Duran Duran's Self-Titled Debut and Seven and the Ragged Tiger Albums to Be Reissued March 29th (Euro)/April 20th (US) in Limited Edition 2CD/DVD and Digital Audio Packages
Expanded Limited Special Editions Feature Remastered Original Albums, Plus B-sides, 12-inch Mixes, Live Recordings, Music Videos, and Radio & TV Performances, Including Previously Unreleased Material
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 11 /-- Following the recent expanded 2CD reissue of Duran Duran's Rio album, Capitol/EMI is pleased to announce the March 29th/April 20th release of expanded 2CD/DVD Limited Special Editions and expanded digital audio downloads of the band's 1981 eponymous debut and 1983's Seven and the Ragged Tiger. Both remastered titles' limited edition packages will be presented in deluxe, lift-off-lid boxes with replicated U.K. album art and posters from the original Japanese LP releases, plus five postcards. On the same date, both albums will be reissued on 180-gram vinyl, each LP paired with a bonus 12-inch single.
Originally released in 1981, Duran Duran peaked at #3 in the U.K. and remained in the charts for 118 weeks. It spawned the band's hugely successful first U.K. Top 10 single (#5), "Girls On Film," which was accompanied by a notorious adult music video made by renowned video filmmakers, Godley & Creme. In 1983, the album was reissued in the U.S., where it peaked at #10 and remained on the Billboard albums chart for 87 weeks.
Disc one of Duran Duran (Ltd. Special Edition) includes the digitally remastered original album plus four single B-sides. Disc two is packed with previously unreleased material, including versions of the Air Studios recordings of "Girls On Film" and "Tel Aviv," plus Manchester Square demos, a BBC Radio 1 Peter Powell session from 1981, and different mixes of the album's singles. The DVD features the singles' music videos, plus previously unreleased TV performance clips from U.K. shows "Top Of The Pops," "Old Grey Whistle Test," "Get Set For Summer," and "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop."
The band's third album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, was released in November 1983, reaching #1 on the chart and achieving platinum sales in the U.K. within a matter of weeks. It peaked at #8 in the U.S., where it also quickly reached platinum sales status and went on to double-platinum certification. The album spawned Duran Duran's first Billboard Hot 100 #1 single in the U.S. (and second #1 single in the U.K.), "The Reflex."
Seven and the Ragged Tiger (Ltd. Special Edition) includes the digitally remastered original album on disc one, and non-album singles, B-sides, and four 12" mixes on disc two. The expanded release also includes, for the first time on DVD, As The Lights Go Down, a film conceived by Duran Duran and Russell Mulcahy, as well as the acclaimed music videos for the album's singles and two "Top Of The Pops" performances.
1983 was a banner year for Duran Duran. The band earned two 1983 Grammy Awards for their innovative and influential music videos, including Best Video Album for their self-titled video collection and Best Music Video (Short Form) for "Girls On Film"/"Hungry Like The Wolf." For a year and a half, the band toured to sold-out stadiums around the world.