Big Thing (Duran Duran album)

Big Thing is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Duran Duran. It was released on 17 October 1988 by EMI Records. Produced by the band, Jonathan Elias and Daniel Abraham, it continued the sonic musical change the band explored with their previous album Notorious (1986).

Unlike Notorious which was funk and R&B oriented, Big Thing strives for a more diverse approach. Side 1 consists of intense techno tracks with synthesized bass lines and rhythmic guitar riffs, while Side 2 leans towards a more avant-garde feel with a post modern atmosphere. The band features drummer Sterling Campbell and guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who previously started work with the band on Notorious after the departure of Andy Taylor. Both would become members of the group in 1989.

The album was a moderate commercial success, reaching number 15 on the UK Albums Chart and number 24 on the US Billboard 200. The album received mixed reviews by critics, but some praised the experimental compositions and the band's evolving musical style. The album would be spearheaded by two top 20 hits: the first, "I Don't Want Your Love," which went to number 14 in the UK and number 4 in the US, with the second single "All She Wants Is" reaching number 9 in the UK and number 22 in the US, the last of Duran Duran's top 10 hits during the 1980s.

Like Notorious, the album would develop a cult following for the band's changing musical direction. A CD reissue (with one bonus track) was released in 1994. The album was reissued again by EMI in 2010.

Singles

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

Promotional singles

 * 1) "Official Bootleg: LSD Edit" (as the Krush Brothers)
 * 2) "Big Thing" (UK and Mexico only)
 * 3) "Too Late Marlene" (Brazil only)

1988 original release
All songs written and arranged by Duran Duran

As neither of the UK CDs show the track listings the difference between them can be identified by the catalogue numbers. These are:
 * 0777 7 909582 7 (UK: CDDDB 33) Original 12 track CD
 * 0777 7 898342 2 (UK: CDPRG 1007) 1994 reissue with bonus track

2010 reissue

 * "Drug" as included here is actually the Daniel Abraham mix included on previous releases, which is how the song was originally meant to be included on the album. The version which appeared on the original album, remixed by Joe Dworniak and Duncan Bridgeman, is included on disc two, labelled "remix".


 * Tracks 3, 9 and 12 are previously unreleased.

Japanese bonus disc
Toshiba EMI also released Big Thing in a two-disc set, which featured not only the complete album, but a five-song live CD, Previously released as Duran Goes Dutch (US promo EP, 1987):


 * 1) "Notorious" (live)
 * 2) "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" (live)
 * 3) "New Religion" (live)
 * 4) "Hungry Like the Wolf" (live)
 * 5) "American Science" (live)

Personnel
Duran Duran
 * Simon Le Bon – lead vocals
 * Nick Rhodes – keyboards
 * John Taylor – bass guitars

Additional musicians
 * Warren Cuccurullo – guitars (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12)
 * Steve Ferrone – drums (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9)
 * Chester Kamen – guitars (tracks: 2, 3)
 * Sterling Campbell – drums (tracks 3, 5, 7, 12)

Technical
 * Jonathan Elias – co-producer
 * Daniel Abraham – co-producer and mixer
 * Ted Jensen – mastering