Rio

Great track listing...sound quality a little questionable
Personally, I found that the mastering on this new release is a bit shrill, with way too many highs that leave the songs sounding not only flat, but tinny at the same time with no dynamic range. Luckily, I have an old school system with an actual graphic equalizer, so i can manipulate the sound quality. But if you have a modern system that gives you 'predetermined' equalizer settings, you may have an issue finding the right setting. My only other complaint about this release is the final track on disc 2. The carnival mix of My Own Way is kind of ruined by the fact that they've tacked a spoken holiday greeting by Simon LeBon onto the end of the track! So guess what--if you want to put this mix on your ipod and don't have any editing software, you'll have to listen to that spoken greeting every time you play the song. So glad I have this mix on another CD...

Better Sounding Remaster plus extras
For those of you who own the 2001 remaster of Rio, it's worth it to purchase this special updated remaster for many reasons. First, the sound quality of this new remaster is far superior than the 2001 remaster. In comparing them I found the 2001 remaster to be hissy compared to this new realease. The improvements to this new 2009 remaster eliminates the hiss and is punchier and more present than the 2001 version. Secondly, which is really interesting is that this UK version is different than the 2001 remaster(which I thought was the UK version as well). Tracks like "Hold Back the Rain" and most of the others are mixed differently...and are better! Plus you have the U.S. mixes which are interesting to hear(but I prefer the UK version on this 2009 remaster over them all). To top it off, you have the b-sides, demos, and night versions on disc two. Speaking as a musician and a music fan, Rio is one of my favorite albums of all time and one that sounds fresh everytime I listen to it. This 2009 remaster is a must for any Duran Duran fan and a strong suggestion to those unfamiliar with this wonderful album. I hear they are going to give the same treatment to their debut album(which is a favorite of mine as well). This is an important album for rock history and if you happen to be a bass player, look no further...John Taylor rocks!

great CD, really weird production issues
I got this CD along with the Hammersmith 82 DVD. The music on the CD is what it is supposed to be, according to the CD label and track listing, but when I put it on my computer, it reads as Duran Duran Rio 2000. Same goes for the 2nd CD, with the old demos and night versions. When I put it in the computer, it came up with the Big Thing cover and the track listing for the Big Thing CD...Really weird...When you actually PLAY the CD, it is what it is supposed to be. I think the whole production of the CD got rushed and it's a careless job, which is a shame. I don't know what to do with it, to send it back and try again, or just keep it and deal with it, since it is what it says it is, as far as the actual CD itself....I do like the old photos, and the narrative of the CD...I just think the record company should have paid more attention to the overall detail.

Well done!
I was looking forward to this reissue for quite a while, as it has both the original UK LP and the remixed versions of songs that appeared on the US LP. It appears, though, that I must be the only person in the US who prefers the original UK version. I did have a copy of the US LP, and then the Carnival mini-LP (as these 12" EPs were called at the time), but I got my CD copy almost as soon as it became available, and that is the version I have lived with since. Though I can appreciate them as remixes (and I have always preferred the night version of "Hungry Like the Wolf" to the album version), in the context of the original UK album, the remixed songs that appeared on the US pressings sound too bright and sterile. In terms of sound quality, this reissue is the rare instance of a remaster done up right. Dynamic range appears to be mostly left intact rather than squashed for the sake of loudness, and the overall sound is a bit fuller than the orignal CD, which sounds slightly anemic in comparsion. (EMI is excelling at this as of late, as anyone who has heard the Thomas Dolby or Beatles remasters can atttest.) The packaging is fantastic (though I agree with the reviewer who complained about the typeface used for the liner notes), and I particularly appreciate the attention to detail in the track listings, especially the inclusion of catalog numbers for the original releases. In any event, this reissue should satisfy anyone who originally bought the album way back when, regardless of which version you prefer. Recommended.

Garden-Variety FAN review
So I bought this for the demo of "The Chauffeur," and I was not disappointed. I also loved the release of "Like An Angel," but was horrified by the demo of the same (WHAT was with the backing vocals?) As for the rest, I could not really tell it was all "digitally remastered," and the UK versions were different from the US version literally by seconds. All in all, though, I was pleased. As a fan of Andy Taylor, it was interesting to me to hear how much more the guitar was prevalent on the four Manchester Square demos. I was also intrigued (listening to the songs on my iPod,) by the use of mono versus stereo on "New Religion." I recommend for every fan. I'd also recommend this CD above the regular "Rio" CD. I look forward to (we can only hope!) the "Collectors Edition" SATRT .... from all I have heard, THOSE are the demos I want to OWN!