Duran Duran - Arena

The Official Soundtrack of 1984

I have to echo a lot of these reviews criticizing the production and sound of this mostly live recording. It sounds tinny, the audience sounds like they are a mile away from the band and the echo is deafening. Add to that the band barely changes any of their songs from their studio versions and you think, "what do I need this for?"

The songs here were the soundtrack to 1984 for me anyway, so there is that. The songs are all great and the band plays them with a lot of energy and excitement.

Then there is "The Wild Boys" which is the lone studio recording here and it's a whopper of a track. You could describe it as "Union of the Snake, Part II" and you would be right to some extent, but "Union of the Snake" was so good, why not try it again? The lyrics are great, Simon's voice has a sort of nastiness to it you rarely hear and the guitar riffs and drum beats are just huge!

You also get a very good live version of "Careless Memories" which, unlike the other live tracks here, is a bit different. This version plays up the rock vibe over the dance track it was on the first album to great effect. The same is done with the additional tracks included on this remastered version ("Rio" and "Girls On Film") So those four tracks make it worth buying, or at least listening to.

Oh, the photos and the teeny-bopper packaging is so damned funny its also worth it just for the kitch of it all! December 13, 2007

Getting closer, but not quite

I'd always hoped they would get around to releasing a remaster this with a more complete show. I was hoping too much, but having the encores is kind of nice. However, there is an alternative...

There's a 'bootleg' version, if you will, called "Into The Arena" (named after the board game). It's a very different mix of the Arena tracks, probably from a master tape which was used to mix down the original 1984 release. The mixes are wildly different. I mean, you can actually hear Andy's guitar work on "Hungry Like The Wolf" for a change. It contains things like a snippet of the "Tiger Tiger" intro to the show, an absolutely mind-blowing performance of "New Moon On Monday", "The Reflect", and of course the encores here. The recordings are by and large from the L.A. shows with a few extra goodies from the tour itself. here's the track listing, if you can find it. Anything denoted with a "*" is from the LA show of that tour and was used as the original master to make the Arena album. "**" designates a song dropped from "Arena". Just remember that all the arena tracks are different mixes, usually with Andy's guitar being louder.

1. Tiger Tiger (intro) **
2. Is there something I should know? *
3. Hungry Like The Wolf *
4. The Reflex **
5. Cracks In The Pavement (this is the live b-side from the Save A Prayer (live) single)
6. New Moon On Monday **
7. New Religion **
8. The Seventh Stranger *
9. The Chauffer *
10. Save A Prayer *
11. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) - (This is an extended version of the one that appears on the b-side of the The Reflex 12" picture disc.)
12. Friends Of Mine (from a different show on the same tour)
13. Waiting For The Nightboat (from a different show on the same tour)
14. Of Crime And Passion (from the New York FM simulcast)
15. Careless Memories * (much longer than the Arena version)
16. Rio **
17. Girls On Film (the live night version) **
October 17, 2007

Best of the Best 80's

I used to sit by the river and listen to this album for hours back in high school. That was my leisure time...not doing drugs and underage drinking.
May 12, 2007

My Favorite Album of All Time!

This is Duran Duran at their finest- totally at the peak of their game. Although I love all of their studio albums, the early ones in particular, hearing them live is a totally different experience. On Arena, Simon's voice is raw, edgy, and sexy and the band performs with wild abandon. It is in their live performances that Duran Duran's true character and musical depth and emotion ring clear. This album contains a great cross section of their earlier hits. Those of you seeking a "greatest hits" type of album will enjoy this. I personally prefer the live versions of "Save a Prayer" and "The Chauffeur" as they appear on this album, as the sensual nature of these songs seem to be better related when performed off the cuff and out of the recording studio. The addition of "Rio" and "Girls on Film" to the remastered edition only serve to improve what was already close to perfection. I also recommend obtaining the DVD "Sing Blue Silver", which is a companion documentary to this album to experience the full effect and energy of the music and the era. This album is a classic and an absolute must for all Duran Duran fans as well as for 80's afficionados. May 29, 2006

A CRAPPY LIVE ALBUM

DONT BUY THIS HORRIBLE ALBUM.IT IS'NT LIVE AT ALL.IT IS MADE IN THE STUDIO WITH SPECTATOR VOICES ADDED ON TO THE MUSIC.ZERO STARS.GET FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE FROM PETER FRAMPTON INSTEAD. February 25, 2006

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