I love both "periods" of the group. I've seen visions of angels, drank from the fountain of salmacis, seen the horizons, danced with the moonlit knight, ridden the scree, become entangled, seen the blood on the rooftops, been down and out, had a misunderstanding or two, gotten no reply at all, loved my mama, played with my domino pieces, listened to the voice of Jesus, since he knows me, and been to the democratic republic of Congo
I've always thought that Guide Vocal reprise was the most eargasmic thing Genesis ever did prior to Gabriel leaving, and I love every Genesis album. But Dukes Travels/Dukes End is probably the greatest masterpiece and a perfect end to an all around fantastic album
It is a masterpiece. Generally speaking, notice how much attention among classical pianists Genesis has attracted. There is something classic, and very European, about this band.
You hit the nail right on the head. That reprise of Guide Vocal also has the added line "and you fear what you don't understand!" It's absolute genius. The decision not to place the songs in the suite in order was also an excellent move. This album is so key, as it is the hybrid album which gave the more hardcore and dedicated Genesis fans what they wanted, but it also insured Genesis' overall popularity with songs such as "Turn it on Again" and "Misunderstanding," that people who don't really follow the group know. "Duchess" has a special place for me because our 20 and 18-year-old daughters are highly-talented vocalists, and it made them more aware of the reality of what might lie ahead.. My older daughter got hooked on Genesis when she heard "Turn it on Again" for the first time and recognized the time signature in the introduction wasn't typical. Our younger daughter appreciates and respects the quality, but it's not her style. We still love them both equally! :)
Banks surprised me with Duke being his favourite GENESIS album! He reminds me of Ritchie Blackmore; classically trained with a strong body of sophisticated, complex and technical material behind him, but all he really wanted was to be a pop star!!
Is anyone else tired of the same old "Phil Collins turned them into a pop band" bs? Totally unfair to Phil and it completely disrespects Mike and Tony. Mike said in one of the earlier album interviews that they did 210 shows in one year at one point. I can imagine playing the same grandiose prog epics for ten years, day in day out, will eventually change your fondness for that style and move you on to fresher pastures. Add to that the simple fact of getting older. They were only 24 when they recorded The Lamb! When you're 30 your mind is usually in a different place, and as your musical influences change with the musical climate, so do you. Music in 1970 sounded very different than than in 1980, let alone 1960. People need to look at how their own lives/age changed and apply that to the individuals of Genesis, or whatever band they're accusing of selling out. Put yourself in the musicians' shoes. They're human, not juke boxes that you can expect to crank out the same epic tunes every time you demand it.
Agreed, if anything blame Tony Banks, he was ALWAYS the hard ass one in the band, the stick in the mud, "its my way or the high way" attitude, Phil was never like that.
Everyone wears out, everyone's creative pool eventually runs out of water. Led Zeppelin is probably the only band in history who was fantastic start to finish, and that's certainly likely because Bonham died and they didn't go on. Genesis gave it a good go. Duke was great, a few after that were good, and finally the last probably two albums were, oh well, they're out of gas. I didn't mind some of the 'commercial' material, I'm a sucker for catchy pop love songs, and theirs were better than most. Of course I like the epic old prog rock they did more. It did strike me as kind of odd that Banks didn't riff out anymore. He did on this album, but I think that was it, no more rapid fire scales on solos. You'd think if someone can even do that, he'd never really want to stop doing that. They were always my official favorite band. I saw them 8 times in concert from Trick of The Tail at The Beacon Theater to Invisible Touch at Giants Stadium. Every single time they were stupendous, the played perfect and sounded perfect. I was like 14 when I discovered them, and all of a sudden, in Circus Magazine probably, Gabriel Leaves! Ouch! I just had started going to concerts! Well then Trick of the Tail came out and everything was just fine and dandy. Bill Bruford played drums at The Beacon. It was mind boggling prog heaven. We sat in the very last row on the floor of the theater, which turned out to be fortuitous because our seats were actually right smack against the back wall, and we could actually sit on the tops of the backs of the seats, kind of our own little raised box seats. I remember Entangled, with the mellotron bit at the end. I mean it sounded exactly like the album, and it was totally mesmerizing. And Phil Collins singing Supper's Ready in it's entirety in those old shows. There's so many people who just had an aversion to that man. What they didn't know was that he was among the best drummers ever to breathe air, and he sang Supper's Ready! You know, Supper's Ready, the prog rock vocal epic, bar none. The man flew around the world for years and shouted the mother out. It shows that it's not what you do, it's the way that you do it. His voice is thin and not all that eventful compared to Gabriel's lush vocal cords. It's all about truth in delivery. I mean he really must have enjoyed it, who wouldn't enjoy singing that song with those guys? Thing I've thought about lately is Gabriel. If you're a close friend of Gabriel, you must say to him occasionally, well don't you ever want to? You must! Come on, you must have an urge a few times a year, or a few times a week! They're all still there. Hackett himself is out there playing the freaking old epics. Just call them up and go around the world one more time and do it! Sing Supper's Ready!! You don't have to play dress up, you can do it as you are now, with your mature take on things. Come on! It's almost like history isn't right, the universe isn't right if he doesn't. He's obligated for history's sake. The history of rock and roll! It's only, after all, knock and know all. I saw Gabriel, On The Air, way back, at the Mid Hudson Civic Center, and So at Madison Square Garden. He was fantastic. For the On The Air tour they wore these neon road work vests, and he had a wireless mic, and on one song he ran around on the floor in the audience shaking hands while he sang. Come to think of it, I saw Security at The Mid Hudson Civic Center also, so I saw him thrice. He was really prolific at first, he really justified his leaving the band with the content he proceeded to create. He pounded em out, and you could see he really wanted to let out his eclectic side, he really could create an entire new genre with a single song. And his Randy Newman-like obsessions he could also indulge playing piano. Hey, they were always all true artists. Yeah, damn, let's start a petition, get T Shirts made: SING SUPPER'S READY AGAIN! (Ya know, before we're all dead.)
There is no way you can blame Tony Banks. In this interview he says that if he had his way, the songs would have been 25 minutes long, so the blame has to go to Phil or Mike. It's still good music though, except for a couple of ballads on Duke, some horrible pop stuff on ABACAB and a couple bad songs on the GENESIS album later. Invisible Touch might as well not exist
It's not about Phil and Mike pushing Tony to shorten his songs that was record company who'd demanded more hit singles. 80's were about hit sigles don't you get it. Most bands from 70's had to change their style, make music more accessible to survive, not only genesis had done this also Yes, Pink Floyd. Other bands weren't that successful and simply disbanded.
That song was the first of six to be written as a part of a suite known as the "Duke Suite" or "The Story of Albert." The other five were "Duchess," "Guide Vocal," "Turn It On Again," "Duke's Travels" and "Duke's End."
Abacab was pretty solid too. Dodo/Lurker is epic. I know I'll catch flack for this, but Invisible Touch was a very solid album, every song was solid and fresh aside from Throwing it All Away. It's ashame that the self titled album wasn't more well rounded, Mama and Home by the Sea 1&2 were classic Genesis.
Guide Vocal isn't just one of Genesis's greatest moments, it is one of the most awe inspiring moments in popular music, like the crashing pianos at the end of A Day In The Life or the orchestration Brian Wilson created for Good Vibrations.
Duke was the first Genesis album I ever heard as my sister bought it and played it constantly. At first I was like what is this? I was steeped in Led Zeppelin. The first thing that grabbed me was the drumming, then the melodies, then the lyrics. It unfolded into what is the most nostalgic record for me in the Genesis catalog. Still love it love it love it!
Without a doubt, the best record from the Trio era. I remember this being my first Genesis record I got when I first started collecting Vinyl. I was absolutely blown away and made me interested to dig through the rest of their catalogue, I actually thought it was a rock opera at first. The way it begins and ends, absolutely solid.
Their best album. Perfectly bridges the gap between Prog and Pop. While the previous albums aren't all Prog, and the next ones aren't all pop, Duke perfectly merges the two into a catchy, perfect album.
I'd like to think it would sound very similar to the Face Value version, but perhaps with an extended outro where either Mike or Tony would have a solo? Maybe it would end up like Behind The Lines did, where there's a Genesis version and a Phil Collins solo version.
This album is a masterpiece and high on my list of favorite records. Still own my original on vinyl! Was released the year I graduated high school, when my relationship with music was pretty intense, much like today, some three decades later. Funny Phil mentions the Beach Boys, "Duke" reminds me of the beach and hot summer days.
Duke is on my top ten list of rock albums ever recorded (and that includes The Beatles Abbey Road on that list). So many masterpiece performances on this album.
Everytime i heard Duke I've felt a very melancholic feeling. Maybe because the sad story of Albert and Please Don't Ask obviously. I remember when i listened on a cold days and reflecting about my choices and relationships in life, well i think what i tried to say is that a bit comfort feeling in those sad lyrics like you're not alone and etc. Also, i love the cover of that album it's so nice to look, it's been my wallpaper since 2014 in my phone. I'm a young fan listen to Genesis since i was 15. Born in 98 the year Genesis broke up. Now I'm 24. Love those guys and all the solo career :)
I bought this album the day it came out and I was working in a hotel in London that had a discotheque so my first listen was on the disco turntable with plenty of volume with a mate from New Zealand. We listened to side one and he looked at me and said ‘this is absolutely brilliant’. The second side kicked off with Turn It On Again and by the time we heard the opening bars of Dukes’s Travels / Duke’s End we knew we were listening to a masterpiece.I got to see the Duke tour 3 times, twice in London and once in Leicester where i stood about five yards from Daryl, what a genius! Great days. There isn't a duff track anywhere and it’s probably my favourite album with Trick Of The Tail a close second.
Duke is and always have been a strong album for Genesis, always loved it. "Heathaze" is just too much, incredible song and very lovely. If somebody twisted my arm and made me pick a favorite off this magnificent album it would definitely be "Heathaze"!!!!
Duke’s and Then they were 3 will remain my favorite albums. You start listening to the albums and you will go to the end.. these are stories….masterpieces.
The anthology of my high school finding myself years. I first heard this dark one night at Steves Creek Reservoir, it made an impact forever. The album still touches my life today.
Duke is an emotional steamroller. A musical Grail. You should not listen to it too often to guarantee the avoidance of a chimerical weariness... It's as precious as a good wine, or an old book. A race car you only drive once a month with caution, enjoying each curve...
They got quite raw with this one and not a bad thing. It was the jump from the over produced to the immediate and a good fit for the times. When you put this album on it really sounds like its playing in the room rather than some of the earlier ones that sound very distant. That said it always reminded me a lot of Trick of The Tale. It has a very similar structure with the bigger instrumental at the end that echoes some of the themes from earlier on in the album.
+andrew wildman I agree and also with Ray below. Get Phil to play the drum machine or something and Chester Thompson to drusm some. Then they will do another Duke. I note that Duke stuff got more of an exposure in the 2007 tour as well so it lasted well.
I cannot put a finger on it, but I was (still am) nuts about this album. Memories and playing the heck out of it as an 8-track in my brother's car. I love it.
It's like, for those who like literature, reading Joyce's Ulysses: they find new things and new meaning with each and every reading of the latter book. Same with Duke, it's layer over layer of sounds, rhythms, harmonies, changes of rhythm, modulations. They just put everything they had in this wondrous album.
i have no idea why man of our times is so overlooked. To me it's one of the best examples of prog/rock/pop ever. I know Mike hates it for whatever reason which is just crazy to me!!!!!
Collins was a late-comer to Genesis, and hence shy until he took off, here in Duke. It is the amazing thing about Duke, Collins is a powerhouse, the motor making this music so unique.
Absolutely agreed, last great Genesis album, before their commercial side really took over. I also love side A of the Genesis album, but side B (Except for Silver Rainbow) is about as weak as Abacab.
Yesthere are those fans out there that know every word to Musical Box, the names of all seven sections of Supper's Ready, can almost play the piano part to Firth, loves in the cage, bookends at los endos, knows how many are for the vine, has been deep in the motherlode, has followed all of Duke's travels, knows exactly who dunnit, have seen the silver rainbow, love to feel all of the invisible touch, and actually can dance (to some extent)
I never tire of listening to Heathaze, such an interesting song. I became a Genesis fan after I heard Turn it on again for the first time at a friend's house in 1980 just after it was released , happy days. One of my favourite Genesis albums
"Duke" is hidden gem and their second and last true concept album. There are several hints to "Lamb...", for example "Man of Our Times" reminds heavily "Back to NY".
Love you guys. How we miss that creative spring. Just watched Steve's 'Revisited' show at Hammersmith. I know a new album without Phil on drums seems unthinkable but there's a lot of us out here, hungry for this grown-ups' music.
The last great Genesis record. They lost me after this when they moved from prog to pop. Collins at his vocal peak. It was also my favorite tour, the guys at their musical and vocal peak and before the pop turn.
I love how people can even argue that Genesis is not Genesis without Peter and Steve. I find it funny that the different sound that Genesis achieved from Duke on is shit, especially since all those people who call it shit praise Peter Gabriel because every album sounds so different from the last. Hypocrites. The entire spirit of progressive rock is to explore the limits of rock and roll, and that is something the group never stopped doing. Duchess is just as progressive as Supper's Ready is.
Interesting that Phil said he was inspired by "Hold The Line" and "Sail On, Sailor" for "Misunderstanding", when to me, it almost sounds like a rip-off of "Hot Fun In The Summertime" by Sly and the Family Stone.
It's great to hear that this is Tony Bank's favourite Genesis album. I'll never forget being blown away by "Turn It On Again" on Top Of The Pops. Then I bought the album with my pocket money and was completely blown away. Every single track is a stonker, and the instrumentals are just blinding. It sounds just as great to my middle aged ears today as it did in my youth. Brilliant. Then of course I discovered the back catalog :-) Thankyou so much Genesis !
Finishing the album strong with "Duke's Travels/Duke's End". If only they playfully added a "Her Majesty" type of thing afterwards, "Abbey Road" style.
Don't forget the two songs they left off of Duke! Evidence of Autumn and Open Door. If you throw them into a start to finish Duke playlist they fit the album.
And the last one I can think of with songs that make up a suite. As with their 1973 album _Selling England by the Pound,_ the six songs on this album which make up the "Duke Suite" (or "The Story of Albert") were divided on both sides of the LP, because they felt that the complete suite would seem too much like "Supper's Ready" (from their 1972 album, _Foxtrot_ ).
“Misunderstanding” was as succinct a pop song as the band had yet managed; coupled with the relative success of “Turn It On Again” and “Duchess,” it appeared that Genesis had found a way to package their appeal into smaller packets. No doubt some fans resented the band’s newfound appeal (implying a sell out) while others delighted in hearing their idols on regular radio rotation.
I agree Genesis got it almost perfect with "Duke' I wish the album was written(son order)the way they did it live'Duke Suite" but i think Tony is telling a little white lie here.I heard the record company made them change the way the songs were positioned on the album.I can listen to this album all the way thru and enjoy every song-yes even 'misunderstanding'.If that song was written today in the crap music world that exists it would be 'genius'.'Turn it on again' is one of the best songs ever
Phil is correct: Duke was much clearer, stronger and better sounding than any Genesis album before. Most likely the combination of way better equipment and better production method. In fact most Genesis (studio) albums sounded rather muddy in their first vinyl edition (The Lamb in particular) with the possible exception of Selling England by the Pound. It was the brilliant music which made them so great.
This is a great album, but I can't help but feel that there's something missing. The band's decision not to replace Steve Hackett definitely is heard throughout. Rutherford is ok (at best) as a guitar player in a progressive band. There are parts where the classic Genesis lineup (with or without Gabriel) would have added another layer. On this album, those parts feel empty.
I like all of Genesis, from the early Seventies until Duke; Duke being the culmination or paramount of all they did before. In a sense, before Duke was recorded, Genesis was like the rest of the Prog Rock bands, this is a band playing experimental music. Duke is no longer experimental music, it is a mature, well-planned, solid album. All bands have a creative peak, and here is Genesis'; a Genesis in which the synthesizers were not as strident as before, and where Collins showed everything he was, an amazing drummer and someone who can sing from the soul, with heart-felt angst. In short, to me Duke is to Genesis like Sgt. Pepper's was to the Beatles, their best.
The Blues Brothers medley that Collins refers to towards the end can be heard on the Knebworth concert double c.d. release, featuring the band along with a host of artists.
Then there 3, I loved. Wore the record out. When Duke was released I got too busy with work and family. Now a week doesn't pass without a shot of Duke. First time I saw the band was 73. Had a couple albums by then. Don't care much for the "pop" stuff after Duke. Can't begrudge the boys for making a pound or too. Duke really was never surpassed but thats OK. The world got a taste. That's enuf 4 me.
The album Duke is just another reminder to me that the bottom dropped out. (No Gabriel, no Hackett). But I understand that some people coming into Genesis at that time truly liked the album. That's always a good thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I forgot how posh Mike and Tony are! Genesis are like the Lexus of prop/pop, once you drive one you know it’s high quality and better than most. I started buying their CDs in 1990 and remain a fan to this day. I had all the CDs by 1995 and and after year 2000 I started buying the vinyl LPs used. I sold all the CDs in 2007 as I was on a vinyl high, and kept the vinyl. Lately I decided I wanted the CD albums again so I’m in the middle of buying them all again! From Duke to We Can’t Dance I’ve decided to get non remastered used copies but for the earlier Gabriel to Then There Were Three I opted for the 2007 remix/remasters as it beefs up the mid to late 70s stuff. One hell of a band and I never got tired of the music.
I had never considered that Misunderstanding might be based on the sound of Toto's Hold the Line, but now it's so clear. Similarly I'll never hear Afterglow in the same way after Tony mentioned "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"!
As much as I like their earlier prog sound, I can't dislike later Genesis, and that includes Duke. This is when the band became more of a straight-ahead rock band, instead of a progrock band, but it's so organic, so energetic, that it really works well. And it's still almost a concept album, with the Duke Suite bookending the album.
Tony Said Duke was His fave Genesis Album and duchess was His fave Genesis song.the Duke Suite ist a masterpiece next to suppers ready with a modern 1980 Touch.and turn it on again becomes a live Classic too
