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The Edge of America
417 big thing album duran duran wikipedia DDB 33 UK discography discogs lyric wiki
song by Duran Duran
Released 18 October 1988
Genre Pop
Length 2:36 minutes
Label Capitol, EMI
Writer(s) Taylor, Rhodes, Le Bon,
Producer(s) Duran Duran
Jonathan Elias
Daniel Abraham
Lake Shore Driving
417 big thing album duran duran wikipedia DDB 33 UK discography discogs lyric wiki
song by Duran Duran
Released 18 October 1988
Genre Pop
Length 3:05 minutes
Label Capitol, EMI
Writer(s) Taylor, Rhodes, Le Bon,
Producer(s) Duran Duran
Jonathan Elias
Daniel Abraham
Duran Duran

"The Edge of America" and "Lake Shore Driving" are two songs by Duran Duran from their 1988 album Big Thing.

Together, the two songs form a continuous, guitar-driven medley, with the "Lake Shore Driving" part being instrumental.

About the songs[]

The lyrics describe the band's fall from the charts and subsequent lower-key music career as a result.

"Lake Shore Driving" is notable for having a sudden, interrupted cold end, which according to Nick Rhodes, is when the tape accidentally ran out in the studio.

A complete version of the song was never officially released, but a demo of the song with the complete ending was bootlegged. The song in its complete form runs at around 3:36. This version was also played live on the band's Big Live Thing Tour with a lengthy, extended outro as the encore.

Ask Katy trivia[]

"Hi Katy, This is a question for John, Nick or Simon… I happened to play Big Thing again the other day, and whilst it’s still a fantastic album, I was wondering: How come Edge of America ended up so short? It’s a gorgeous tune, and every time I hear it I wonder about what a full version could have sounded like. Does a long version even exist? All the very best, and here’s to many more years… Steve"

  • "The band believe it was a longer song at one stage, but during the recording it mutated in to two pieces of music, the other being "Lake Shore Drive"."

"I’ve always wondered why "Lake Shore Driving" has that strange, abrupt ending like something’s missing? Louis"

  • "Well Louis, it is really quite simple. That is where the tape ran out. Nick"

The Krush Brothers LSD Edit[]

"The LSD Edit" is an edited medley of both songs in a single track. Only the first verse and chorus from "The Edge of America" is present and the instrumental fades out at the end.

This version of the medley was released as a promotional single for Big Thing, albeit credited to a pseudonym, The Krush Brothers.

It later became the B-side to the "Do You Believe in Shame?" single, renamed to "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit".

Song versions[]

  • "The Edge of America" - 2:36
  • "Lake Shore Driving" - 3:05
  • "Official Bootleg: The LSD Edit" - 3:31 (credited to The Krush Brothers) (aka "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit")
  • "The Edge of America" / "Lake Shore Driving" (Demo) - 6:13 (bootleg, Maison Rouge)

Personnel[]

Duran Duran are:

With:

Lyrics[]

Walk the edge of America
Concrete beach to scrape my hand
Inside the subway, stinking fear and shame
Becomes the violent breath

Vigilantes out on dawn patrol
But now there's nothing left to hide
I'm just a number on the metal fence
Which marks the great divide
(Sing it)

Hey boy
Give your dreams a rest
If you're tired of searching
This is where it ends
There's nothing left to lose
Nothing to protest
Learn to love your anger now
Anger here is all you possess
Welcome to the edge

Below the towers of the citadel
Seems someone overlooked the cost
Forgotten soldier of paradise
Now paradise is lost

Recognition never realised
Salvation lost among the crowd
So tell me here beside the sterile sea
Where is your nation now?
(We say)

Hey boy
Give your dreams a rest
If you're tired of searching
This is where it ends
There's nothing left to lose
Nothing to protest
Learn to love your anger now
Anger here is all you possess
Welcome to the edge...

See also[]

DURAN DURAN
Simon Le BonNick RhodesJohn TaylorRoger Taylor
Andy TaylorWarren CuccurulloSterling Campbell
DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS

Duran DuranRioSeven and the Ragged TigerArenaNotoriousBig ThingLibertyDuran Duran (The Wedding Album)Thank YouMedazzalandPop TrashAstronautRed Carpet MassacreAll You Need Is NowPaper GodsFuture PastDanse Macabre

COMPILATIONS and EPs

CarnivalDecade: Greatest HitsGreatestNight Versions: The Essential Duran DuranStrange BehaviourSingles Box Set 1981-1985Singles Box Set 1986-1995From Mediterranea With Love

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 • "All You Need Is Now • "Girl Panic! • "Leave A Light On • "Pressure Off" • "Five Years" • "Invisible" • "More Joy" • "Anniversary" • "Tonight United" • "Give It All Up " • "Danse Macabre" • "Black Moonlight"

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