Too Much Information

This article is about the song by Duran Duran. For the song by The Police, see Ghost in the Machine (The Police album). For the song by Quiet Riot, see Alive and Well (Quiet Riot album). For the general concept, see information overload.

"Too Much Information"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)
B-side	"Drowning Man (D:Ream Mix)"
Released	23 August 1993 (UK)
Format	12" And CD Single
Recorded	1993
Genre	Rock, punk rock, alternative rock
Length	4:56
Label	EMI - DD 18
Writer(s)	Duran Duran
Producer	John Jones and Duran Duran
Duran Duran singles chronology
Come Undone (1993) Too Much Information (1993) Perfect Day (1995)

"Too Much Information" is the third single released from Duran Duran's 1993 album, Duran Duran, popularly known as The Wedding Album.

About the song

The song's lyrics deal mainly with the commercialisation of the music industry and feature the tongue-in-cheek line "Destroyed by MTV / I hate to bite the hand that feeds me / so much information", alluding to the belief that it was solely MTV that had made the band.

Unlike the previous two singles from The Wedding Album, "Too Much Information" is more upbeat and rockish in nature with big chunky power chords played by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and live drums played by Steve Ferrone. This may have alienated the ballad-friendly audience that were attracted to the previous two singles, "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone", which may have in turn led to a lower position on the pop and adult contemporary charts.^{[citation needed]} It performed much better on the alternative rock and club charts.

Music video

The video for "Too Much Information" was filmed by director Julien Temple in Santa Monica on 27 August and featured the elaborate stage setup designed for the band's 1993 Dilate Your Mind tour.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The cassette and CD singles were released on 23 August 1993, and those who bought the cassette single received a free No Ordinary EP cassette with live tracks ("Hungry Like the Wolf", "Notorious", "Come Undone"), recorded during a performance at Tower Records a few months before. These recordings also appeared as bonus tracks on various global CD releases of the single.

Chart positions

On 4 September, "Too Much Information" peaked at #35 in the United Kingdom, and at #45 in the United States.

• #35 UK Singles Chart
• #45 Billboard Hot 100
• #30 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
• #17 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

Track listing

CSS: Parlophone TC DD 18 (UK)

1. "Too Much Information" [album version] – 4:56
2. "Come Undone (Live)" – 7:35

• "Too Much Information" falsely labelled as "Album Version Edit".

CSS: Parlophone TC DD 18 (UK)

1. "Too Much Information (LP Version)" – 4:56
2. "First Impression" – 4:57
3. "Come Undone (FGI Phumpin' Mix) – 8:14

12": Parlophone 12 DD 18 (UK)

1. "Too Much Information (Ben Chapman 12" Mix]" – 6:18
2. "Drowning Man (D:Ream Mix]" – 6:29
3. "Drowning Man (Ambient Mix)" – 6:45
4. "Too Much Information (Deptford Dub)" – 5:43

CD: Parlophone CD DDS 18 (UK)

1. "Too Much Information (Album version)" – 4:56
2. "Drowning Man (D:Ream Mix)" – 6:29
3. "Too Much Information (Ben Chapman 12" Mix)" – 6:18
4. "Too Much Information (Deptford Dub)" – 5:43

• Comes in a 2-CD card holder

CD: Parlophone CD DD 18 (UK)

1. "Too Much Information (Album Version Edit)" – 3:59
2. "Come Undone (12" Mix - Comin' Together)" – 7:25
3. "Come Undone (Live)" – 7:35
4. "Notorious (Live)" – 5:31

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset

1. "Too Much Information (Album version)" – 4:56
2. "Come Undone (Live)" – 7:34
3. "Notorious (Live)" – 5:31
4. "Too Much Information (Ben Chapman 12" Mix)" – 6:19
5. "Drowning Man (D:Ream Mix)" – 6:20
6. "Drowning Man (Ambient Mix)" – 6:36
7. "Too Much Information (Ben Chapman Instrumental 12" Mix)" – 6:00
8. "Too Much Information (Deptford Dub)" – 5:44
9. "Too Much Information (Album version edit)" - 3:58
10. "Come Undone (12" Mix Comin' Together)" – 7:26

CD: Capitol 7 16489 2 (US)

1. "Too Much Information" – 4:56
2. "Too Much Information (Techno 7" Remix)" – 3:31
3. "Drowning Man (D:Reamix)" – 6:29
4. "Hungry Like the Wolf (Live Acoustic)" – 7:01

• Comes in yellow tray

CD: Capitol DPRO-79256 (US - Promo - The Churban Mixes)

1. "Too Much Information (Trance 7" mix)" – 3:29
2. "Too Much Information (4:30 AM Twirl Mix)" – 4:21
3. "Too Much Information (Club 2 Mix)" – 4:14
4. "Too Much Information (Unplugged Mix)" – 4:16

CD: Capitol DPRO-79269 (US - Promo)

1. "Too Much Information (Trance Mix 12")" – 6:12
2. "Too Much Information (Trance Instrumental 12")" – 6:14
3. "Too Much Information (Deptford Dub)" – 6:06
4. "Too Much Information (Club 2 Mix)" – 4:15

CD: Capitol DPRO-79816 (US - Promo)

1. "Too Much Information (Edit)" – 3:56
2. "Too Much Information (LP Version)" – 4:52

• All live tracks recorded at Tower Records, Hollywood California May 15, 1993.

Other appearances

• 1993 - Duran Duran [The Wedding Album]
• 1999 - Strange Behaviour
• 2004 - Singles Box Set 1986-1995

Personnel

Duran Duran are

• Simon Le Bon
• Nick Rhodes
• John Taylor
• Warren Cuccurullo

References

• DuranDuran.com
• Duran Duran Collection CZ