Duran Duran “Arena” released on this date, November 12th, 1984. My copy bought soon after its release, gatefold and with the 8 page concert-style program booklet pictured here. The album reached #6 on the UK charts and #4 in the US.

Arena is a live album featuring tracks from Duran Duran, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger along with one new single, the studio track “The Wild Boys” which became infamous for its Russell Mulcahy video/short film that was one of the most expensive ever shot at that time.

The whole album is, to my extremely biased ears, wonderful but certain tracks stand out: “New Religion” is fantastically complex and DD2 pulls it off in the live environment with perfection with Simon’s lightening fast lyrics, Andy’s guitar goes full-out rock n’ roll and John plays that fucking bass, man! “Seventh Stranger,” a sultry ballad, drips with raw, glorious pain and romantic loss. And “Planet Earth” is exuberant and glorious, with the boys at the top of their game.