Revisiting Duke - Genesis: It's actually good.

It's a good one, but Misunderstanding is still one of my least-liked Genesis pop songs (at least until we get to We Can't Dance). I prefer Abacab and ST over Duke.

 

I agree with this statement, but will add that I like Deep In The Motherlode better than any single track on Duke.

 

Something that really stunned me when I was going through the "Extras" disc from the middle years box set - most of their off cuts were superior to the album tracks for that era. That stuff is all subjective, naturally, but it stunned me how choice those cuts were even for albums I didn't necessarily dig.

 

Always liked Duke and I had been a fan since Nursery Cryme.

 

I almost picked this up the other day, Charisma Mad Hatter pressing, but when I auditioned it, it sounded very thin to me (I have an Australian Vertigo Abacab which sounds similarly thin). I need to find a good pressing.

 

There was never a question that Duke is a very, very good record.

 

Darren Lock disagrees...

 

And who's Darren Lock when he's at home?

 

Listening to the album again right now. "Misunderstanding" is the weakest track. And "Misunderstanding" is pretty damned good. Most albums
WISH this was their weakest track.

"Heathaze" is an overlooked classic beautiful track"

 

Please don't ask me how I feel about Duke. I feel it's fine.

 

He's a YouTuber that has posted hundreds of reviews of Progressive Rock albums, has millions of views and thousands of subscribers.

He posts here occasionally too. You there Darren?

 

I like Misunderstanding, and it helped propel the album in North America. If you put in Evidence of Autumn instead, and follow it with Heathaze...you've got two moody Banks pieces of music back to back. Doesn't quite work.

 

It's okay!

 

Three shows were recorded by the band for possible later use on radio:

1. May 5, 1980 Drury Lane, London * see One For The Vine (UK Three Sides Live), Deep In The Motherlode (Archive 2 box)
2. May 6, 1980 Lyceum, London * This show's take of "One For The Vine" was used in the May 7th broadcasts, The Lady Lies (Archive 2 box), Ripples (Archive 2 box),
3. May 7, 1980 Lyceum, London *Bulk of this show was used for later FM radio broadcasts, save for One For The Vine (see above), Follow You Follow Me (Three Sides Live), Duke's Travels/Duke's End (Archive 2 box)

 

The album is great as it is. Nothing needs to be changed.

 

Yep, I agree.

 

I didn't really like the engineering on the album but the songs transcend the sterile production.

Misunderstanding is a great song but it did get overplayed and honestly sounds more like a solo album track.

 

That's what I came in here to do! My favourite song by far on the record.

 

I'm never one to revise history and change any album, but Duke was a bit long. Only because it had an affect on the sound of the lp. Its always been a bit thin.

 

The 5.1 mix is very nice and fat

 

Duke is in my top 4 Genesis albums.
Brilliant I say!

Duchess and Heathaze are CLASSIC !

I like pop music quite a bit so Genesis pop
Tunes are fine with me.
It's very difficult to write a hooky memorable pop song!
It's very easy to be all artsy and avant garde.

 

I know. They should put out the pro-shot video shot at the Lyceum shows officially.

 

typical genesis album, 2 - 4 really good tunes.

 

DUKE was my first Genesis album back in the spring of 1980 ... and it's still my favorite Genesis album.

 

Duke is a great record. One that gets better with each listen, I think, as some of the arrangements are quite dense. "Behind the Lines" into "Duchess" is one of the most magical moments in their magical catalog.

And I love "Misunderstanding."