This 1980 album by British prog rockers Genesis was a way-maker in their long and distinguished career. will admit, ‘Duke’ was not an album I owned on LP nor on CD, and during the early 80’s, Genesis nor solo era Phil Collins were nowhere to be seen on my radar.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Genesis
ALBUM: Duke
LABEL: Charisma
SERIAL: CBR-101
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Phil Collins – vocals, drums, percussion * Mike Rutherford – guitars, bass, backing vocals * Tony Banks – keyboards, 12-string guitar
TRACK LISTING: 01 Behind Emeny Lines * 02 Duchess * 03 Guide Vocal * 04 Man Of Our Times * 05 Misunderstanding * 06 Heathaze * 07 Turn It On Again * 08 Alone Tonight * 09 Culdesac * 10 Please Don’t Ask * 11 Duke’s Travels * 12 Duke’s End
WEBLINK: Site Link
Background
This 1980 album by British prog rockers Genesis was a way-maker in their long and distinguished career. will admit, ‘Duke’ was not an album I owned on LP nor on CD, and during the early 80’s, Genesis nor solo era Phil Collins were nowhere to be seen on my radar.
It’s many decades later that I am on a voyage of rediscovery.The trio of Collins, Rutherford and Banks had taken most of 1979 off. Collins in particular was in the midst of marital woes, Rutherford was preparing material for his 1980 solo LP ‘Smallcreeps Day’.
Eith Collins returning to the UK upon the dissolution of his marriage, attention soon turned to the songwriting sessions for ‘Duke’, which according to the trio, results came easily after taking two years off.
The Songs
Things get underway with the cracking opening fanfare of ‘Behind Enemy Lines’. The keyboard work from Tony Banks astounds from the first keypress! ‘Duchess’ is second up, and is more subdued with rhythmic chime bells to lead us in along with a commanding lead vocal from Collins.
Moving past there short experimental track that is ‘Guide Vocal’, Genesis deliver the superb ‘Man Of Our Times’, with brash drum work and majestic keyboards in the context of progressive rock/pop. ‘Misunderstanding’ also appeals greatly, and it’s here we see the band tweak their style toward a more commercial direction.
‘Heathaze’ is the album’s first ballad and there is a retention of the trio’s progressive origins on this one. Things get real interesting with the blatant rock burst of ‘Turn It On Again’, full of pumping energy which confirms the Genesis change of fortunes. Great track.
‘Alone Again’ is the second ballad, a tearjerker effort which meanders for the first bit then generates momentum on the chorus. There are more big splashes of keyboards to be found on ‘Culdesac’ while ‘Please Don’t Ask’ is the third ballad to be found on the album.
The dual pairing of ‘Duke’s Travels’ and ‘Duke’s End’ is a magnificent way to conclude the album. The former is a near 9 minute instrumental which captures this trio in full-blown prog/symphonic mode while the latter is a two minute blast, which to my ears is a reprise of the first track ‘Behind Enemy Lines’. Wow!
In Summary
Recorded at the end of 1979 and released in March 1980, the album struck a chord with listeners and critics alike, the album delivering 3 singles and going #1 on the UK album charts.The album would eventual reach platinum status in the USA, while tracks would be recorded live and appear on the Genesis 1982 live double album ‘Three Sides Live’.
Genesis on Video
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