Careless Memories

"Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981.

"Careless Memories"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Duran Duran
B-side
  • "Khanada"
  • "Fame"
Released20 April 1981
RecordedDecember 1980
StudioRed Bus, London
Genre
Length
  • 3:41 (single version)
  • 3:53 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Planet Earth"
(1981)		 "Careless Memories"
(1981)		 "Girls on Film"
(1981)

The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at No. 37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the debut album Duran Duran.

It has since come to light that the decision to release the single was not the band's but EMI's. After its failure, executives decided to let Duran Duran choose their own single releases. The band's first selection was "Girls on Film" and it duly became their first Top 5 hit in the UK.

Music video

The video was shot in Soho and directed by Perry Haines, who went on to form i-D magazine.

There are two different cuts of this video. The second version, which was included in the Duran Duran video album released in 1983, features minor re-edits of certain scenes. The original version of the video was finally released on the Duran Duran album 2010 2CD+DVD remaster.

An example of the differences between the two videos occur during the line, "On the table, signs of love lie scattered." In the original version, Le Bon is sitting on the couch, ripping up a piece of paper. He then proceeds to take the tulips out of the vase, then throws them in the air. In the second version, it shows a shot of the band on stage, then cuts to Le Bon taking the tulips and throwing them.

Another example is during the line, "I walked out into the sun, I try to find a new day." In the original, Le Bon is in the white room, opening the door, with him disappearing into a bright light. In the re-edit, it once again shows a shot of the band on stage, lipsynching.

The band resurrected the song to play live during their reunion shows in 2004 and 2005. The song was accompanied on video screens behind the stage by a unique anime-style video, featuring stylized versions of the band members fighting giant monsters, spaceships, and destroying a skyscraper labelled "EMI" for "Endangered Music Industry" (a dig at the band's old record company).

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The song "Khanada" (pronounced "keh-NAY-duh") was included as the B-side to the single. It is reported to have been written for fashion designer Jane Kahn who owned, with partner Patti Bell, the Hurst Street shop Kahn & Bell where Duran Duran (and numerous other clubgoers of the day) shopped for clothes.

"Careless Memories" is one of three original-era singles that didn't include a remix of the title track (although the fade-out on the 12" is slightly longer), the other two being "Save a Prayer" and "A View to a Kill". To compensate for this, EMI issued a bonus B-side on the 12", a faithful cover of David Bowie's "Fame". However, the "Careless Memories" 12" version fades out at 3:44 seconds, the 7" version three seconds earlier at 3:41. The 7" version is included in the Singles 1981–1985 box set but runs to 3:44 as it includes three seconds of silence after the fade out.

In Japan, the two B-sides were released on the Nite Romantics EP, along with night versions of "Girls on Film" and "Planet Earth".

Formats and track listing

7": EMI. / EMI 5168 United Kingdom
  1. "Careless Memories" – 3:41
  2. "Khanada" – 3:17

12": EMI. / 12 EMI 5168 United Kingdom
  1. "Careless Memories" – 3:53
  2. "Fame" – 3:11
  3. "Khanada" – 3:17
  • Track 1 is the album version of "Careless Memories".

12": Harvest. / SPRO-9662, SPRO-9663 (Promo) United States
  1. "Careless Memories" – 3:53
  2. "Is There Anyone Out There" – 4.02
  3. "Girls on Film" – 3.30
  • Track 1 is the album version of "Careless Memories".

CD: Part of the Singles 1981–1985 box set
  1. "Careless Memories" – 3:44
  2. "Khanada" – 3:17
  3. "Fame" – 3:11
  • Track 1 is the 7" version of "Careless Memories".

Chart positions
Chart Peak
position
United Kingdom[2] 37
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 60

Other appearances

When the song "Is There Something I Should Know?" was issued as a single in the US, "Careless Memories" was placed on the flipside. The song was also a favourite live staple throughout the 1980s and was included on the live album Arena.

A live version of "Careless Memories" recorded in December 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London was released in 1982 as the b-side to "Hungry Like the Wolf".

"Careless Memories" was one of the few singles not included in either the Decade or Greatest single compilations.

Personnel

Duran Duran

Technical

Musical notes

The song has a rock double-timed bass line in the key of E, with a keyboard intro played deliberately off-time.

References
  1. S. Borthwick & R. Moy (2004), "Synthpop: into the digital age", Popular Music Genres: an Introduction, p. 123, ISBN 978-0-7486-1745-6, More conventional soul/disco acts such as Chic also influenced synthpop. A track such as Duran Duran's Careless Memories is a classic hybrid of Euro-disco, new wave guitar pop and Bowie/Kraftwerk
  2. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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