Duran Duran “Duran Duran” – today, June 15th, is a major #duranivesary – 40 years ago today D2 released their debut album. Duran Duran reached #3 on the UK charts, remaining in the top 100 for 117 weeks. Its initial release did not do so well in the US but was subsequently re-released (with a different cover and the addition of the single “Is There Something I Should Know”) on April 25th, 1983 after the phenomenal success of Rio. Duran Duran then made it to #10 on the US Billboard charts. This well-loved original US pressing has the “Night Version” rather than the single version of “Planet Earth” (#12 UK). “To the Shore,” which appears on the UK pressing, was not included in order to accommodate the increased length of the Night Version (6:20 vs. 4:03). Other singles from Duran Duran include “Careless Memories” (#37 UK) and the infamous “Girls on Film”  which was their first big hit, reaching #5 on the UK charts. To say I love those songs and every other song on Duran Duran would be a huge understatement. I know every second of music, every lyric and most of the stories behind the songs (whether real or what me and my Duranie friends made up).