Geno (song)

"Geno"
Single by Dexys Midnight Runners
from the album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
B-side Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache
Released 15 March 1980
Recorded 1979
Genre Pop, blue-eyed soul
Length 3:31
Label Late Night Feelings/EMI
Writer(s) Kevin Archer, Kevin Rowland
Producer Pete Wingfield
Dexys Midnight Runners singles chronology
"Dance Stance"
(1979)		 "Geno"
(1980)		 "There, There, My Dear"
(1980)

"Geno" is a 1980 song by Dexys Midnight Runners. Written by Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland,[1] it was band's second single[2] and their first number one, staying at the top of the charts for one week.[1]

Contents

Composition

The song is a tribute to soul singer Geno Washington, and performed in approximately the style of Geno Washington's Ram Jam Band. Rowland and Archer began working on the song in early 1979, with Rowland writing lyrics to Archer's music.[3]

The song bears resemblance to Zoot Money's Big Roll Band's "One and Only Man" and The Turtles' "Happy Together".[3]

The "Geno! Geno! Geno!" chant at the beginning and end of the song is reminiscent of Washington's 1960s performances, where the by the shows' compères would excite the audience before Washington took to the stage.[3] The song's saxophone riff was inspired by Washington's "(I Gotta) Hold on to My Love", the B-side to "Michael (the Lover)".[3]

Release and reception

EMI, the band's record label, wanted their recording of Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon's "Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache" to be released, feeling that "Geno" was only suitable as a B-side. The band refused, though the possibility of a double A-side was suggested. However, "Geno" was released (backed with "Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache") on 15 March 1980. It slowly climbed the charts until it reached number 1 on 3 May.[4][5]

Record Mirror described "Geno" as "a turgid eulogy with few redeeming features", stating that they believed Dexys Midnight Runners had missed the opportunity to have the same success as Madness and The Specials.[4] Similarly, Robbi Millar from Sounds wrote in March 1980 that "the most boring band of 1979 burst forth again with this erratic and timeless tribute to their hero, Geno Washington, who would probably keep his earplugs in if he heard it".[1]

"Geno" soon became a crowd favourite, with audiences chanting for the song throughout whole concerts.[6] Pete Saunders said that the band found it best to play the song once at the beginning of the set, and once towards the end.[6]

The song is included in 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, where it is written that the song was inspired by Washington's "Michael (the Lover)" and subsequently inspired The Specials' "Ghost Town".[7]

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Noyer (1998, p. 72)
  2. ^ Bronson (1997, p. 598)
  3. ^ a b c d White (2007, p. 59)
  4. ^ a b White (2007, p. 60)
  5. ^ White (2007, p. 61)
  6. ^ a b White (2007, p. 78)
  7. ^ Dimery (2011)

Sources

Preceded by
"Call Me" by Blondie		 UK number one single
3 May 1980 – 10 May 1980		 Succeeded by
"What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan
Dexys Midnight Runners
Kevin Rowland
Billy Adams  • Kevin "Al" Archer  • Mickey Billingham  • Jeff Blythe  • Steve Brennan  • Vincent Crane  • Andy "Stoker" Growcott  • John "Rhino" Edwards  • Giorgio Kilkenny  • Andy Leek  • Robert Noble  • Helen O'Hara  • Jimmy Paterson  • Pete Saunders  • Seb Shelton  • Paul Speare  • Steve Spooner  • Mick Talbot  • Simon Walker  • Pete Williams  • Steve Wynn
Studio albums
Compilations
Geno  • The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners  • BBC Radio One Live in Concert  • Let's Make This Precious  • The Projected Passion Revue  • Master Series - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Singles
"Dance Stance"  • "Geno"  • "There, There, My Dear"  • "Keep It Part Two (Inferiority Part One)"  • "Plan B"  • "Show Me"  • "Liars A To E" • "The Celtic Soul Brothers"  • "Come On Eileen"  • "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)"  • "Let's Get this Straight (From the Start)" • "This is What She's Like"  • "Because of You"
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