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Geno (song) - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Geno"

Single by Dexys Midnight Runners

from the album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

B-side

"Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache"

Released

14 March 1980

Recorded

1979

Genre

Length

3:31

Label

Late Night Feelings/EMI

Songwriter(s)

Kevin Archer, Kevin Rowland

Producer(s)

Pete Wingfield

Dexys Midnight Runners singles chronology

"Dance Stance"
(1979)

"Geno"
(1980)

"There, There, My Dear"
(1980)

"Geno" is a song by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in 1980 as the lead single from their debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Written by Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland,^[2] it was the band's second overall single^[3] and their first UK number one, staying at the top of the singles chart for two weeks.^[2] In Ireland, the song charted at number two.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[4]

The song bears resemblance to Zoot Money's Big Roll Band's "One and Only Man" and the Turtles' "Happy Together".^[4]

The crowd noises during the "Geno! Geno! Geno!" chant at the beginning and end of the song are sampled from Van Morrison's acclaimed 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, a favourite of Rowland's. The chant is reminiscent of Washington's 1960s performances, whereby the shows' compères would excite the audience before Washington took to the stage.^[4] The song's saxophone riff was inspired by Washington's "(I Gotta) Hold On to My Love", the B-side to "Michael (the Lover)".^[4]

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 one on 3 May.^[5]^[6]

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.^[5] 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".^[2]

"Geno" soon became a crowd favourite, with audiences chanting for the song throughout whole concerts. 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.^[7]

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".^[8]

Personnel

Kevin Rowland: vocals
Kevin "Al" Archer: guitar, vocals
Pete Williams: bass
Andy "Stoker" Growcott: drums
Andy Leek: organ
Pete Saunders: organ
Geoff Blythe: saxophone
Steve Spooner: alto saxophone
“Big” Jim Paterson: trombone

References

Footnotes

^ Raggett, Ned. "Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - AllMusic". allmusic. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Noyer (1998, p. 72)
^ Bronson (1997, p. 598)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d White (2007, p. 59)
^ ^a ^b White (2007, p. 60)
^ White (2007, p. 61)
^ White (2007, p. 78)
^ Dimery (2011)

Sources

Bronson, Fred (1997), The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, New York City: Billboard Books, p. 598, ISBN 0-8230-7641-5, retrieved 3 January 2012
Dimery, Robert (2011), 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, London: Octopus, ISBN 978-1-84403-717-9, retrieved 3 January 2012
Noyer, Paul (1998), Encyclopedia of Singles, Bath, UK: Parragon, p. 72, ISBN 0-7525-3324-X, retrieved 3 January 2012
White, Richard (2007), Dexys Midnight Runners: Young Soul Rebels, London: Omnibus Press, p. 59, ISBN 978-1-84609-342-5, retrieved 3 January 2012

v t e Dexys Midnight Runners
Kevin Rowland Lucy Morgan Sean Read Michael Timothy Andy Hobson Al Archer Jim Paterson Pete Williams Pete Saunders John Jay Steve Spooner Geoff Blythe Jeff Kent Bobby Ward Andy Leek Andy "Stoker" Growcott Mick Talbot Billy Adams Mickey Billingham Seb Shelton Paul Speare Brian Maurice Steve Wynne Giorgio Kilkenny Helen O'Hara Steve Brennan Roger MacDuff John Edwards Andy Hamilton Nick Gatfield Spike Edney Robert Noble Vincent Crane Tim Dancy Julian Litman Mick Bolton Pol Coussee Fayyaz Virji Penn Pennington Jerry Preston Philip Blakeman Neil Hubbard Julian Crampton Crispin Taylor Volker Janssen Paul Taylor Madeleine Hyland Tim Cansfield David Ruffy Siobhan Fahey Billy Stookes Mark Kavuma
Studio albums	Searching for the Young Soul Rebels Too-Rye-Ay Don't Stand Me Down One Day I'm Going to Soar Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul The Feminine Divine
Compilations	Geno The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners BBC Radio One Live in Concert Let's Make This Precious: The Best of Dexys Midnight Runners The Projected Passion Revue
Singles	"Dance Stance" "Geno" "There, There, My Dear" "The Celtic Soul Brothers" "Come On Eileen" "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" "This Is What She's Like"
Related articles	Discography The Blue Ox Babes The Bureau General Public The Killjoys

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