DURAN DURAN – PORT CHESTER 2015 SOUNDBOARD (2 CD-R)

Description

Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, USA 2nd August 2015

　The new Port Chester soundboard series now includes a DURAN DURAN release! This full show, recorded just before the release of ‘PAPER GODS’ with the original four members reunited, is presented in stunning, official-quality sound!!

　This release features a recording of the “August 2, 2015 Port Chester performance,” and it’s the first-ever soundboard recording of that performance. Recently, soundboard recordings of various artists from the famous Capitol Theatre near New York have been released in droves, and while the genres vary, the raw, direct-to-mix sound continues to excite collectors worldwide. At our store, we’ve received great reviews for recordings by Norah Jones, Steely Dan, The Moody Blues, and Reo Speedwagon, and this week we’ve received the Duran Duran and Yes editions.

　This series features bands and artists all connected by the common theme of the “2010s,” with DURAN DURAN’s focus being on the ‘PAPER GODS’ era from 2015 to 2017. Let’s first get an overview of the whole picture to understand where this album fits in.

●2015
– February 19: London performance
– April 4: Santa Monica performance
– June 20 – July 2: Europe #1 (3 performances)
– August 1 – 6: North America #1 (4 performances) ←★HERE★
– September 5 + 11: UK (2 performances)
《September 11: “PAPER GODS” released》
– September 14 – October 8: North America #2 (13 performances)
– October 20 – December 14: Europe #2 (16 performances)
●2016
– March 25 – May 4: North America #3 (21 performances)
– May 28 – June 19: Europe #3 (9 performances)
– July 6 – September 10: North America #4 (28 performances)
– December 16: London performance
– December 29 – January 1: North America #5 (3 performances) ● March 17th – April 8th,
2017 : North America #6 / South America (11 shows) July 7th – 16th: North America #7 (6 shows) August 29th – September 22nd, 2017: Europe #4 / Asia (7 shows) December 9th + 30th: North America #7 (2 shows) [A completely official-quality soundboard with an impressive sense of separation] 　This is DURAN DURAN from the ‘PAPER GODS’ era. Over three years, they had a long run of more than 100 shows around the world. The Port Chester performance featured in this recording is the second show of “North America #1,” which was at the very beginning of the tour. It was about 40 days before the release of ‘PAPER GODS,’ and they had just started to bring new songs to the stage.

　This recording, which captures such a show, boasts the same distinctive character as previous releases in the series, but with an even more striking and impactful sound. To be frank, even calling it “official-level unearthed material” isn’t enough praise. The separation of each part is simply superb. When listening with headphones, its brilliance is immediately apparent, with Roger Taylor’s kick and snare standing out clearly within their left and right positioning, and John Taylor’s bassline shaking you to your gut without losing its definition. This is one of the best soundboard recordings in the newly unearthed series in terms of how prominent the rhythm section is.

　Furthermore, Dominic Brown’s guitar has an attack edge that cuts through the air at a sharp angle, and the chorus/wind section, including Ana Ross and Simon Willescroft, doesn’t blend together as a single mass, but rather each individual line is clearly separated and reaches the ear. Speaking of live performances from the 2010s, there’s also the official video “A DIAMOND IN THE MIND,” ​​but even when played side by side, this one doesn’t fall short—in fact, I’d even go so far as to say it surpasses it in terms of rawness.

[A rich selection of masterpieces that condense their glorious career]
　What you can enjoy with this superb sound is a full show that covers everything from their golden age in the 80s to hits after their reunion. The selection is different from the official video “A DIAMOND IN THE MIND,” ​​so let’s compare and organize them here.

●Classic Era (9 songs)
– Duran Duran: Is There Something I Should Know? / Planet Earth
– Rio: The Chauffeur (★) / Hungry Like The Wolf / Rio
– Others: The Wild Boys / A View To A Kill / The Reflex / Election Day (★)
●From Then On (8 songs)
– The Wedding Album: Come Undone / Ordinary World
– All You Need Is Now: Girl Panic! / All You Need Is Now
– Others: Notorious / Pressure Off (★) / (Reach Up For The) Sunrise / White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included in the official video ‘A DIAMOND IN THE MIND’.

…and so it goes. The opening is spectacular, starting with “The Wild Boys” and followed by a rapid succession of killer tunes like “A View To A Kill” and “The Reflex”. In the middle of the set, 90s hits like “Come Undone” and “Ordinary World” add depth, while album fans’ favorite selections like “The Chauffeur” tighten the atmosphere. Hearing “Election Day” under the name ARCADIA through a direct soundboard connection is an irresistible treat. Furthermore, the inclusion of “Pressure Off,” a lead track from ‘PAPER GODS,’ in the set is another highlight unique to this leg just before the album’s release.

　This is the Duran Duran edition of the Port Chester soundboard discovery series. With its exceptional clarity and distinct instrumentation, this album delivers a sound of true official quality, showcasing the culmination of their career from the 1980s to the present day. Featuring a luxurious selection of tracks not found in official videos, this is a gem of a soundboard album making its debut. Please enjoy it to the fullest.

★This is the Duran Duran edition of the Port Chester soundboard discovery series. This is a first-ever soundboard recording of the Port Chester performance on August 2, 2015, a masterpiece of true official quality with impressive clarity. This is a gem of a new masterpiece that pours the full show from just before the release of ‘PAPER GODS’ into your brain.

Disc:1 (52:37)
1. The Wild Boys
2. A View to a Kill
3. The Reflex
4. Come Undone
5. Is There Something I Should Know?
6. Girl Panic!
7. All You Need Is Now
8. The Chauffeur
9. Election Day (Arcadia)
10. Ordinary World

Disc:2 (39:27)
1. Notorious
2. Pressure Off
3. Planet Earth
4. Hungry Like the Wolf
5. (Reach Up for the) Sunrise
6. White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)
7. Rio

Simon Le Bon – vocals
John Taylor – bass guitar
Nick Rhodes – keyboards
Roger Taylor – drums