Careless Memories

Infobox Single |
Name = Careless Memories


Caption =
Artist = Duran Duran
from Album = Duran Duran
B-side = "Khanada"
"Fame"
Released = April 20 1981
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = Red Bus Studios, London December 1980
Genre = Rock, New Wave
Length = 3:53
Label = EMI (EMI 5168)
Writer = Duran Duran
Producer = Colin Thurston
Last single = "Planet Earth"
(1981)
This single = "Careless Memories"
(1981)
Next single = "Girls on Film"
(1981)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Duran Duran
Type = studio
prev_track = "To the Shore"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "Careless Memories"
track_no = 5
next_track = "Night Boat"
next_no = 6Extra tracklisting
Album = Arena
Type = live
prev_track = "Planet Earth"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "Careless Memories"
track_no = 10
next_track = "Girls on Film"
next_no = 11

"Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April, 1981.

The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at #37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the debut album "Duran Duran".

It has since come to light that the decision to release the single was not the band's but EMI's. After its failure, executives decided to let Duran Duran choose their own single releases. The band's first selection was "Girls on Film" and it duly became their first Top 5 hit in the UK.

Music video

The video was shot in Soho and directed by Perry Haines, who went on to form i-D Magazine. It was included in the "Duran Duran" video album released in 1983.

The band resurrected the song to play live during their reunion shows in 2004 and 2005. The song was accompanied on video screens behind the stage by a unique anime-style video, featuring stylized versions of the band members fighting giant monsters, spaceships, and destroying a skyscraper labelled "EMI" for "Endangered Music Industry".

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The song "Khanada" (pronounced "keh-NAY-duh") was included as the b-side to the single and is deemed by some as superior to the a-side. It is reported to have been written for fashion designer Jane Kahn who owned, with partner Patti Bell, the [Hurst street] shop "Kahn & Bell" where Duran Duran (and numerous other clubgoers of the day) shopped for clothes. (It has nothing to do with Canada.)

"Careless Memories" is one of three original-era singles that didn't include a remix of the title track, the other two being "Save A Prayer" and "A View To A Kill". To compensate for this, EMI issued a bonus B-side on the 12", a faithful cover of David Bowie's "Fame".

In Japan, these two b-sides were released on the Nite Romantics EP, along with night versions of "Girls on Film" and "Planet Earth".

Chart positions

Track listing

Release information pertains to UK release only.

7": EMI EMI 5168

# "Careless Memories" – 3:53
# "Khanada" – 3:17

12": EMI 12 EMI 5168

# "Careless Memories" – 3:53
# "Fame" – 3:11
# "Khanada" – 3:17

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981-1985" boxset

# "Careless Memories" – 3:53
# "Khanada" – 3:17
# "Fame" – 3:11

Other appearances

When the song "Is There Something I Should Know" was issued as a single in the US, "Careless Memories" was placed on the flipside. The song was also a favourite live staple throughout the 1980s, as evidenced on the live album "Arena".

A live version of "Careless Memories" recorded in December 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London was released in 1982 as the b-side to "Hungry Like The Wolf".

Perhaps due to its poor charting, "Careless Memories" was one of the few singles left off of both the "Decade" and "Greatest" single compilations.

Apart from the single, "Careless Memories" has also appeared on:

Albums:
*"Duran Duran" (1981)
*"Arena" (1984)
*"Singles Box Set 1981-1985" (2005)

Singles:
* "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)

Personnel

Duran Duran are:
*Simon Le Bon - vocals
*Nick Rhodes - keyboards
*John Taylor - bass guitar
*Roger Taylor - drums
*Andy Taylor - guitar

Also credited:
*Colin Thurston - producer and engineer

External links

* [http://www.duranduran.com Duran Duran official web site]