Duran Duran “Notorious” released 30 years ago today, November 21st, 1986. (Wiki has the date as November 18th but the official D2 site says today is the Duraniversary). Notorious is Duran’s fourth studio album; it peaked at #12 in the US and #16 in the UK with the title single release doing particularly well, reaching #2 in the US and #7 in the UK. The two other singles, “Skin Trade” and “Meet El Presidente” did not chart quite as well, #22 UK/#39 US and #24 UK/#70 US respectively.

The recording of Notorious was fraught with contention as it was during this time that Andy Taylor officially withdrew from Duran Duran, though he did contribute guitar parts on “A Matter of Feeling” and “American Science” and returned to the band, temporarily, years later. The split eventually became permanent of course as, to quote Nick, “the trouble is Andy is into rock’n’roll and we are into art’n’roll…”  Roger Taylor also took an extended hiatus due to exhaustion at this time, Steve Ferrone replacing him on drums for the album. Nile Rogers provided guitar (along with Warren Cuccurullo) and worked production for the album, guiding the band’s sound in a horn-infused funk direction. At the beginning of the 30th anniversary discussion of Notorious, Rogers states that during recording problems Nick Rhodes would ask, “What would Sly do?” referring of course to funkman/Rogers collaborator Sly Stone, and Rogers would play James Brown rifts for inspiration. Nick goes on to say that Duran entered a “very very different musical landscape” with Notorious.