Greatest
Greatest hits album by
Duran Duran
Released3 November 1998
Recorded1980–1997
Genre
Length78:23
Label
ProducerVarious
Duran Duran chronology
Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran
(1998)		 Greatest
(1998)		 Strange Behaviour
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Pitchfork Media(7.0/10)[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

Greatest is a greatest hits album by English rock band Duran Duran, released in 1998.

Background and release

Greatest is an update of the 1989 tenth anniversary compilation album, Decade. The new release includes songs from their eponymous debut album through 1997's Medazzaland (excluding 1995's Thank You). The album includes all 14 songs featured in Decade, plus "New Moon on Monday" and four singles from the '90s. However, several songs on the disc are presented in their edited forms in order to fit on a single CD. In addition, the disc uses an edit of "Rio" that was not actually used on any of the song's US single releases, and to this day, has not appeared on any release other than Greatest or The Essential Collection.

The album was released by EMI after parting ways with the band following the disastrous Medazzaland album release in 1997, marking the first of many releases designed to capitalize on the band's extensive EMI-controlled back catalogue. To coincide with the release of the Greatest album in the United Kingdom, the song "Electric Barbarella" was released as a single in that territory. This track was originally released as a single in North America in 1997 to promote the Medazzaland album (which was never released officially in Europe until 2022).

By 2008, the collection had sold 1.3 million copies in the United States, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.[6] The collection is the band's most commercially successful release overall, but to date, a full collection of Duran Duran's singles on one album still has not been released.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Is There Something I Should Know?" non-album single, 19834:10
2."The Reflex" (The Dance Mix – Edited Version) Seven and the Ragged Tiger, 19834:24
3."A View to a Kill"John Barry, Le Bon, A. Taylor, J. Taylor, R. Taylor, RhodesA View to a Kill soundtrack, 19853:34
4."Ordinary World" (Single Version)Warren Cuccurullo, Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesDuran Duran (The Wedding Album), 19934:42
5."Save a Prayer" (US Single Version) Rio, 19823:47
6."Rio" (US Edit) Rio4:45
7."Hungry Like the Wolf" (Single Version) Rio3:25
8."Girls on Film" Duran Duran, 19813:27
9."Planet Earth" Duran Duran3:57
10."Union of the Snake" Seven and the Ragged Tiger4:22
11."New Moon on Monday" Seven and the Ragged Tiger4:16
12."The Wild Boys" Arena, 19844:17
13."Notorious" (45 mix)Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesNotorious, 19864:00
14."I Don't Want Your Love" (Shep Pettibone 7" mix)Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesBig Thing, 19883:48
15."All She Wants Is" (45 mix)Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesBig Thing4:26
16."Electric Barbarella" (Edit)Cuccurollo, Le Bon, RhodesMedazzaland, 19974:17
17."Serious" (Edit)Sterling Campbell, Cuccurullo, Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesLiberty, 19903:56
18."Skin Trade" (Radio cut)Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesNotorious4:26
19."Come Undone" (Edit)Cuccurollo, Le Bon, J. Taylor, RhodesDuran Duran (The Wedding Album)4:17
Total length:78:23

VHS edition

The album release was followed in 1999 by the release of a videotape compilation of the band's groundbreaking music videos, also entitled Greatest. It was not released on DVD at the time. The video album was certified platinum by the RIAA on 29 January 2004.

Video album track listing

  1. "Planet Earth"
  2. "Girls on Film" (uncensored)
  3. "The Chauffeur" (uncensored)
  4. "Hungry Like the Wolf"
  5. "Save a Prayer"
  6. "Rio"
  7. "Is There Something I Should Know?"
  8. "Union of the Snake"
  9. "New Moon on Monday"
  10. "The Reflex"
  11. "The Wild Boys" (extended version)
  12. "A View to a Kill"
  13. "Notorious"
  14. "Skin Trade"
  15. "I Don't Want Your Love"
  16. "All She Wants Is"
  17. "Serious"
  18. "Burning the Ground"
  19. "Ordinary World"
  20. "Come Undone"
  21. "Electric Barbarella"
  22. "My Own Way"
  23. The Wedding Album EPK

DVD edition

Greatest: The DVD
Video by
Duran Duran
ReleasedNovember 2003 (2003-11)
Recorded1981–1998
Genre
Length101 minutes
LabelEMI/Abbey Road Interactive
DirectorVarious
Duran Duran chronology
Extraordinary World
(1995)		 Greatest: The DVD
(2003)		 Live from London
(2005)

In November 2003, the videotape compilation was released in DVD format, titled Duran Duran: Greatest – The DVD, with hidden extra materials, including alternative versions of some of the videos and interviews of the band; however, this version is much criticised for its extensive use of easter egg features, which make it difficult to find and play some materials. In 2005, the disc was re-issued in a "Sight & Sound" package, containing both the CD and the DVD minus all of the latter's bonus material.

DVD Easter eggs

DVD one

A) Girls on Film (6:26 – long, uncensored version with an alternative ending)

  • Plays alternately after watching the long uncensored version.

B) Union of the Snake (4:19 – Dancing on the Valentine version)

C) New Moon on Monday (5 alternate versions):

  1. Dancing on the Valentine version, with moon shots – 5:30
  2. Alternate version 1, with intro dialogue; not the same one shown on MTV (that version has never been released commercially) – 5:00
  3. Alternate version 2 – 5:01
  4. Short version, without intro – 3:43
  5. Movie version, with extended dialogue, uses unique extended version of song, not the 12" remix – 17:37

D) The Wild Boys (7:43 – Long Arena Version):

  • Plays alternately after watching the 7" Edit Version

La Galerie De Duran

a) Planet Earth (4:05 – Club Version)

b) A Day in the Life featurette 2:26

c) Girls on Film (3:24 – Censored/MTV version)

d) Midsummer Night's Tube Feature (4:31 – Nick and Simon discuss the recording and production of the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger)

e) Wild Boys Interview (8:53 – Paul Gambaccini talks to Roger, Andy and Simon)

f) View to a Kill Interview (1:52 – Paul Gambaccini talks with John and Andy)

DVD two

a) Liberty album Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

b) Serious (Multi-angle version)

c) The Wedding Album Television Commercial

d) Come Undone (Censored/MTV version)

Full hidden track listing

DVD one

  • 01 "Planet Earth" (3:59). Note Title 01 has 12 chapters and plays the 12 main menu clips in sequence. The duplicates at Titles 02 and 24 play this clip by itself.
  • 03 "Girls on Film" (6:25). Uncensored "night version".
  • 04 "Girls on Film" (6:25). Uncensored "night version" with alternative ending from 5:54, where the band members hold up a banner which reads "Some people will do anything to sell records".
  • 05 "The Chauffeur" (5:00)
  • 06 "Hungry Like the Wolf" (3:41). Duplicate at Title 27.
  • 07 "Save a Prayer" (6:05). Note Title 07 has 12 chapters and cycles through the 12 main menu clips, starting from this one. The duplicates at Titles 08 and 28 play this clip by itself.
  • 09 "Rio" (5:03). Duplicate at Title 26.
  • 10 "Is There Something I Should Know?" (4:35). Duplicate at Title 30.
  • 11 "Union of the Snake" (4:20). Standard version. Duplicate at Title 33.
  • 12 "Union of the Snake" (4:20). Dancing on the Valentine EP version.
  • 13 "New Moon on Monday" (5:30). Dancing on the Valentine EP version with long intro. Note Title 13 has 12 chapters and cycles through the 12 main menu clips, starting from this one. Duplicate at Title 14 plays this clip by itself.
  • 15 "New Moon on Monday" (5:01). Alternative version 1 with shortened intro.
  • 16 "New Moon on Monday" (5:01). Alternative version 2 with shortened intro. The only differences between this version and the previous one are some animated "sparkles" at 2:54, 3:13 and 3:21. Duplicate at Title 32.
  • 17 "New Moon on Monday" (3:49). Alternative version 3 with no intro, short version. None of these versions are the ones shown on MTV, VH1, or any other video show in the '80s, '90s, or today. That version, with or without the intro, features a very specific and unique edit of footage and has never been released commercially.
  • 18 "New Moon on Monday" (17:42). 17-minute movie version set to a unique extended version of the song very different from the 12" remix.
  • 19 "The Reflex" (4:30). Duplicate at Title 31.
  • 20 "The Wild Boys" (4:15). Standard (7") version. Duplicate at Title 34.
  • 21 "A View to a Kill" (4:07). Duplicate at Title 35.
  • 22 "The Wild Boys" (7:43). Long Arena version
  • 23 "Girls on Film" (3:29). Short or MTV "day version"
  • 25 "Planet Earth" (4:05). Rum Runner club version.
  • 29 "A Day in the Life" featurette (2:27)
  • 36 Interview with John and Andy Taylor about "A View to a Kill" (1:52)
  • 37 Interview with Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon about Seven and the Ragged Tiger (4:31)
  • 38 Interview Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor about "Wild Boys" (8:54)

DVD two

  • 01 "Notorious" (3:58). Note Title 01 has 9 chapters and plays the 9 main menu clips in sequence. The duplicates at Titles 02 and 13 play this clip by itself.
  • 03 "Skin Trade" (4:23). Duplicate at Title 14.
  • 04 "I Don't Want Your Love" (3:57). Duplicate at Title 15.
  • 05 "All She Wants Is" (4:28). Note Title 05 has 9 chapters and cycles through the 9 main menu clips, starting from this one. The duplicates at Titles 06 and 16 play this clip by itself.
  • 07 "Serious" (4:00). Version 1. Duplicate at Title 19.
  • 08 "Burning the Ground" (3:59). Duplicate at Title 17.
  • 09 "Ordinary World" (4:40). Note Title 09 has 9 chapters and cycles through the 9 main menu clips, starting from this one. The duplicates at Titles 10 and 21 play this clip by itself.
  • 11 "Come Undone" (4:21). Uncensored version. Duplicate at Title 22.
  • 12 "Electric Barbarella" (4:51). Duplicate at Title 25.
  • 18 Electronic Press Kit for the album Liberty (15:25). It includes the "Violence of Summer" video in two pieces, about 10 seconds is missing.
  • 20 "Serious" (3:58). Multi-angle version, showing three subtly different versions of the clip simultaneously – one in a large frame and two smaller ones. By selecting the angle, the different versions are shown in the main frame.
  • 23 "Come Undone" (4:21). Censored/MTV version. You have to look really hard to spot the differences with the uncensored one.
  • 24 Television commercial for The Wedding Album (0:21).

Personnel

Duran Duran

Production

  • Nigel Reeve – mastering, co-ordination, compilation
  • Terry Burch – mastering
  • Malcolm Garrett – package design

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[24] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[25] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[26] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[31] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Blender Staff (May 2003). "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die!". Blender. New York: Dennis Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Greatest – Duran Duran". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  4. ↑ "Duran Duran: Greatest". Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  5. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Duran Duran". The Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  6. ↑ "Ask Billboard: 'Trash' For Sale". Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Duran Duran – Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Duran Duran – Greatest" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7053". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Duran Duran – Greatest" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 11. 13 March 1999. p. 16. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Duran Duran – Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Duran Duran: Greatest" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Duran Duran – Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  15. ↑ "Duran Duran Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Duran Duran – Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Charts.nz – Duran Duran – Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  18. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  20. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Duran Duran – Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1998 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2004". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Discs". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  27. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Duran Duran – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  28. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Duran Duran – Greatest". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  29. ↑ "British album certifications – Duran Duran – Greatest". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  30. ↑ "American album certifications – Duran Duran – Greatest". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  31. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
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