 6:31
2. "Like An Angel" – 4:41
3. "My Own Way [Short Version]" – 3:39

[edit] CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981-1985" boxset

1. "My Own Way [Short Version]" – 3:39
2. "Like An Angel" – 4:41
3. "My Own Way [Night Version]" – 6:31

[edit] Other appearances

Apart from the single, "My Own Way" has also appeared on:

Albums:

• Rio (1982)
• Carnival (1982)
• Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (1998)
• Strange Behaviour (1999)
• Singles Box Set 1981-1985 (2005)

Singles:

• Rio (1982)

[edit] Personnel

Duran Duran are:

• Simon Le Bon - vocals
• Nick Rhodes - keyboards
• John Taylor - bass guitar
• Roger Taylor - drums
• Andy Taylor - guitar

Also credited:

• Colin Thurston - producer and engineer
• Renate - Technician
• Malcolm Garrett, Assorted iMaGes, London - sleeve design

[edit] References

• Versions of My Own Way on Rio
• The Duran Duran Timeline: 1981

v • d • e Duran Duran Simon Le Bon • Nick Rhodes • John Taylor • Roger Taylor Former members Andy Taylor • Warren Cuccurullo • Sterling Campbell Albums Duran Duran • Rio • Seven and the Ragged Tiger • Arena • Notorious • Big Thing • Liberty • Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) • Thank You • Medazzaland • Pop Trash • Astronaut • Red Carpet Massacre Compilations, EPs and remixes Carnival • Master Mixes • Decade: Greatest Hits • Greatest • Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran • Strange Behaviour • Singles Box Set 1981-1985 • Singles Box Set 1986-1995 • The Essential Collection Singles Planet Earth • Careless Memories • Girls on Film • My Own Way • Hungry Like the Wolf • Save a Prayer • Rio • Is There Something I Should Know? • Union of the Snake • New Moon on Monday • The Reflex • The Wild Boys • A View to a Kill • Notorious • Skin Trade • Meet El Presidente • I Don't Want Your Love • All She Wants Is • Do You Believe In Shame? • Burning the Ground • Violence of Summer • Serious • Ordinary World • Come Undone • Too Much Information • Perfect Day • White Lines • Out Of My Mind • Electric Barbarella • Someone Else Not Me • (Reach Up for the) Sunrise • What Happens Tomorrow • Nice • Falling Down Videos Duran Duran Video 45 • Duran Duran • Dancing On The Valentine • Sing Blue Silver • Arena (An Absurd Notion) • The Making of Arena • Three To Get Ready • Working for the Skin Trade • 6ix by 3hree • Decade: Greatest Hits • Extraordinary World • Greatest • Live From London Related bands Arcadia • Power Station • Neurotic Outsiders • The Devils Other TV Mania • Tours