Big Thing is the fifth album by Duran Duran, released worldwide in 1988. It reached #15 in the UK and #24 in the US.

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Warren Cuccurullo 2 Singles 2.1 Promotional singles (Radio/DJ only) 3 Tracks 3.1 Duran Goes Dutch (Japan only) 3.2 Non-album tracks 4 Personnel 5 References

BackgroundEdit

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.

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" and "Lake Shore Driving" called "Official Bootleg: The LSD Edit" around the radio stations, under the pseudonym of "The Krush Brothers". The band also played a few surprise live dates under this name.

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 harked back to the band's more lushly arranged ballads. Songs 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 album was eventually reissued on CD with the original Daniel Abraham mix of "Drug" added as a bonus track.

Warren CuccurulloEdit

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".

At the end of the global Electric Theatre Tour promoting Big Thing in 1989, Cuccurullo was made a full-time member of the band along with drummer Sterling Campbell.

SinglesEdit

1. "I Don't Want Your Love" (Sept 1988) (#14 UK, #4 US)
2. "All She Wants Is" (Dec 1988) (#9 UK, #22 US)
3. "Do You Believe in Shame?" (April 1989) (#30 UK, #72 US)

Promotional singles (Radio/DJ only)Edit

1. "Big Thing" (1988)
2. "Official Bootleg: The LSD Edit" (1989, as The Krush Brothers)
3. "Too Late Marlene" (1989)

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?" 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 had been tentatively slated as that single.

TracksEdit

All songs written and arranged by Duran Duran.

1. "Big Thing" – 3:41
2. "I Don't Want Your Love" – 4:06
3. "All She Wants Is" – 4:34
4. "Too Late Marlene" – 5:08
5. "Drug (It's Just a State of Mind)" – 4:36
6. "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
7. "Palomino" – 5:19
8. "Interlude One" – 0:32
9. "Land" – 6:12
10. "Flute Interlude" – 0:32
11. "The Edge of America" – 2:37
12. "Lake Shore Driving" – 3:03

Bonus tracks:

13. "Drug (It's Just a State of Mind) (Daniel Abraham Mix)" – 4:20

Duran Goes Dutch (Japan only)Edit

The Duran Goes Dutch live promo EP was included as a bonus disc on Japanese editions of Big Thing. All tracks were recorded at The Ahoy, Rotterdam, 1987.

1. "Notorious (Live)" – 4:15
2. "Vertigo (Do the Demolition) (Live)" – 5:28
3. "New Religion (Live)" – 5:31
4. "Hungry Like The Wolf (Live)" – 5:02
5. "American Science (Live)" – 4:57

Non-album tracksEdit

The following songs from the Big Thing sessions were either released as B-sides, on compilations, or scrapped altogether.

• "I Believe/All I Need to Know"
• "Follow In My Footsteps"
• "Capitol Chill"
• "Pressure"

PersonnelEdit

Duran Duran are:

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

With:

• Warren Cuccurullo - guitar (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12)
• Chester Kamen - guitar (tracks: 2, 3)
• Sterling Campbell - drums
• Steve Ferrone - drums (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9)

Also credited:

• Saxophone - Patrick Bourgoin (tracks: 1, 2, 5), Stan Harrison (tracks: 1, 2, 5) David Tofani (track: 4)
• Trumpet - Mac Gollehon (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
• Percussion - Marc Chantereau (tracks: 1 to 5, 9, 11, 12)
• Drums (Urban Jungle) - Louis César Ewandé (track: 12)
• Backing vocals - Carole Fredericks (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 9)
• Backing vocals - Joniece Jamison (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
• Backing vocals - Beckie Bell (track: 9)
• Backing vocals - Yvonne Jones (track: 9)
• Keyboards (additional) - Jonathan Elias
• Trombone - Glenn Ferris (tracks: 1, 5)
• Trumpet - Lew Soloff (track: 1)

Production:

• Jonathan Elias - co-producer
• Daniel Abraham - co-producer and mixer
• Arranged by, written by Duran Duran
• Artwork by (design) - Hans Arnold
• Engineer (Second) - Danny Mormando, Dave Way, Jean Loup Morette
• Mastered by Ted Jensen
• Photography - Virginia Liberatore
• Programmed by (additional) - Sherman Foote
• Recorded by, mixed by Daniel Abraham

ReferencesEdit

• 1988: The Duran Duran Timeline

DURAN DURAN

Simon Le Bon • Nick Rhodes • John Taylor • Roger Taylor Andy Taylor • Warren Cuccurullo • Sterling Campbell

DISCOGRAPHY

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 and EP's

Carnival • Decade: Greatest Hits • Greatest • Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran • Strange Behaviour • Singles Box Set 1981-1985 • Singles Box Set 1986-1995

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 (Love's Taking Over)" • "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"

RELATED BANDS

Arcadia • Power Station • Neurotic Outsiders • The Devils

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).