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