BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981
35 years of “RIO”!
“My Own Way” is the fourth single by Duran Duran, originally released as a single on 16 November 1981.
The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of the band’s previous single, “Girls on Film”, but prior to the recording and release of the band’s second album Rio (which was recorded in the early months of 1982).
“My Own Way” was another hit, peaking at #14 on the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at #10 in Australia. Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as one of their least favourite and is rarely played live. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has expressed astonishment that “My Own Way” performed better than 1987’s “Skin Trade”, which ended the band’s record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.
The single release of “My Own Way” has a fast tempo and “disco strings” arranged by Richard Myhill & Duran Duran.
A slower version was later recorded for the Rio album, with slightly different lyrics. This version dispensed with the disco strings in favour of a new wave style with echoing synths and was later remixed by David Kershenbaum for the Carnival EP, and this altered track appeared on the American re-issue of the Rio album on vinyl and cassette late in 1982. All CD pressings of Rio have used the original UK album mix.
The band’s dislike of “My Own Way” is evinced by the song’s omission from all of Duran Duran’s compilation albums. Neither 1989’s Decade or 1998’s Greatest included the track, although it came close on the latter. A promo for Greatest included both “My Own Way” and “Careless Memories”, but the commercial release replaced them with 1990’s “Serious” and 1997’s “Electric Barbarella”.
The b-side “Like An Angel” is a non-album track.
SIDE A:
My Own Way (Night Version) 6:35
SIDE B:
Like An Angel 4:46
My Own Way (Short Version) 3:40
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – 12EMI 5254
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Arranged By [Strings] – Duran Duran, Richard Myhill
Design [Designed By] – Malcolm Garrett, Peter Saville (2)
Performer – Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor (2), Simon Le Bon
Producer, Engineer – Colin Thurston
Written-By – Duran Duran
NOTES:
A-side dead wax says: “Shake That Dotie Groove Thaaag”
Recorded in London – Autumn 1981.
Mastered at Townhouse.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Hi I have an interest in the rarer Duran Duran Singles.Some songs were so big in their peak era Hungry Like The Wolf etc.It’s nice to hear the background of some of the others too.
Thank you very much Paul
I loved the night version.
Come on lads mend bridges with Andy you will never be Duran until he is back for good
Come on lads mends bridges with Andy you will never be Duran until he is vack for good
None of this ever sounded better than they did on 12″ so this will be a welcome listen. One would think it would be easy to simply transfer the masters to disc, who would think it would be so difficult. Even the first record remaster left off the original album mix of To the Shore and replaced it with an alternate mix. This version really does sound more like it belongs on the first record. The strings reminded me of Tel Aviv. Definitely more disco. Thanks again Paul for another great selection.
What can I say? One of the greatest Duran Duran remixes ever! And yes I also agree with you Paul, the remastered sound quality on the Duran singles boxes were pretty bad. Such a shame. But I still listen to them occasionally. I notice the “Hungry Like The Wolf” single CD on there is especially bad in sound quality. It hurts my ears just to listen to it! I did buy a Duran Duran “Greatest” CD that was reissued and that was released back in 2014, the “Greatest (2014 UK Re-Issue)”, and the sound quality is slightly improved on an… Read more »
🙂
Thank you Paul!!!
You’re welcome Guss 🙂
I love the night versions. Even though also the short version is on cd too, I still appreciate your vinylrips for sometimes truly vinyl only versions! Keep them coming and a good weekend to you!
Prefer the vinyl myself Martijn. The Duran Duran remastered CD’s sounded awful in my opinion and the singles box sets too. There was absolutely no care put into them at all. All of the dynamics totally stripped they sound very flat. Have a good weekend 🙂
Agreed.Thanks for the great week, again!
another great choice, and another great remix…
there is a very rare promo, that has the instrumental version also.
it was a digital bonus for one the remasters.
cool song and video, even if the band didn’t like it much.
later
-1
Thank you negative1 🙂
As always, it’s been a fantastic week of music Paul. So glad that you continued the 35 year celebration of “Rio” with this single. I find it interesting how bands like certain songs better than others. I like this one a lot. And it’s great to have the “Night Version” of it too. Those Disco strings make it a perfect contender for your “Disco Fridays” postings as well. Oh Paul, you always usher in the weekends with cool records!!
Have a perfect weekend and I hope it’s sunny and happy!!!
Jeff
Love the Disco/Latin vibe of this mix it’s got great energy the driving bass and drums with a touch of electric guitar and awesome strings. Have a great weekend Jeff 🙂
I like this single but actually prefer the funkier Carnival mix that appeared on the US versions Rio.
I like them both equally 🙂