Duke

Genesis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00000DOYP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,187 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Behind the Lines

2. Duchess

3. Guide Vocal

4. Man of Our Times

5. Misunderstanding

6. Heathaze

7. Turn It on Again

8. Alone Tonight

9. Cul-de-Sac

10. Please Don't Ask

11. Duke's Travels

12. Duke's End

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant compositions, masterful dynamics, simply BRILLIANT, February 27, 2005

By 

Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duke (Audio CD)

The very thought of Genesis' 1980 album "Duke" receiving a considerable amount of hostility is truly unjust and, frankly, ridiculous. "Duke", originally released on March 31, 1980, is, in some ways, a transitional record, but here's the thing... Serious fans realize that Genesis did not suddenly become a "pop" band overnight--the shift to a less progressive, more "pop"-ish sound was an extremely gradual one, & that said, a case can very much be made that every Genesis album from 1976 through 1983 are transitional ones. This album, sonically, is nearly identical to the previous album "...And Then There Were Three"--both albums featured production by David Hentschel.

To put it a certain way, I think if "Duke" had been released by an obscure band, it would have an absolutely fanatical cult following. As it is, it somehow seems to have gotten something of a bad rap with its increasing prominence of Phil Collins in the songwriting department. However, an album of this caliber can only be supplied by the likes of Banks, Collins, & Rutherford. If you think this is a straightforward pop-rock record, obviously the only tracks from it that you`re familiar with are "Misunderstanding" and "Turn It On Again".

Classify the album however you want though--the bottom line is that this is a masterpiece. Tony Banks' compositional brilliance is in serious abundance on this album, displaying why he is so widely admired by so many progressive rock fans. Vocally, Phil is in a weirdly transitional phase on "Duke"--his vocals are expressive & powerful, yet throughout the album, there's a `little guy' humbleness to his vocals, something that, strangely, was almost completely washed away even by the time of Phil's debut solo album "Face Value" from early the following year. Listen to Phil's vocals on Tony's gloomy, soothing, and dreamy ballad "Heathaze", or on Mike Rutherford's slightly weepy, yet soulful, soaring ballad "Alone Tonight", and you'll see what I mean--you never really heard that timbre from Phil ever again. It's almost as if after this album was completed Phil got an extra shot of testosterone.

Also, I want to point out the drumming. Phil's crisp, fluent drumming on here, which is brilliantly captured in the mix, is incredible. I'm not exactly sure about the chronology, but I *think* the recording of "Duke" came just before Phil, along with Hugh Padgham and Steve Lillywhite (while working on the third "Peter Gabriel" album), hit upon the gated "In the Air Tonight" drum sound that was soon to become a trademark of his.

The album opens with "Behind the Lines", which has an exciting, fast-paced 2+ minute instrumental intro before the wonderfully melodic, mellower song portion begins. "Duchess" also starts off with a 2+ minute instrumental portion which features atmospheric drum machine, washes of guitar, and ethereal keyboard chord changes from Banks--it's really beautiful, and it builds into the main song portion which has soaring Phil vocals, singing a haunting tale about the rise and fall of a female singer. Rutherford's "Man of Our Times" is an anthemic song loaded with catchy riffs that explodes out of the speakers/ headphones--it features searing vocals from Collins that, strangely, are majorly buried in the dense mix.

The two hit singles are terrific as well. "Misunderstanding" (which is indeed highly reminiscent of Sly & the Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime") is a sophisticated, yearning mid-tempo love song. And "Turn It On Again" has an ultra-catchy Rutherford guitar riff, and it's sort of a feel-good tune, but with a highly contemplative feel to it.

Phil also delivers a really hard-hittingly emotional ballad with "Please Don't Ask", a track which strongly underlines how unfair the criticism Phil has received about his songwriting over the years really is. Listen to the chord changes and the elegant shifts of key that masterfully intertwine with the lyrics of the song, heightening its emotional impact.

Genesis bring closure to the album in emphatic fashion with the multi-part, mostly instrumental "Duke's Travels" which really takes you on a musical journey, and it segues into the last track, "Duke's End", which is a reprise of the intro to "Behind the Lines".

All that said, calling this album a sellout pop-rock simply doesn't pan out. "Duke" is an album that offers a wealth of astonishing musicality, masterful use of dynamics, and brilliant composition. I've been listening to "Duke" since I was a kid, and my understanding, respect, and admiration of it has only grown since then. And with so much emotionally resonant music here, it's an album that can go a long way to help pull you through the dark phases of your life as well. If you've got a serious love for music, you can't go wrong with this stunning must-have album.

(P.S. One gripe I have with both this CD version and the later "original recording remastered" version is that the track mark dividing "Dutchess" & "Guide Vocal" was improperly inserted--that bit you hear at the beginning of track 3 is actually the closing portion of "Dutchess", not the intro to "Guide Vocal".)

3.0 out of 5 stars More commercial... some weak tracks spoil the mostly strong selections..., September 26, 2010

By 

N. Wright "vinylgeek" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duke (Audio CD)

'Duke' was released in March 1980 and marked the beginning of a more commercial period for Genesis. I am a big fan of Genesis both with Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, (their albums from 'Tresspass' right through to '...And Then There Were Three' I found outstanding, and I also disagree with some reviewers that Genesis were finished after Steve Hackett left the band.

'Duke' is kind of a concept album, 'Behind The Lines', 'Duchess', 'Guide Vocal', 'Turn It On Again' and 'Duke's Travels'/'Duke's End' - all classic Genesis without doubt - originally itended as one suite. The drums are very powerful on the album, although Collins' distinctive drum sound would appear the next year on his solo debut 'Face Value'.

'Duke' starts with a bang with 'Behind the Lines', which goes straight into 'Duchess', with the short 'Guide Vocal' (written by Banks) on the end, all excellent. 'Man of Our Times' sounds rather messy at first, but gets better with repeated listenings. Collins' 'Misunderstanding' was released as a hit single and it probably paves the way for many of the songs Phil Collins wrote as a solo artist in future years. 'Heathaze' is a bit too slow for my liking.

'Turn It On Again' starts the second half and this of course was the other single from the album. Unfortunately it is after this that the album really deteriorates, thanks to the rather whiney 'Alone Tonight' and 'Please Don't Ask'. The latter track has a listenable enough tune but the lyrics are cringeworthy to say the least! Sandwiched in between these is 'Cul de Sac', written by Banks, a good track but a bit bombastic and certainly not one of his best (he did much better with his compositions on both 'Trick of the Tail' and 'Wind and Wuthering' - check out 'Mad Man Moon' and 'One for the Vine', two of my most favourite Genesis tracks).

'Duke' picks up again at the end with the nearly 9 minute long 'Duke's Travels', probably the most prog piece on the album. This goes straight into 'Duke's End', which is a reprise of the opening 'Behind the Lines'.

Overall, Duke is made up mostly of strong material and is worth visiting... 3 and a half stars overall. The band also played some fantastic live shows around this time - tracks such as 'Behind the Lines' and 'Duchess' sound even better live (check out 'Three Sides Live' for these and more). Many reviewers will disagree with me as I prefer 'Abacab' to this and prefer the more stripped-down sound that came with that album... 'Duke' though still has its moments and its immensely superior to 1991's 'We Can't Dance' and the abysmal 1997 album 'Calling All Stations'.