Duran Duran Albums Ranked

Duran Duran (/djʊˌræn djʊˈræn/) are an English new wave band formed in Birmingham in 1978. The group was a leading band in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US in the 1980s. The group was formed by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor, with the later addition of drummer Roger Taylor, and after numerous personnel changes, guitarist Andy Taylor (none of the Taylors are related) and lead singer Simon Le Bon. These five members featured the most commercially successful line-up. Duran Duran has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists. They achieved 14 singles in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100. The band has won numerous awards throughout their career: two Brit Awards including the 2004 award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a Video Visionary Award from the MTV Europe Music Awards. They were also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Here are all of Duran Duran albums ranked.

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10. All You Need Is Now (2010)

“All You Need is Now tries to recapture the magic from that time, and does it quite well. Some songs are cringeworthy (“Safe”), but most are very listenable (“The Man Who Stole a Leopard”). This is on the top of the virtual stack of the Duran Duran discography. The next installment would sound more modern, but misses the mark, but not as badly as other efforts (Liberty, Big Thing come to mind). Hopefully, the upcoming album will be as good as this one.”

9. Arena (1984)

“This is a very good live album from Duran Duran. It took this album to help Save a Prayer from ’82’s Rio become an early 1985 pop hit. Prayer is still addictive some 20 years later, a very calming, soothing song from them. But the live performances from their albums are just as entertaining as the studio versions. I liked The Chauffeur and The Reflex as well as Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio live. The sound is so big and massive and they demonstrated how New Wave was so dominant in the ’80s.”

8. Greatest (1998)

“They don’t call it the greatest for nothing. This album includes all the top hits from Duran Duran, including the to later ones, Come undone and Ordinary World. The music from the early Duran Duran Albums to the latest shows how the group has kept going on forever. Duran Duran is one of my favorite bands from the 80’s and 90’s. I hope their music never dies, and I hope their music keeps drawing new listeners to their style of music.”

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7. Decade (1989)

“DECADE is phenomenal “best of” compilation of Duran Duran’s hits during a defining time period in music history: the 80s!! Duran Duran rode in on the new wave of music they helped create, which was contagious lighthearted pop, energizing, over-the-top, optimistic & each song a literal ‘celebration’!!! Typically music reflects the times & so it was & came to be one of music’s most influential time periods.”

6. Notorious (1986)

“Notorious is truly one of Duran Duran’s best albums of all time. It’s funky, upbeat, and perfectly done. A new style gives the boys a more mature, superior sound. Powerful drums, smooth bass, hard-rocking guitars, fantastic synth, and trumpets adding the perfect touch. Simon’s vocals are flawless and never disappoint.”

5. Big Thing (1988)

“I think Big Thing is one of the must unappreciated albums Duran Duran have ever released. It was described by John Taylor on the “Extraordinary World” documentary that it was such a lumbering epic that nobody wanted to know about it, which I think is rather harsh.”

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4. Seven And The Ragged Tiger (1983)

“Seven and the Ragged Tiger could have benefitted from some “breathing room” somewhere in the track listing (as in a spacious, breezy, tempo-free song), but at this point in their careers, the members of Duran Duran had no such “breathing room” in their chaotic lives, so I can see why this was reflected in the album.”

3. Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) (1993)

“The Wedding Album is undeniably one of their best albums. A comeback it is, and a whole new fresh sound for a new decade. I enjoyed the fact they brought in some new styles but still kept to some of their original roots. An all grown-up Duran Duran compared to their work in the 80’s. I find it fits into the 90’s quite nicely.”

2. Duran Duran (1981)

“Duran Duran’s self titled debut album brings many great songs such as Girls on Film and Planet Earth. However all of the other songs on this album are very underrated and tend to be overlooked by many people even though they are great songs too. Songs like Friends Of Mine, Anyone Out There, and Careless Memories. Basically my point is that this album is amazing and should be listened throughout to enjoy the entire Duran Duran experience.”

1. Rio (1982)

“This dance music could have been from another planet. While the keyboards are rather out there and spacey the earthly beat is pulsating very well anchored in the ground. That’s certainly not a bad thing – it’s a great thing and this band should be applauded for what they have done. The exceptional standouts between these two discs are the varying different versions , namely “Hungry Like The Wolf” and “Hold Back The Rain”.