Revisiting Duke - Genesis: It's actually good.

second best Genesis album, after Abacab

 

Thank heavens I had finished eating my soup when I read that. Would have made a right mess.

 

Did the soup kitchen get mad at you for making a scene?

 

Best LP they did as a 3-piece.

 

Duke is where I draw the line with Genesis. After that it’s mostly dreck, although Abacab has its moments.

 

It’s great! I’d probably rate it as their 4th best album, after Trick, Selling, and Foxtrot, and just ahead of The Lamb.

Not a bad cut on it, although “Cul-de-Sac” and “Alone Tonight” are just okay. Everything else is aces, with “Heathaze” being perhaps the best Tony Banks song of them all.

 

“Cul-de-Sac” and “Alone Tonight” contain some great, very emotional vocals by Phil. Tune into his level of emotion as well as what was
going on in his personal life at the time and it'll hit you, much like Daltrey's emotional vocals in "Is It In My Head" off of Quadrophenia.

 

Agreed. Saw this tour at Joe Louis—Robert Cray opened, if I remember correctly—when I was a junior in high school and was so floored by Collins’ live drumming, which I had never experienced prior to this show, that I immediately began rethinking my then mostly aversive, Invisible Touch-based derogatory stance toward Genesis. Years later, I’m an ardent fan of the band generally speaking, and consider Duke one of their touchstone albums. Gave the recent vinyl reissue a listen last night, which led me to this thread to seek out perspectives: enjoyed the repress wax and the varied opinions!

 

Despite its flawed production, Duke is my favorite Genesis album, along with Nursery Cryme.

 

The production really mars it for me and I'm not a great fan of the plodding opening track. Phil did it better.

 

Very special album for me, a copy bought for me by a best school friend.

Since A Trick Of The Tail was my first Genesis listen, perhaps it was easier for me to take Duke on, not having heard the very early progress work.

 

This. And to me, progressive means “change”.

 

I have found that Duke has aged rather well (listening to it as I type this actually), but, more importantly, it has some fine pieces on it. For me, this is where I truly get off the Genesis train. They had one hell of run from Trespass through Duke, although I did think Invisible Touch was pretty good.

 

A weird thing about Patrick Bateman's take on this:

The real story of Duke was that all 3 songwriters brought 2 of their own songs each and the Duke Suite was co-written by all 3. So the idea that Phil Collins become 'dominant' on Duke is laughable then or ever. Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford never stopped being primary songwriters! What changed was Phil's solo career became gigantic at the same time.

 

Yep. I think what this Bateman guy means is that he read the album notes and realised "Oh, Phil Collins is in this band".
I find it infuriating that people use words like "artsy" as a pejorative to dismiss their earlier work, but now suddenly they're cool and interesting because one of the band members is this guy who is also a solo megastar.

 

I love 'Duke' a damn strong album from any Genesis era...

 

To me Duke is the output of a group firing on all cylinders with lots left in the tank.

 

There must be some misunderstanding
Our fans heard we won't be prog banding
They all think its a mistake
And they're irate

 

Interesting to note that my 3 favorite songs on Duke were from each band member (Man of Our Times - Rutherford, Heathaze - Banks, Please Don't Ask - Collins)

 

I had a $1 copy of self-titled 1983 in my hand the other day. I left it. Thought about it. Thought twice. Space is valuable though.

 

The self-titled is the only post-1978 Genesis that I care to own.

 

I’m no Genesis fan but I listen to Duke every once in a while and it takes me straight back to 1980 in the best possible way. I think it’s a fantastic album.

 

So I just read the 'Genesis' chapter in American Psycho. LOL, that has to be some of the weirdest writing I've ever encountered. The strangest part is when Bateman starts confusing band members, Tony Rutherford and Mike Banks. Oh boy, that's how out of touch this guy is. I mean Bateman, not the author. Author is brilliant.

 

Maybe... but it would be a bit sad if that was someone's first introduction to Genesis.

 

Also Bateman thinks Misunderstanding is the template for all 1980s Genesis. SMH

The only part where he gets it absolutely spot on is a whole section talking about Man on the Corner. Was really surprised to see that song get attention!