1981 single by Duran Duran

"Careless Memories" is the second single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981. It reached no. 37 in the UK and no. 60 in Australia.

Content

"Careless Memories" has been described as "a classic hybrid of Euro-disco, new wave guitar pop and Bowie/Kraftwerk".[1] Music journalist Annie Zaleski has noted its influence from punk rock as well as the motorik beats of Kraftwerk. Zaleski described it as a song that starts "with an insistent rhythmic oscillation that sounded like choppy helicopter blades" on which Duran Duran "piled on forceful sounds" featuring "Andy Taylor`s slash-and-burn electric guitars, Nick Rhodes` atmospheric synths, quick and fiery bass from John Taylor and drums by Roger Taylor" and "a yearning, urgent vocal performance full of grit and desperation" by Simon Le Bon.[2]

While underperforming on the UK Singles chart upon its release, spending just four weeks on the chart with a peak position at number 37, the song quickly became a favourite of both fans and the band. The song has frequently been included in Duran Duran`s live set lists throughout their career.[2]

The B-side of the single features the song "Khanada" which has been described as a "romantic song [that] radiates post-punk energy with reggae bass undercurrents" and featuring a chorus with two separate vocal lines intertwined. Simon Le Bon has revealed that the song was inspired by a new romantic clothing designer the band knew named Jane Kahn.[3]

Music video

The video was shot in Soho and directed by Perry Haines, who went on to form i-D magazine.[citation needed]

There are two different cuts of this video. The second version, which was included in the Duran Duran video album released in 1983, features minor re-edits of certain scenes. The original version of the video was finally released on the Duran Duran album 2010 2CD+DVD remaster.

B-sides and bonus tracks

The song "Khanada" was included as the B-side to the single. The UK 12" release also included a cover version of David Bowie`s "Fame" on the B-side.

In Japan, the two B-sides were released on the Nite Romantics EP, along with night versions of "Girls on Film" and "Planet Earth".[citation needed]

Critical reception

Upon its release in April 1981, Smash Hits` reviewer Mark Ellen wrote: "Sensibly side-stepping the over-ploughed "sensitive" disco field (Spandau etc.), the persuasive force of the ten ton drum sound is not lost on this lot. Buried beneath layers of silk finish is a construction so staggeringly basic you wonder if their punk roots don`t extend back to the Dry-Ice Age."[4]

Formats and track listings

olli"Careless Memories" – 3:41/li

li"Khanada" – 3:17/li/ol

div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"h3 id=`12":_EMI_/_12_EMI_5168_United_Kingdom`>12": EMI / 12 EMI 5168 United Kingdom