DUKE

"Duke" was the first Genesis album to point towards the Collins dominated output which was to spoil subsequent product by the band. Fortunately, it is only certain tracks which do so this time, and there are enough good ones here to make the album enjoyable.

On the plus side, "Duchess" is a well performed story of a fading diva; while it's certainly pop influenced and was a successful single, there's enough traditional Genesis in it to make it worthwhile. "Duke's travels", which combines well with the coda "Duke's end", is a wonderful, largely instrumental 11 minute piece. The track allows Banks in particular to slip in one of his all to rare lengthy solo performances. The soft, short "Guide vocal" from the first side is reprised towards the end of "Dukes travels" as a powerful conclusion to the track, making it one of the best pieces Genesis have ever recorded.

On the minus side, there are too many Collins dominated ballads ("Alone tonight" "Please don't ask", etc.) and pop songs ("Turn it on again", etc.).

With "Duke", the writing was very much on the wall that Genesis were prepared to abandon their traditional fan base in their pursuit of wider fame and fortune. Fortunately, this was just the start of the transition, so there is still some good Genesis music to be found here.

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