Rio: Classic Albums Series (DVD)
Eagle Vision, 2008
REVIEW BY: Michael R. Smith
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/18/2008
So friggin’ cool. Talk about an insider’s view. If you’ve always wanted to know how some of the most memorable albums were made, then by all means check out this Classic Albums series of DVDs -- you won’t be disappointed. This time around, the four current members of Duran Duran and their support team take us into the studio, as well as into the history of the band that has been around for 30 years.
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the quintet’s most successful album,
We are treated to a seat behind the engineering sound board where the magic first happened in 1981. Each distinct part of such underrated masterpieces as “Save A Prayer” and “The Chauffeur” are isolated as individual tracks so that we can hear how all the elements ultimately blended together to form a seamless aural work of art. Master keyboardist Nick Rhodes and drummer Roger Taylor are featured at the controls the most, though bassist John Taylor supplies some handy guitar demonstrations and lead singer Simon LeBon explains his complicated songwriting process.
As a bonus, this disc features a ton of tour footage and clips from their first brush with fame back in 1980. Not only that, but we get to hear from director Russell Mulcahy, the man behind so many of those on-location music videos that raised the bar over at MTV. What’s so fascinating is how instantly recognizable Duran Duran’s images have become. The videos have become as important as the songs themselves; they are that indistinguishable from one another. Riding the elephant in
All of this adds up to a treat for the senses and an amazing trip down memory lane. The boys even agree to play five songs live in an undisclosed location in
And though their records haven’t been up to par in recent years, this group is still together coming up with some new ideas. Somehow they always find a way to stay fresh and relevant. So with that I have to pay homage and say, “Congrats on your longevity, Duran Duran, and cheers for a job well done.”