DUKE

The day that I saw Genesis playing live at The Apollo in Manchester (19th April, 1980), I bought this album. I still have it. Despite hundred of plays over the last 44 (almost 45) years, it remains in quite good condition. It is still eminently playable, albeit with some very atmospheric crackles which, for me, gives it some character. I also have a clean and pristine (characterless) CD copy of the album but it's the vinyl that I go for every time (well, most times). This album is a powerhouse. Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, with some very telling curations and amendments by Phil Collins, really outdid themselves here, showing just how they had evolved into full maturity, growing and progressing from their mid 1960's talented but infantile beginnings. Even Mr. Collins' more pop styled ballad type contributions (Misunderstanding and Please Don't Ask), are top quality and they fit this album perfectly. In fact that word "perfect" describes this entire album. If there ever was one at all, then this is it. The Perfect Album. Except for...... Why? Why on Earth did they divide up, what we now refer to as "The Duke Suite", into three different parts across the album. I don't buy the alleged fear of comparisons with "Supper's Ready". I'm not suggesting that what we ultimately get is bad. On the contrary, I reiterate that this is the Perfect Album. But if I may be so bold as to plagiarise and modify and thus apply, a George Orwell principle, if "The Duke Suite" had been left alone and placed onto one side of the vinyl, it would have rendered this album (already residing within the genre wherein some other equally perfect albums are also to be found), to be more equal and therefore more perfect than others! I can't help wondering if a very strong willed producer had been employed on production duties, other than the band members themselves who worked with the very gifted David Hentschel, would the outcome have been very much different. As it is, it just wasn't to be so we'll never know... Anyway, to the music. The best three pieces on the album for me in order, are 1 - the bombastic "Cul De Sac", 2 - the beautifully crafted and descriptive "Heathaze" and 3 - the melancholic "Please Don't Ask". And everything else, all other pieces are only just magnificently perfect! And I particularly like the second half of Dukes Travels as it builds and segues into Dukes End. Duke is a big BIG FIVE STAR ALBUM!