My Own Way

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"My Own Way"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Rio
B-side	"Like an Angel"
Released	16 November 1981
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	Townhouse Studios, London Oct 1981
Genre	New Wave
Length	3:39 (single version) 4:51 (album version)
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Duran Duran
Producer	Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Girls on Film" (1981) "My Own Way" (1981) "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
Rio track listing "Rio" (1) "My Own Way" (2) "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (3)

"My Own Way" is the fourth single by Duran Duran, originally released as a single on 16 November 1981.

The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of the band's previous single, "Girls on Film", but prior to the recording and release of the band's second album Rio (which was recorded in the early months of 1982).

"My Own Way" was another hit, peaking at #14 on the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at #10 in Australia. Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as one of their least favourite and is rarely played live.^[1] Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has expressed astonishment that "My Own Way" performed better than 1987's "Skin Trade", which ended the band's record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.

About the song

The single release of "My Own Way" has a fast tempo and "disco strings" arranged by Richard Myhill & Duran Duran.

A slower (but more dramatic) version was later recorded for the Rio album, with slightly different lyrics. This version dispensed with the disco strings in favour of a new wave style with echoing synths and was later remixed by David Kershenbaum for the Carnival EP, and this altered track appeared on the American re-issue of the Rio album on vinyl and cassette late in 1982. All CD pressings of Rio have used the original UK album mix.

The band's dislike of "My Own Way" is evidenced by the song's omission from all of Duran Duran's compilation albums. Neither 1989's Decade or 1998's Greatest included the track, although it came close on the latter. A promo for Greatest included both "My Own Way" and "Careless Memories", but the commercial release replaced them with 1990's "Serious" and 1997's "Electric Barbarella".

Music video

The video for "My Own Way" was set to the fast-paced single version of the song. It was rarely played on MTV or VH1, and was quickly overshadowed by the other more famous videos for the Rio album. Like those other videos, this one was directed by Russell Mulcahy.

"My Own Way" was filmed in a studio decorated entirely in red, black and white. The band performs the song while flamenco dancers twirl in the background, and a colourful parrot sits on the keyboards. The video was shot on 35mm film rather than video, a trend the band had started with their previous single "Girls On Film".

Small snippets of this video was seen on the projection screen in the video for "Is There Something I Should Know?" released in 1983, and it was part of the band's 1983 video album Duran Duran. However, it was not included on the video compilations Decade (1989) or Greatest (1999), though it was included as a bonus track on the 2009 DVD release of Live at Hammersmith '82!

B-sides

The b-side on the UK 7" and 12" singles was "Like An Angel"; the 12" also included the "Night Version".

Versions and remixes

• Manchester Square Demo 4:38 - recorded on 12 December 1980, this version saw official release on the expanded 2009 rerelease of the Rio album.
• Single Version 3:40 - the original commercially-released recording, from October 1981
• Night Version" 6:32 - the UK 12" version. Owing to the lack of sampling technology at the time, the 7" backing track was copied and the tape physically spliced to extend it, then fresh overdubs were added.
• Instrumental Version 6:32 - the Night Version, minus the vocals. Initially appearing on a UK promo 12", it was made available as a download-only supplement to the 2009 Rio rerelease.
• UK Album Version 4:49 - completely rerecorded during the Rio album sessions, in early 1982.
• Brazilian Edit 3:42 - the UK Album Version, faded just over a minute early. It appeared on the Brazil-only Rio 7" EP.
• Carnival EP/US Album Remix 4:31 - the UK Album Version, remixed by David Kershenbaum for the US market. This version also appeared on the b-side of the UK Rio 12", labelled simply "Remix" and with a 5 second longer fade.

Chart positions

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Track listing

All release details pertain to the UK only.

7": EMI / EMI 5254

All songs written and composed by Duran Duran. 

12": EMI / 12 EMI 5254

All songs written and composed by Duran Duran. 

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981-1985" boxset

All songs written and composed by Duran Duran. 

Other appearances

Apart from the single, "My Own Way" has also appeared on:

Albums:

• Rio (1982)
• Carnival (1982)
• Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (1998)
• Strange Behaviour (1999)
• Singles Box Set 1981–1985 (2005)

Singles:

• Rio (1982)

The compilation "Trash Companion #01" (2002) included "My Own Way (Version)".

Samples

In 2002, "My Own Way" was sampled by José Nunez, American music remixer and producer, for the dance song "Air Race", which became a sizeable club and airplay hit.

Personnel

• Simon Le Bon - vocals
• Nick Rhodes - keyboards
• John Taylor - bass guitar
• Roger Taylor - drums
• Andy Taylor - guitar

Also credited:

• Colin Thurston - producer and engineer
• Renate - Technician
• Peter Saville, Peter Saville Associates, Manchester and Malcolm Garrett, Assorted iMaGes, London - sleeve design
• Arranged by (Strings) - Duran Duran and Richard Myhill

References

• Versions of My Own Way on Rio
• The Duran Duran Timeline: 1981