This is a combo of the Big Thing and Arena albums, but with a couple tracks not found on either. Not sure why they bundled these two, as Arena was recorded at the height of DD fame back in 84, while Big Thing came out four years later and missing Roger (drums) and Andy (guitar). The song styles don't match, but you know...its all good. This really is for the collector. It includes an alternate version of Drug, and a live version of Lake Shore Driving. If you already have both albums, and you don't care about the two additional songs, spend elsewhere.

Duran Duran's Original Gold is two of the band's previous albums (Arena and Liberty) bundled together. Why this was done makes no artistic sense to me. Arena is a live concert album by the original five members. Big Thing was released four years and another album (Notorious) later. It's a slightly experimental studio album by the remaining three members. Even the cover sleeve for both CDs is a little odd. It features a publicity still for the album Liberty, which was released two years after Big Thing. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo is only on Big Thing and drummer Sterling Campbell isn't on either CD! I can only recommend this CD set to Duran fans who don't already have Arena and Big Thing, because it's cheaper than buying them both.

Duran Duran's Original Gold is two of the band's previous albums (Arena and Liberty) bundled together. Why this was done makes no artistic sense to me. Arena is a live concert album by the original five members. Big Thing was released four years and another album (Notorious) later. It's a slightly experimental studio album by the remaining three members. Even the cover sleeve for both CDs is a little odd. It features a publicity still for the album Liberty, which was released two years after Big Thing. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo is only on Big Thing and drummer Sterling Campbell isn't on either CD! I can only recommend this CD set to Duran fans who don't already have Arena and Big Thing, because it's cheaper than buying them both.