“The Power of Vinyl”, is a segment where I will share the old records that I’ve bought from thrift stores and record shops. There’ll be some familiar favorites as well as some stuff that I had no idea what it was, but liked the cover art or title.
Today’s album, Duran Duran’s 1982 release, Rio encompasses Duran Duran’s crossover from new romantic band to mega successful pop band. I’ve heard “Hungry Like the Wolf” since I was a little kid, with all of those Time Life music compilations coming on before and after Saturday morning cartoons it was kind of hard to miss. I have to say, upon first listen, I wasn’t that impressed. I think my brain’s been hardwired to like 80′s music, but not “Omigod 80′s!” music, meaning that the well known stuff usually isn’t that interesting to me and “Hungry Like the Wolf” and the rest of Rio is chock full of conventional 80′s fare, but then again this was released in 1982, with 8 years of the 80′s left to go I’d say that it was Duran Duran that set the precedent for the many pop/new romantic acts that would follow, though few would match that standard. If I had to choose between contemporaries Wham! and Culture Club I would go with Duran Duran every time. After giving the album a few listens, the up tempo rhythms and Nick Rhodes’ innovative synth arpeggios make it worthwhile and the brilliance of their take on the pop ballad begins to show with “Save a Prayer” what would come to fruition some years later in their single “Ordinary World”.
Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
Duran Duran – Save a Prayer
