"Careless Memories" is the second single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981. It reached no. 37 in the UK and no. 60 in Australia.

The video was shot in Soho and directed by Perry Haines, who went on to form i-D magazine.^{[citation needed]}

There are two different cuts of this video. The second version, which was included in the Duran Duran video album released in 1983, features minor re-edits of certain scenes. The original version of the video was finally released on the Duran Duran album 2010 2CD+DVD remaster.

The song "Khanada" was included as the B-side to the single. The UK 12" release also included a cover version of David Bowie's "Fame" on the B-side.

In Japan, the two B-sides were released on the Nite Romantics EP, along with night versions of "Girls on Film" and "Planet Earth".^{[citation needed]}

When the song "Is There Something I Should Know?" was issued as a single in the US, "Careless Memories" was placed on the flipside. The song was also a favourite live staple throughout the 1980s and was included on the live album Arena.

A live version of "Careless Memories" recorded in December 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London was released in 1982 as the B-side to "Hungry Like the Wolf".

"Careless Memories" was one of the few singles included on neither the Decade nor Greatest single compilations.

Duran Duran

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

Technical

• Peter Ashworth – sleeve photography

The song has a rock double-timed bass line in the key of E, with a keyboard intro played deliberately off-time.