The Dukes

I really shouldn’t like this record. On the surface, The Dukes, first released in 1979 on Warner Bros. Records, is one of those sterile studio projects, an innocuous collection of B-grade guitar rock. Originally assembled as a super group of sorts, the band featured two obscure but formidable guitarists, axe men whose lengthy career resumes would assuredly guarantee them a job here at The “I-Own-Every-Record-You’d-Never-Buy” CD Consumer’s Guide. Anderson Miller played with the Keef Hartley Band before stints in short-lived projects like Hemlock and Dog Soldier, while Jimmy McCulloch made a name for himself in Thunderclap Newman before scoring big with Paul McCartney’s Wings. Despite the band’s pedigree, The Dukes was a critical and commercial dud, which makes my admiration for this record all the more confusing. Songs like “Hearts in Trouble,” “Leaving it All Behind” and “Who’s Gonna Tell You” have Top 40 hit written all over them, while “Time On Your Side” and “I’ll Try to Help” feature some impressive, interestingly intricate vocal harmonies. Top that off with “Heartbreaker,” McCulloch’s lone contribution and the record’s one true hard rock moment, and you’ve got yourself a catchy if not entirely hip platter of late ‘70s-era pop rock. The Dukes disappeared in a flash, of course, most likely because of the unexpected death of Jimmy McCulloch. He died of a drug overdose on September 27, 1979, at the age of just 26.

Notes: Here is an audio-only YouTube clip of "Heartbreaker" by The Dukes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLSqWudvIpY.