Today on their website Duran Duran announced an all-encompassing repackaging of Arcadia’s 1985 So Red The Rose, arguably the best Duran Duran album never made. Nick Rhodes had hinted towards this release several months ago and I was eager to see if it would come to see the light.

History: Arcadia was one of the DD splinter groups in 1985, at the height of their fame, being comprised of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor. The other remaining DD members joined up with Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson to form Power Station.

This re-release includes the original album as-is and all 20 remixes of the five released singles from the album, plus the soundtrack-only rarity “Say The Word”. Also included is the über-rare long form version of “Rose Arcana”. The shorter (0:51) version, according to legend, ended up on the original lease due to length of tape and vinyl allowed to be released at that time. I don’t know if that is necessarily true, but it does make for good folklore. Also included are all five videos and making-of documentaries for each video.

This project would also mark the last use of graphic designer Malcolm Garrett of Assorted Images for any of their packaging or branding related efforts.

Just for kicks, here’s video of 80s stalwart Max Headroom giving Simon and Nick a hard time:

From the Duran Duran press release, the complete track listing for the re-release is below:

ARCADIA ‘SO RED THE ROSE’ 8 February, 2010 (Europe), 9 February, 2010 (North America)

CD ONE:

Original album released December 1985

1. Election Day (5.30)

2. Keep Me In The Dark (4.32)

3. Goodbye Is Forever (3.49)

4. The Flame (4.24)

5. Missing * (3.40)

6. Rose Arcana * ^ (0.51)

7. The Promise ^ (7.30)

8. El Diablo ^ (6.05)

9. Lady Ice * (7.32)

Produced Alex Sadkin + Arcadia

All tracks mixed by Alex Sadkin with:

Tracks 1, 8 mixed Ron Saint Germain + Francois Kevorkian
Track 6 mixed by Larry Alexander assisted by G Rindfuss + S Boyer + E Moller
Tracks 3, 4, 7, 9 mixed by Ron Saint Germain
Assisted on tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 by Ohil Burnett (digital technician)
Track 5 mixed by Larry Alexander, assisted by Billy Miranda
Track 2 mixed by Jay Mark + Francois Kevorkian. Assisted by Nick Delre
Rhythm augmentation on track 8 by Wendel Jr.

Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Masterdisk, New York

Recorded by Larry Alexander, assisted by Phillippe Laffont

Special thanks to Sting + Herbie Hancock for their performances on ‘The Promise’

Musicians: Carlos Alomar, Gabriel Bindi, Pierre Defay, Jean Claude Dubois, Mark Egan,
David Gilmour (appears courtesy of EMI Records), Steve Jordan, Rafael de Jesusm, Andy Mackay (a member of The Explorers appears courtesy of Virgin Records), David Van Tieghem, Masami Tsuchiya

Sting appears courtesy of A&M Records
Herbie Hancock appears courtesuy of Columbia Records

Sleeve by Malcolm + David at Assorted iMaGes
Illustrations by Tony Viramontes

Arcadia are:
Simon Le Bon
Nick Rhodes
Roger Taylor

Bonus tracks

10. Say The Word (Theme from ‘Playing For Keeps’) (7” edit) * (4.29)
From the US 7” single ‘Say The Word’ released July 1986

11. She Moody And Grey, She’s Mean And Restless (4.28)
From the 7” and 12” singles ‘Election Day’ released October 1985

12. Election Day (single version) (4.30)
From the 7” and 12” singles ‘Election Day’ released October 1985

13. Goodbye Is Forever (single mix) (4.16)
From the 7” and 12” single ‘Goodbye Is Forever’ released ex-UK January 1985

14. The Promise (7” mix) ^ (4.45)
From the 7” and 12” single ‘The Promise’ released January 1986

15. The Flame (7” remix) (4.05)
From the 7” single ‘The Flame’ released July 1986

16. Say The Word (Theme from ‘Playing For Keeps’) (soundtrack version) * (5.06)
From the ‘Playing For Keeps’ soundtrack released 1986

CD TWO:

1. Election Day (Consensus Mix) (8.39)
From the 12” single ‘Election Day’ released October 1985

2. Goodbye Is Forever (extended mix) (6.37)
From the 12” single ‘Goodbye Is Forever’ released ex-UK January 1985

3. The Promise (extended remix) ^ (5.35)
From the 12” single ‘The Promise’ released January 1986

4. Rose Arcana (extended) * ^ (5.37)
From the 7” and 12” single ‘The Promise’ released January 1986

5. The Flame (Extended Remix) (7.20)
From the 12” single ‘The Flame’ released July 1986
Remix produced by Nile Rodgers

6. Say The Word (Theme from ‘Playing For Keeps’) (extended vocal remix) * (6.30)
From the 12” promo ‘Say The Word’ released ex-UK July 1986

7. Election Day (Cryptic Cut) (9.06)
From the one-sided 12” promo released October 1985

8. The Promise (12” mix) ^ (7.02)
From the 12” single ‘The Promise’ released January 1986

9. Goodbye Is Forever (dub mix) (5.13)
From the 12” single ‘Goodbye Is Forever’ released ex-UK January 1985

10. Say The Word (Theme from ‘Playing For Keeps’) (extended instrumental remix) * (5.46)
From the 7” single and 12” promo ‘Say The Word’ released ex-UK July 1986

11. Election Day (Early Rough Mix) (8.41)
From the 12” single ‘The Flame’ released July 1986

12. Flame Game (Yo Homeboy mix) (2.05)
From the 7” and 12” single ‘The Flame’ released July 1986
Remix produced by Nile Rodgers

13. Election Day (Cryptic Cut No Voice Mix) (8.27)
From the 12” single ‘Election Day’ released October 1985
**EXTRA FOR DIGITAL ALBUM ONLY**

Written by Taylor / Rhodes / Le Bon except * Rhodes / Le Bon
Published by Gloucester Place Music Ltd. / EMI except ^ Tritec Music

Disc 1 and 2:
Digital remasters (P) 2010 The copyright in these sound recordings is owned by EMI Records Ltd.

DVD:

Original VHS released February 1987

1. Filming ‘Election Day’
Paris, France. September 1985.

2. Election Day (7.47)
Directed by Roger Christian
Produced by Chrissie Smith

3. Filming ‘The Promise’
Cote D’Azur, France. December 1985.

4. The Promise (4.46)
Directed by Marcelo Anciano
Produced by Ruth Orme and Martin Wyn Griffith

5. Filming ‘Goodbye Is Forever’
London, England. January 1986

6. Goodbye Is Forever (4.11)
Directed by Marcelo Anciano
Produced by Ruth Orme

7. Filming ‘The Flame’
London Docklands. April 1986.

8. The Flame (4.00)
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
Produced by Chrissie Smith

9. Filming ‘Missing’
London, England. December 1986.

10. Missing (3.40)
Directed by Dean Chamberlain