In May of 1980, Simon Le Bon arrived at the Rum Runner in Birmingham to audition for Duran Duran, wearing pink leopard print trousers and clutching a book full of lyrics. One of the songs in this book was called Tel Aviv, memories of the time Simon spent working on a kibbutz in Israel. Tel Aviv was the first song ever recorded by the band.
That song was not the instrumental Tel Aviv that we all know from the first album. This Tel Aviv is an entirely different song, including those lyrics, that we have never heard... until today.
Click here to listen to the original Tel Aviv
the afternoon
it's one maybe two
sipping away my last gold star
not so much to do
dream away the sunny day
'til its time to leave
I'll just watch you pass on by
when I'm on my own in Tel Aviv
with the blocks to one side
and the beach on the other
and the trees and the leaves
on my own in Tel Aviv
and the leaves and the trees
on my own in Tel Aviv
I see smoke is rolling
breaking off the shore
the sound of traffic fades
like someone closed the door
see I might stay here
watch the skins keeping cool
like Greene's man overseas
I read the rules
with the blocks to one side
and the beach on the other
and the trees and the leaves
on my own in Tel Aviv
and the palms and the trees
on my own in Tel Aviv
This version of Tel Aviv will be included on the upcoming EMI reissue of "Duran Duran," along with five other previously unreleased demos.
awsome blog!
ReplyDeletetotally different version, but I like it as well. I'm curious to know what led them to arrange it in the official version we know. DD decision? or producer's?
I've heard numerous times the first song was "Sound of Thunder" even as recently as the Fab5 Reunion. Then again, I believe there are now five stories on how "Hungry Like the Wolf" came about haha
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that "Sound of Thunder" was the first song they wrote, but Tel Aviv was the first one recorded.
ReplyDeletea-ha! said the man with no teeth! (this is why I have to stop sitting at this damn computer fro 72 hrs)
ReplyDeleteFrom Goldmine magazine:
ReplyDelete"Shortly after Le Bon joined Duran Duran, the Berrows decided to send the band back into the studio. This time, however, it wouldn't be at Bob Lamb's home, but at the 24 track AIR Studios in London. There, the group recorded two tracks, "Girls On Film" and "Tel Aviv." "Unlike the instrumental version on the album," John explains, 'Tel Aviv' was completely different, it was more of a real rock epic, it actually had three tempos. That's a nice little item, and I've got the only copy. When Nick and I talk about putting out an album of rarities, that's usually the first thing that comes to mind." Rhodes adds that "Girls On Film" was also very different from that subsequently released. In fact, he believes there were at least three early recordings of that song, each with a different set of lyrics! The AIR Studios' tracks were "much heavier" than the later version."
You'll hear the Air Studios version of GOF on the re-issue... it is much heavier. I think you'll like it ;)
ReplyDeletethanks kitty
ReplyDeleteSimon's voice is not from 30 years ago. That is indeed "Mature" Simon.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very much like modern Simon to me as well. Odd.
ReplyDeleteThe original Tel Aviv instrumental is one of my fav DD tracks ever. I can't say this alternate is on par with the released version. Either way, I was blessed with the opportunity to see all five original members of the reunited line-up perform Tel Aviv live with a full orchestra. They performed flawlessly. It is a moment I will never forget.
ReplyDelete