Rocktrospectiva: The Incredible Timeless "So Red The Rose" Turns 40

Released on 18 November 1985 "So Red The Rose" was the only studio album by the Duran Duran-spinoff group Arcadia. It included the singles "Election Day", "The Promise", "Goodbye Is Forever" and "The Flame". The album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 in January 1986 and at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart in December 1985. There were many musical guests on the album, including David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Herbie Hancock, Grace Jones, and Sting who provided backing vocals on "The Promise".

The album's artwork featured painted ink drawings by fashion illustrator Tony Viramontes of fashion model Violeta Sanchez as well as an innovative "light space" photograph of the band by Dean Chamberlain, who also directed the video for the song "Missing".

The story began when Duran Duran took a break in the mid-80s, the band split cleanly into two camps – bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor joined The Power Station with Robert Palmer, while singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and drummer Roger Taylor wisely avoided any Robert Palmers and formed their own band, Arcadia. 

Arcadia had a better appeal than The Power Station, after all it was Simon Le Bon's charismatic and emotionally resonant vocals, and the synthesizer wizardry of Nick Rhodes and then Andy Taylor who provided the guitar parts. Arcadia kept the heart and soul of what made Duran Duran one of the greatest pop bands of its time, and indeed certain critics called the album the best Duran never made.

So Red the Rose had a slick production, there were all kinds of cool synthesizer sounds representing the climax of the synth pop in the 80's if you carefully listen. The music is incredibly textured and with incredible better effects than Duran Duran albums before, the album indeed had a natural, organic sound, despite being so based in the digital as opposed to the analog sound at the time, and the mix was another remarkable thing. 

The music was formidable "Missing" was a beautiful song built on a sound collage, with its rich variety of sounds popping in and out, even thought the entire album was filled with fun, unexpected sounds and a intense variety, that provided the listener a truly astral experience. The opener "Election Day" was the jewel ofthe crown, Le Bon gaves us a typically passionate vocal that more than makes up for whatever nonsense the lyrics are going on about and then Grace Jones cool interlude, but the theme never missed a beat, it had a catchy melody and truly one of the most intense singles ever released at the time, indee "Missing" and "Election Day" were the two best songs on the album, another highlight was "El Diablo"  isn’t far behind. A snatch of whirling Gypsy violin leads into sumptuous slice of pan pipe heaven, until Le Bon pulled another irresistibly passionate and catchy chorus on the song definitely the track was another mini-masterpiece.

Then you had the slinky guitar riff, engaging melody, and falsetto jump in the chorus that powered "Goodbye is Forever", the alluring pop of "Keep Me in the Dark", and the supremely catchy "The Flame", all of which boasted the sterling production and interesting soundscapes found on the rest of the album.  "The Promise" boasted some typically exceptional guitar playing by guest David Gilmour, and had backing vocals by Sting if you’re the kind of person who’s impressed by that, and another catchy falsetto drenched chorus: "Heaven hide your eyes/Heaven's eyes will never dry".  

Phenomenal production courtesy of Alex Sadkin, his production work on the album was great and what a way to remember him caused he died tragically in a car crash a couple of short years later at the age of 38. 

 

So Red The Rose Track List:

 

1. Election Day

2. Keep Me In The Dark

3. Goodbye Is Forever

4. The Flame

5. Missing

6. Rose Arcana

7. The Promise

8. El Diablo

9. Lady Ice