More classic pop than rock here, but music that most here would have grown up with, and releases definitely worthy of mention.

Following on from last year's successful re-release of the classic Rio album, Duran's first and third albums get similar treatment, and you don't get much more expanded than these.

Kicking off with the debut Duran Duran, the original 1981 album charted at number 3 in the UK, and the USA reissue made the top 10 and stayed in the charts for 87 weeks. That's some impression for any debut to make. If you like classic pop and anything new romantic, then this album is worth having for the opening two tracks alone, "Girls On Film" and "Planet Earth". Plenty a pop melody, catchy tunes and programmed sounds. Listening to this now, it features more prominent guitar and bass than I remembered, and the mix with the keyboards is good. At times the drums sound a little too programmed / electronic for my liking.

Disc 1 is bolstered by 7" / 12" b-sides, while disc 2 features some demos / live versions, 4 BBC Radio 1 Peter Powell sessions and 4 remixes. Many of these are previously unreleased. Disc 3 is a DVD featuring all the promotional videos, and several Top Of The Pops, OGWT and other TV appearances. ****

By 1983 and Seven And The Ragged Tiger, Duran Duran were regulars in the charts and on the radio. This album quickly went platinum in both the UK and USA.

Opener "The Reflex", another hit single, is one most will know, and the album continues in similar fashion. Disc 2 features all the singles, b-sides and remixes, while the DVD adds the 12 track "As The Lights Go Down" film, 5 videos and 2 more TV appearances. ****

Both albums have been released many times, but these editions are definitive.

Poptastic indeed.

Review by Joe Geesin

www.joegeesin.com