Is There Something I Should Know?

"Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single from the British pop band Duran Duran. It was released in March 1983 and became the band's first number one UK in the singles chart.

The band's 1981 debut album Duran Duran did not receive much airplay in the United States on its first release; both the band and the New Romantic genre were unknown, and very few British bands were able to break into American radio at that time. However, at the end of 1982 the band's second album Rio was rapidly climbing the American charts, fueled by around-the-clock airplay of several different videos on MTV. The band and their label, Capitol Records, decided to re-release the debut album in the US with the inclusion of this newly recorded single.

Because of the time limitations of vinyl records, the inclusion of "Is There Something I Should Know?" required the omission of the album track "To The Shore" on the reissue. "To The Shore" was reinstated on later CD pressings.

"Is There Something I Should Know?" was recorded with producer Ian Little at the end of 1982. This song was released in the UK as a stand-alone single on 19 March, 1983. The reissued album was not released in the UK — the first long playing album on which the song featured was the inaugural Now That's What I Call Music compilation at the end of the year.

The song debuted in the #1 position on the UK charts on 26 March 1983. Duran Duran were one of the very few acts since Elvis Presley and The Beatles to debut at the top, before the revamping of the chart system in the late 1980s made it a much easier goal to achieve. This was the band's first number one record on any chart.

The single also had great success in America, where it was released in late May: it reached #4 on the Billboard charts on 6 August, 1983 and sold more than a million copies.

The memorable and much-played video for "Is There Something I Should Know?" featured color clips of the band members, in blue shirts with tucked-in white ties, interspersed with surreal images in black-and-white. The end of the video also included clips from several earlier Duran Duran videos, including some filmed for album tracks which were never released to MTV. (See Duran Duran video album for details.)

The video was directed by future movie director Russell Mulcahy, and was one of the most popular videos of the year on MTV.

Track Listing

Release information pertains to UK release only.

7": EMI 5371

1. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (4:11)
2. "Faith In This Colour [alternate slow mix]" (4:05)

12": 12 EMI 5371

1. "Is There Something I Should Know? [Monster mix]" (6:40)
2. "Faith In This Colour" (4:05)

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981–1985" boxset

1. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (4:11)
2. "Faith In This Colour" (4:05)
3. "Is There Something I Should Know? [Monster mix]" (6:40)
4. "Faith In This Colour [alternate slow mix]" (4:05)

• Monster mix remixed by Alex Sadkin and Ian Little

Personnel

Duran Duran are:

• Simon Le Bon – vocals
• Nick Rhodes – keyboards
• John Taylor – bass guitar
• Roger Taylor – drums
• Andy Taylor – guitar

Also credited:

• Ian Little – producer

Other Appearances

Apart from the single, "Is There Something I Should Know?" has also appeared on:

Albums:

• Duran Duran (1983)
• Arena (1984)
• Tiger Tiger! ep (Japan only, 1984)
• Decade (1989)
• 12" Collection (Japan only, 1991)
• Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (US only, 1998)
• Greatest (1998)
• Strange Behaviour (1999)

Singles:

• Capitol Gold Cuts (1990)
• Come Undone (1993)