A great song is a great song, be it pop or prog

When I listen to duke, I find that I like the more 'pop' songs on it. The production drowns the vocals out too much, though I own a vinyl copy, maybe the remastered CD sounds better.

However, I find that the songs from 'Misunderstanding' onwards have Phil more in the foreground.

My favourite track is 'Turn it on again'. It has wonderful chord changes and a raw energy. This was the first album where Phil did his 'vocal chord shredding' singing, and that song is the best example of it on. I also like 'Alone tonight' and 'Please don't ask'. The second one of those two is actually quite dark and fuses several styles. And, 'Misunderstanding' is also a great song. The instrumental work is also great. I personally don't like most of the other songs, though Cul-de-sac and behind the lines. I suppose it's all a matter of taste.

brilliant compositions, masterful dynamics, simply BRILLIANT

The very thought of Genesis' 1980 album "Duke" receiving a considerable amount of hostility is truly unjust &, 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, & dreamy ballad "Heathaze", or Mike Rutherford's weepy, yet soulful, soaring ballad "Alone Tonight" & 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--also, this album came just before Phil 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, & ethereal keyboard chord changes from Banks--it's really beautiful, & it builds into the main song portion which has soaring Phil vocals, singing a haunting tale about the rise & 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, & "Turn It On Again" has an ultra-catchy Rutherford guitar riff, & 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"--this track really underlines how unfair the criticism Phil has received about his songwriting over the years really is--listen to the chord changes & the elegant shifts of key that masterfully intertwine with the lyrics of the song, heightening its emotional impact. They 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--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 album is kind of like calling McDonald's gourmet food--it simply doesn't pan out. "Duke" is an album that offers a wealth of astonishing musicality, masterful use of dynamics, & brilliant composition. I've been listening to "Duke" since I was a kid, & my understanding, respect, & 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".)

Duke - a great Genesis album

I'm a huge fan of Genesis from the Peter Gabriel era, so anything that falls after Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is looked at with some hesitation. However, I've continued adding to my Genesis collection, buying all the studio albums through Abacab, including this one...Duke.



Right away Duke hits you as crisp and a bit edgy compaired to it's predecessor, Then There Were Three. It's a fusion of Genesis at it's prog rock best and the pop influence which was becoming much more dominant in their music at the time of this album's release. It's evident with Duke that clearly the trio is finding it's musical direction again and producing some quality stuff. There's not much more to say than what's already been said in the other reviews, but add my vote for Duke, this is a great Genesis album.

Monumental

Duke is the best Phil Collins-lead Genesis album. Duke's densely-textured sound is to be found nowhere else in rock music. This CD runs through a range of emotions-from the jubilant "Turn It On Again" to the sorrowful "Alone Tonight". "Please Don't Ask" is so personal, I can't believe it was even recorded. The album is so well thought out that the themes are quoted again in the last jam called "Duke's Travels"/"Duke's End". A monumental recording.