Arcadia (band)

Last updated

Arcadia
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active1985–1986
Labels
Spinoff of Duran Duran
Past members

Arcadia were a British pop group formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran as a side project during a break in the band's schedule. [1] [2] The project was active only during 1985 and 1986 and for just one album, So Red the Rose , which was certified Platinum in the United States and included the singles "Election Day", "Goodbye Is Forever", "The Flame", and "The Promise" (featuring David Gilmour and Sting). Drummer Roger Taylor appeared in only a few band photographs and one music video ("Election Day"), and stated he was to be involved only in the recording side of the project (he also had minor involvement in the Power Station, the other Duran Duran splinter group, formed by Duran Duran's Andy and John Taylor alongside Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson of Chic). [3]

Contents

The name of the band reportedly was inspired by the Nicolas Poussin painting Et in Arcadia ego (also known as "The Arcadian Shepherds").[ citation needed ]

Music career

So Red the Rose (1985)

The group recorded just one album, the platinum-selling So Red the Rose . It peaked at No. 30 in the UK and No. 23 in the US, and featured the UK/US Top 10 single "Election Day", [1] as well as the top 40 hits "The Promise" and "Goodbye Is Forever". It also contains the single "The Flame" and the promo-singles "Missing", "El Diablo" and "Keep Me in the Dark".

Simon Le Bon described So Red the Rose as "the most pretentious album ever made", [4] while AllMusic called it "the best album Duran Duran never made". [5] Musicians who contributed to the album included guitarists David Gilmour [6] (Pink Floyd) and Carlos Alomar, pianist Herbie Hancock, Sting (who provided backing vocals on "The Promise"), Grace Jones (who provided the spoken-word intro/interlude on "The Flame" and "Election Day"), [1] bass player Mark Egan of the Pat Metheny Group (whose distinctive fretless sound can be recognised in "The Promise", "El Diablo" and "Lady Ice"), Masami Tsuchiya and David Van Tieghem, a percussionist from New York.

A video collection was also released which featured music videos for the singles directed by Roger Christian, Marcelo Anciano, Russell Mulcahy and Dean Chamberlain. The band also recorded and released the stand-alone single "Say the Word" for the Playing for Keeps movie soundtrack, which was not included on So Red the Rose.

EMI re-released the album as a three-disc box set in April 2010. This remastering collected all permutations and remixes of tracks released by the band. The third disc comprised the video collection on DVD, but it does not include the video for "Say the Word".

Band changes

Arcadia continued the Duran Duran tradition of a slick image. For the Arcadia incarnation of their ever-changing band aesthetic, Le Bon, Rhodes and Roger Taylor donned an upmarket 'gothic' look of black tuxedos, vintage formal wear, and bow ties. The three also dyed their hair black, as seen when they performed (as Duran Duran, with Andy and John Taylor) at the 1985 Live Aid concert in Philadelphia. By the time the video for their single "The Flame" was made in early 1986 (in which John Taylor made a cameo), Rhodes had changed his hair colour to golden blond and Le Bon had returned to his regular highlighted hairstyle.

Other appearances

The group made a variety of promotional appearances on television, but never toured. When Duran Duran released their Notorious album and toured, "Election Day" was included as part of the set along with "Some Like It Hot" from the Power Station. Drummer Roger Taylor retired from the music business for 15 years after the release of the Arcadia album, but returned in 2001 to rejoin the most famous classic Duran Duran lineup.

Band members

Guest musicians

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions Certifications
UK
US
AUS
[7]
SWE
[8]
NZ
[9]
CAN
So Red the Rose 302335482214

Video albums

List of video albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Arcadia

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[11]
US
US Dance
AUS
[7]
NZ
NOR
NLD
SWI
IRE
"Election Day"19857629134712185So Red the Rose
"Goodbye Is Forever"3377
"The Promise"1986379424
"The Flame"583829
"Say the Word" Playing for Keeps (soundtrack)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors
TitleYearDirector(s)
"Election Day"1985 Roger Christian
"The Promise"Marcelo Anciano
"Goodbye Is Forever"1986
"The Flame" Russell Mulcahy
"Say the Word"
(theme from Playing for Keeps )
"Missing"
(originally unreleased)
Dean Chamberlain

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duran Duran</span> English band

Duran Duran are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor. With the addition of bassist Simon Colley and drummer Roger Taylor the following year, the band went through numerous personnel changes before May 1980, when they settled on their most famous line-up by adding guitarist Andy Taylor and lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)</span> English drummer (born 1960)

Roger Andrew Taylor is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the new wave band Duran Duran from their inception until 1985, and again from 2001 onwards. Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022 as a member of Duran Duran.

<i>Rio</i> (Duran Duran album) 1982 studio album by Duran Duran

Rio is the second studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 10 May 1982 through EMI. Produced by Colin Thurston, the band wrote and demoed most of the material before recording the album at AIR Studios in London from January to March 1982. The band utilised more experimentation compared to their debut album, from vibraphone and marimba to the sound of a cigarette being lit and cracking ice cubes. Andy Hamilton played a saxophone solo on "Rio".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Rhodes</span> English musician and keyboardist of Duran Duran (born 1962)

Nick Rhodes is an English keyboardist and producer, best known as a founding member and the keyboardist of the band Duran Duran. He is also informally monikered as "the Controller", after being introduced as such on stage by bandmate Simon Le Bon during the Astronaut album world tours of 2004–2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Le Bon</span> British singer; lead vocalist of Duran Duran

Simon John Charles Le Bon is a British singer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the new wave band Duran Duran and its offshoot Arcadia. Le Bon has received three Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, including the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

<i>Duran Duran</i> (1981 album) 1981 studio album by Duran Duran

Duran Duran is the debut studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 15 June 1981 through EMI. Produced by Colin Thurston, it was recorded in London and Oxfordshire between December 1980 and January 1981. The instrumental tracks were recorded quickly, but vocalist Simon Le Bon initially struggled to sing in the studio, leading to discussions about replacing him before EMI employee Dave Ambrose intervened.

<i>So Red the Rose</i> 1985 studio album by Arcadia

So Red the Rose is the only studio album by the Duran Duran-spinoff group Arcadia, released on 18 November 1985 by Parlophone. It included the singles "Election Day", "The Promise", "Goodbye Is Forever" and "The Flame". The album peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200 in January 1986 and at #30 on the UK Albums charts in December 1985.

<i>Greatest</i> (Duran Duran album) 1998 greatest hits album by Duran Duran

Greatest is a greatest hits album by English rock band Duran Duran, released in 1998.

<i>Seven and the Ragged Tiger</i> 1983 studio album by Duran Duran

Seven and the Ragged Tiger is the third studio album by the English rock band Duran Duran, released on 21 November 1983 through EMI and Capitol Records. Co-produced by Alex Sadkin, Ian Little and the band, recording sessions took place in France, the Caribbean and Australia between April and October 1983 following Duran Duran's decision to record outside the UK as tax exiles. Unlike their previous two studio albums, the sessions were marred by a lack of productivity and tensions rose between the band members over its direction.

<i>Notorious</i> (Duran Duran album) 1986 studio album by Duran Duran

Notorious is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Duran Duran, released on 18 November 1986 by EMI Records. Produced by the band with Nile Rodgers, its musical style differed from the band's previous albums with a funk rock sound. It is the first album to feature the band as a trio with singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor as drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor both left by the time the album was released. Andy Taylor would later be replaced by former Missing Persons guitarist Warren Curcurullo, who completed recording parts of the album in addition to Rodgers and session drummer Steve Ferrone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notorious (Duran Duran song)</span> 1986 single by Duran Duran

"Notorious" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran. Released internationally by EMI on 20 October 1986, it was the first single from Duran Duran's fourth studio album of the same name, and showcased a new direction for Duran Duran with a funk rock sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save a Prayer</span> 1982 single by Duran Duran

"Save a Prayer" is a song by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 9 August 1982 as the third single from their second album Rio (1982). It became Duran Duran's biggest hit on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number two. As of October 2021 "Save a Prayer" is the sixth most streamed Duran Duran song in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet Earth (Duran Duran song)</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"Planet Earth" is the debut single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungry Like the Wolf</span> 1982 song by Duran Duran

"Hungry Like the Wolf" is a song by English new wave band Duran Duran. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Colin Thurston for the group's second studio album, Rio (1982). The song was released on 4 May 1982 as the band's fifth single in the United Kingdom, and 8 June 1982 in the United States. It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union of the Snake</span> 1983 single by Duran Duran

"Union of the Snake" is the ninth single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 17 October 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A View to a Kill (song)</span> 1985 single by Duran Duran

"A View to a Kill" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released on 6 May 1985. Written and recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, it became one of the band's biggest hits. It is the only James Bond theme song to have reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to number two for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart while stuck behind Paul Hardcastle's "19". The song was the last track recorded by the most famous five-member lineup of Duran Duran until their reunion in 2001 and was also performed by the band at Live Aid in Philadelphia, their final performance together before their first split.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Election Day (song)</span> 1985 single by Arcadia

"Election Day" is the first single released by Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Promise (Arcadia song)</span> 1986 single by Arcadia

"The Promise" is the third single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band Arcadia. It was released by Parlophone in 1986 as the group's second UK single. It peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flame (Arcadia song)</span> 1986 single by Arcadia

"The Flame" is the fourth single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia. It was released by Parlophone in 1986 and was the group's third UK single. It reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart.

David Van Tieghem is an American composer, percussionist and sound designer, best known for his philosophy of utilizing any available object as a percussion instrument and for his collaborations with the experimental artists Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Steve Reich, Robert Ashley and David Byrne.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 49. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  2. "Forth Worth Stare-Telegram, 07 Aug 1987". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 7 August 1987. p. 112. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. Hunt, Dennis (17 November 1985). "Le Bon Finds His Version Of Arcadia". Los Angeles Times . United States. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  4. "Album Picks: Freezepop". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  5. "So Red the Rose - Arcadia | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  6. "The Rightful Heir?". Q Magazine No. 48. September 1990. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  7. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 19. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. Steffen Hung (13 December 1985). "Swedish Charts Portal". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  9. Steffen Hung (15 December 1985). "New Zealand charts portal". Charts.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  10. "Arcadia (3) - Arcadia (VHS) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 27. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.