"Notorious" is the fourth studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 24 November 1986 by EMI Records. Produced by the band alongside Nile Rodgers, the album marked a departure from their previous sound, embracing a funk rock style. It is the first album to feature Duran Duran as a trio, with singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and bassist John Taylor remaining as members after drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor both left prior to the album's release. Andy Taylor was later replaced by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who contributed to several tracks on the album, alongside Rodgers and session drummer Steve Ferrone.
Notorious peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and number 12 on the Billboard 200, earning platinum certification and selling over a million copies worldwide. The album produced three singles: "Notorious," "Skin Trade," and "Meet El Presidente." The lead single, "Notorious," was a global hit, reaching number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite being less commercially successful than their previous albums, Notorious received positive critical reviews, particularly for the band's mature musical direction and the quality of its production.
After the success of their previous album Seven and the Ragged Tiger and the subsequent world tour, Duran Duran had initially planned to take a break in 1985. However, the band members became involved in two successful side projects: the Power Station and Arcadia. In 1985, Duran Duran regrouped to record "A View to a Kill" for the James Bond film of the same name and performed at the Live Aid charity concert. This would be the last time the original lineup played together as a band.
By the time recording for Notorious began in early 1986, drummer Roger Taylor had left the band, citing exhaustion from the pressures of their fame. The remaining members—Le Bon, Rhodes, and Taylor—continued working on the album with Nile Rodgers producing and contributing guitar work, alongside Steve Ferrone as the session drummer.
Guitarist Andy Taylor, who had been expected to participate in the early stages of the album, did not show up for the recording sessions. The band learned that Taylor was in Los Angeles working on a solo career and unhappy with the band's musical direction. Tensions grew, leading to a legal dispute between Andy Taylor and the band. After several months, the band agreed to part ways with him, but he played on several tracks before officially leaving. In his autobiography Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran, Andy Taylor recalled his final studio session, stating he was merely fulfilling his contractual obligations before leaving to pursue his own career.
During the sessions, Cuccurullo, guitarist for the band Missing Persons, approached the band and was initially rejected. However, as the album neared the mixing stage, the band invited him to contribute to several tracks. Cuccurullo would eventually join Duran Duran as a full-time member in 1989, after the Big Thing album and its subsequent tour.
Notorious marked a major shift in the band's musical style. Influenced by the experience gained from their side projects, the band adopted a funkier, more urban sound. The success of previous singles like "The Wild Boys" and "A View to a Kill," which had an edgier tone, also steered the band towards this new musical direction. The band sought to distance themselves from their earlier synth-pop style and focus on a more mature, funky sound, with an emphasis on groove.
Nick Rhodes explained that the band wanted to focus more on the music than their image, while Simon Le Bon cited Nile Rodgers' involvement as pivotal to the album's new direction. Bassist John Taylor, in particular, was keen on incorporating more funk, a genre that had influenced the band's approach to songwriting. The sessions were more relaxed compared to the tense atmosphere of the Seven and the Ragged Tiger sessions, with Le Bon noting that they were able to explore new musical territory without the same pressures.
The lyrical content of Notorious reflected the band's desire to mature in both musical and thematic terms. The album addresses themes such as the negative aspects of fame and the press ("Notorious"), exploitation and consumerism ("Skin Trade"), personal and interpersonal tensions ("Vertigo (Do the Demolition)"), manipulation ("So Misled"), and political intrigue ("Meet El Presidente"). Some tracks were inspired by Alfred Hitchcock films, such as "Vertigo" and "Rope" (the original title for "Hold Me").
Rhodes and Le Bon explained that the songwriting process for Notorious was more straightforward and less fraught with tension compared to previous albums. Nile Rodgers commented on composing the title track, "Notorious," noting that it was influenced by James Brown's soul power, with the distinctive "D-minor 6th" chord providing the foundation for the song. The band's decision to embrace a funk and soul-driven style marked a distinct departure from their previous works and set the stage for their evolving sound in the years to come.
