Rick Duke (Second Son)
- 01. Maple Run
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 02. Blue Heaven
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 03. Carolina Day
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 04. Bull City Blues
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 05. The River
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 06. Clap
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 07. Had to be you
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 08. Still… You Turn Me On
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 09. Second Son
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 10. Touch the Sky
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son - 11. Masquerade
Rick Duke
from the album Second Son
From the opening notes of Second Son, Rick Duke invites the listener into a world of quiet beauty, wrapped in a soft analog warmth that feels like it was meant to be played on a rainy afternoon or during a late-night reflection. This 2002 release is a hidden gem — and I mean truly hidden, as the album is currently unavailable and Duke himself seems to have vanished from any searchable online presence.
What immediately stood out to me was the quality of the recording itself. There’s an intimate presence here, as though Duke is playing just a few feet away in your living room, his acoustic guitar filling the space with pensive instrumentals and earthy blues-folk songs. The production resists the over-polished tendencies of the era, favoring an organic sound that allows each pluck, breath, and strum to resonate with authenticity.
Duke’s vocals are an understated but essential complement to his playing. They carry a warmth and humanity that deepen the album’s emotional range, moving effortlessly between thoughtful instrumentals and lyrically driven tracks. I’m reminded of Lloyd Cole. This interplay between voice and guitar creates a sense of diversity across the album’s landscape, making it feel both cohesive and varied without ever losing its quiet center, for the most part. The title track introduces an bit of an experimental tangent and adds Yvonne Duke on backing vocal.
It’s a shame that Second Son isn’t more widely available, as it deserves to be rediscovered by a new audience. There’s a timeless quality to Duke’s work, something that transcends trends and commercial cycles. This album feels like a letter from another era — personal, handcrafted, and meant to be passed from one set of appreciative ears to another.
For those lucky enough to come across a copy, Second Son is a beautiful document of an artist who understood the power of restraint, atmosphere, and honest songwriting. And maybe, just maybe, with a little word-of-mouth revival, Rick Duke’s music will find its way back into the conversation.
