Medazzaland Explained

Medazzaland is the ninth studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. It was released on 14 October 1997 by Capitol Records solely in North America, Latin America and Japan. The title is a reference to the anesthetic midazolam, which Simon Le Bon was given during dental surgery.^[1] It reached number 58 on the Billboard 200 and number 66 on RPMs albums chart.

Medazzaland was available in Europe as an import or digital download, it was only in 2021 (when the band signed a deal for the album with BMG), when it was officially released in the UK on various digital platforms.^[2] A physical 25th anniversary release on CD and coloured vinyl followed in 2022.

Singles

In March 1997, the single for "Out of My Mind" from the soundtrack to the film The Saint were released internationally on Virgin Records. The single peaked at number 21 on the UK chart in May.^[3] The music video for "Out of My Mind" was filmed by director Dean Karr at Český Krumlov Castle in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic.^[4]

The lead single, "Electric Barbarella" (a nod to the film Barbarella, from which the band took their name), was released on 16 September in the United States, and peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 1 November. It was touted as the first ever song by a major label artist available for digital purchase/download on the internet.^[5]

Release

The album was eventually released on 14 October 1997 in North America and Japan. Due to poor sales, plans for a UK release were pushed back, and, later, shelved indefinitely by EMI/Capitol. It was not physically released in any other area of the world for many years, although in July 2008 the album was made available to buy digitally through iTunes Store in Europe and the US.^[6]

Track listing

All tracks are produced by TV Mania in association with Syn Pro Tokyo except where noted.

Notes

• signifies an associate producer
• signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

• "Buried in the Sand" contains a sample of "Raga Jaijaiwanti" by Ustad Sultan Khan (courtesy of Navras Records)

Personnel

Duran Duran

• Nick Rhodes – keyboards, spoken word (track 1), synth bass (track 13)
• Simon Le Bon – vocals (tracks 2 to 13)
• Warren Cuccurullo – guitar, bass (tracks 3 to 6, 8 to 10, and 12), synth bass (track 13), background vocals
• John Taylor – bass (tracks 1, 2, 7 and 11)

Additional musicians

• Steve Alexander – live drums (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, and 10 to 12)
• Anthony J. Resta – live drums (tracks 2, 3, 5, 8 to 11, and 13), mixing (tracks 1 to 5 and 7 to 13), additional production (tracks 1, 8 and 13), additional rhythm and programming
• Dave DiCenso – live drums (track 4)
• Tim Garland – treated soprano sax solo (track 9)
• Talvin Singh – tabla and santoor (tracks 4)
• Jake Shapiro – cello (track 10)
• Ustad Sultan Khan – sarangi sample (track 8)
• Sally Stapleton – background vocals (track 2)
• Madeleine Farley – background vocals (track 6)
• Mayko Cuccurullo – ultra high vocal effects (track 1)
• Clem Burke – live drum fill (track 3)

Production

• TV Mania – mixing (track 6), production
• Syn Pro Tokyo – associate producer
• Mark Tinley – mixing (track 6), engineering and programming
• Ted Paddock – additional engineering at Metropolis Studios
• Bob St. John – mixing (tracks 1 to 5 and 7 to 13), mix engineering, additional production (tracks 1, 8 and 13)
• Gareth Ashton – mixing assistant
• Dave Collins – mastering at A&M Studios (tracks 1 to 11 and 13)
• Henk Kooistra – mastering at 9 West Mastering (track 12)
• Duran Duran – art direction
• Andrew Day – art direction, artwork, photography
• Ellen von Unwerth – photography
• Katrin Geilhausen – photography

References

Bibliography

• Book: Malins, Steve . 2005 . Notorious: The Unauthorized Biography . . 0-233-00137-9.

Notes and References

1. Duran Duran's Medazzaland – a look back. Classic Pop. Earls. John. 19 January 2023. 21 November 2024.
2. Web site: Duran Duran's Medazzaland is officially available in the UK for the very first time | superdeluxeedition. 19 March 2021 .
3. Web site: Duran Duran . Official Charts Company .
4. Web site: Ivan stories. 14 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070514074051/http://www.duranduran.sk/stories/fanstories_KrumlovENG.html. 14 May 2007.
5. Web site: 20 Years Ago: Duran Duran Make Music History by Selling 'Electric Barbarella' as a Digital Single . Zaleski, Annie . 11 September 2017 . diffuser.fm .
6. Duran Duran Official Website "Pop Trash and Medazzaland on iTunes!", July 2008.