Duran Duran – Skin Trade (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Skin Trade” is the second single from Duran Duran’s Notorious album and the band’s 15th single in total. It was released in January 1987, reached #22 on the UK Singles Chart, and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music for “Skin Trade” was written long before Simon LeBon finally finished the lyrics. The title for the song was derived from the Dylan Thomas book Adventures in the Skin Trade which John Taylor had on him during the recording of the album. It was shortened to “Skin Trade” and LeBon eventually wrote the melody and lyrics for the track while spending an evening in Taylor’s Upper West Side Manhattan apartment. The lyrics reflect on how everyone is selling themselves, and “there’s a little hooker in each of us”.

The single was quite a departure for the band. Simon LeBon sang in falsetto, Le Bon admits he was channeling The Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger on their song “Emotional Rescue”. A horn section played a prominent role in the track, as played by The Borneo Horns. The band persevered with the single and many aspects of their future business took inspiration from “Skin Trade”. They called their publishing company Skin Trade Music Ltd. and the Notorious tour was called the “Strange Behaviour Tour” (a reference to that line of the song). Likewise, a 1987 remix EP and a 1999 double CD collection of remixes were also called Strange Behaviour.

Andy Taylor was no longer an official member of Duran Duran by that time, but he was credited as a session guitarist on this song, although apparently, he did not participate in the recordings. Meanwhile, the new guest musicians, Steve Ferrone and Warren Cuccurullo played the drums and lead guitars respectively. Nile Rodgers played some lines of the rhythm guitar.

In a retrospective review of the single, AllMusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco praised the song. He wrote: “The music lends contrast to the angry tone of the lyrics by creating a sultry, mellow melody that juxtaposes verses with a soft, hypnotic ebb and flow with an ever-ascending chorus that revs up the song’s inherent drama.”

The b-side to “Skin Trade” was the only original b-side released during the Notorious era. Entitled “We Need You”, it was written and recorded in 1986 while the band awaited the return of Andy Taylor for a recording session. It was the first recording to feature just the three remaining members of Duran Duran – Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, and Simon Le Bon.

Two further mixes of “Skin Trade” (S.O.S. Dub & Parisian Mix) were completed, but not released commercially during the “Skin Trade” release cycle. They appeared on a US 12″ promo and on a UK 12″ promo, backed with remixes of the next single “Meet El Presidente”. The “Parisian Mix” was also released on the promo-only Master Mixes EP.

SIDE A:
Skin Trade (Stretch Mix) 7:41
Mixed By – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Larry Levan

SIDE B:
Skin Trade (Album Version) 5:57
Mixed By – Daniel Abraham

We Need You 2:51

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Skin Trade U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #39

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15274
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Designed At – Manhattan Design
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Producer – Duran DuranNile Rodgers (tracks: A, B1)
Written-By – TaylorRhodesLe Bon*

NOTES:
Recorded in England.

…i love the smell of vinyl in the morning…

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: 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)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

24 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Gaijin
Gaijin
June 3, 2022 2:36 pm

Thank you for continuing your Duran posts.

FYI These exist: https://www.discogs.com/master/1600200-Various-Maxi-Mega-Mobile-Master-Massive-Madness-Mammoth-Multiple-Monster-Mixology

Thus the SOS mix did see a contemporaneous CD release. 😉

Eddie
Eddie
September 23, 2021 11:59 pm

One of my favorite remixes of all time without a doubt based on when it was released. Still pumps me up to this date and makes me swoon when Simon sings. Thank you!

Mark
Mark
September 21, 2021 11:12 am

I was not aware the Paradise Garage legend Larry Levan remixed DD. Can’t wait to listen later.

Thanks Paul 🙂

song and dance
song and dance
September 21, 2021 2:14 am

There we are 🙂 Fabulous, marvelous, awesome.
I cannot really tell you why Skin Trade moved and moves me that much. When I heard it for the first time it just hit me and I guess it still is my favourite DD single. I do not have the promo 12-inch with the extra mixes, only as a download in ok quality. But maybe that will change one day (hint-hint).

Thank you for this great upload in great quality, as always.
And now I will play “Skin Trade” again 😉

David G
David G
September 21, 2021 12:45 am

You’re really knocking them out of the park this week! Thanks for “Skin Trade”! Another phenomenal song from my favorite DD album. I played this 12″ single a whole lot back when it first came out. It’s fantastic to have a really excellent transfer of this song!

Muff Diver
Muff Diver
September 20, 2021 9:01 pm

Every time I listen to your Duran Duran uploads, I’m reminded of how much I miss the 80s.

It’s funny how we humans never seem to fully appreciate how good things are during the present. One day those times are suddenly gone. Then all we’re left with is memories and sometimes not even that.

Thank you, Paul, for the Duran Duran memory triggers 😉

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  Muff Diver
September 21, 2021 6:53 am

Hey Muff Diver (BYW, I love your name!! Lip Smacking Good!!!),

Very well put. Our DjPaulT does give us our memories with a brand new sheen to them that I for one never thought possible!

Have a nice day!

Jeff

John
John
September 20, 2021 6:44 pm

When I first heard “Skin Trade” off the “Notorious” album, it wasn’t my favourite, I wanted “American Science” as the second single, when “Skin Trade” got released, the song grew on me, and in less than a week I just loved the song so much and played it non stop, Duran Duran had made a wise choice plus the B-Side “We Need You” was such a lovely ballad and the video were great too…..Stretch Mix and Parisian Mix were fantastic mixes. Great post Paul, I’m also really enjoying Duran Duran’s new tracks “Tonight United” and “Velvet Newton”, from the Isle… Read more »

NeilKelly
NeilKelly
Reply to  DjPaulT
September 20, 2021 9:48 pm

Cool no worries mate! Looking forward to the ‘Latin rascals’ repost!!

marc
marc
September 20, 2021 12:16 pm

loving this duran duran uploads! Thanks a lot for sharing this gem Paul! =)

Jeff
Jeff
September 20, 2021 11:44 am

This is a song I love more and more each time it is played! I just adore this period for Duran Duran. The singles and the remixes were outstanding. Thanks for posting this Paul.

Jeff

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  DjPaulT
September 20, 2021 2:38 pm

You know and have the best stuff Paul!! You always surprise and delight us with all the best mixes and things! I love these Duran Duran mixes because they have some of the most fabulous edits in them and you know how much I love my edits!!!

Jeff

ING
ING
Reply to  DjPaulT
September 23, 2021 11:37 pm

The Parisian Mix also appeared on the 3″ CD of All She Wants Is in 1988!

Robert Glasspie
September 20, 2021 10:52 am

I love Skin Trade I always felt it was DD’s tribute to Prince because of Simon’s voice technique and the music. I remember seeing the video being aired on BET which was a time when a lot of artists were going through a funk phase a lot of other artists would do these days thanks for posting.

Raymond
Raymond
September 20, 2021 10:36 am

This might be my favorite Duran cut and remix. Thanks