You are so wrong about Robert Palmer. So many deep cuts in his catalogue, numerous experimental electronic things he did, especially when he was living by Compass Point Studios and had his own little studio at home.
Clues is a stellar album, too. When I interviewed Chris Blackwell I asked him who the most talented person he'd ever worked with was. He said Robert Palmer.
I'm delighted to have you pop up and argue the case for RP and how I've missed songs. As I said in the article, I just never connected with his work, but that doesn't mean it's all bad or that he was terrible etc. So it's a delight when anyone pops up to argue a case that I've missed loads, and I'm diving into those links now. I was oblivious to Pride but based on the number of songs from it above, it's another one well worth revisiting.
Says Tom: "Palmer made the demo version of Will Powers ‘Adventures In Success’ before Lynn Goldsmith took it to Sting to rework it. Chris Blackwell liked Palmer’s version so much he released it as big Brother"
All news to me! But this is the joy of discovering this all. I love that, so thank you 🙏🏻
I had no idea that track, which I have, was also Robert, but I do know the gestation of it all happened in Nassau, where Robert lived and where Lynn spent a lot of time (Blackwell described her to me as, ‘pushy’!), so I’m not completely surprised. I suspect there are loads of unreleased tracks by him, because he had a good home set up. When I interviewed Barry Reynolds, the Compass Point guitarist, he said he'd co-written a song with Robert.
I just love that this all opens up possibilities as to what else might be out there. That's always an enticing prospect. And along the way it's great to hear other takes on why he's an artist worth making proper time for. That's what I love about music. I guess in a way it's why I started Missed Listens too. The stories around the music seem to have gotten lost, and I always enjoyed sharing those stories - personal or about the artist etc - when I was doing the radio show with Tom.
I love the fact that it's really becoming a DJ that opened me up to taking everything seriously. I've got a bag full of unfashionable shit from all kinds of people (Leo Sayer, The Sweet, Smokie and Cliff Richard spring to mind). When I was a teenage NME reader I would have taken ‘line’ on all of them.
I wonder if some of it is age too. Less knee-jerk reactions to things and maybe just a mellower disposition (and in my case, definitely giving less fucks as to what people think of my taste!)
Awesome piece and great album. I haven’t played it in quite some time but it has always been a favorite. I think the success of RP’s Riptide overshadowed the rest of his stellar catalog. I’ll definitely check out the book you and Adam recommended.
Thanks Adam! I must confess that whilst I've read (and absolutely LOVED) Phill's book, I'd forgotten that he covered this album in there. No shade on Phill I might add; just a reflection of my dreadful memory. To anyone else reading this though, I second Adam's book recommendation there - fantastic reading.
Ageing definitely helps the less fuck scenario :)
You are so wrong about Robert Palmer. So many deep cuts in his catalogue, numerous experimental electronic things he did, especially when he was living by Compass Point Studios and had his own little studio at home.
Cristina prod. by RP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1J28_KHm8Q
Late period RP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPbhX0GVLT8
More Cristina:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk4vAAqcT0I
More electro weirdness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJC04Wo2YtQ
Post-punk business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eLxbLxcasc
Urdu language dance track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZj5aq5SEQs
Modern funk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaJ02djI_AQ
Clues is a stellar album, too. When I interviewed Chris Blackwell I asked him who the most talented person he'd ever worked with was. He said Robert Palmer.
Hey Bill!
I'm delighted to have you pop up and argue the case for RP and how I've missed songs. As I said in the article, I just never connected with his work, but that doesn't mean it's all bad or that he was terrible etc. So it's a delight when anyone pops up to argue a case that I've missed loads, and I'm diving into those links now. I was oblivious to Pride but based on the number of songs from it above, it's another one well worth revisiting.
Our mutual friend Wrongtom also messaged me to offer up this gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmbRlyBKu5o
Says Tom: "Palmer made the demo version of Will Powers ‘Adventures In Success’ before Lynn Goldsmith took it to Sting to rework it. Chris Blackwell liked Palmer’s version so much he released it as big Brother"
All news to me! But this is the joy of discovering this all. I love that, so thank you 🙏🏻
I had no idea that track, which I have, was also Robert, but I do know the gestation of it all happened in Nassau, where Robert lived and where Lynn spent a lot of time (Blackwell described her to me as, ‘pushy’!), so I’m not completely surprised. I suspect there are loads of unreleased tracks by him, because he had a good home set up. When I interviewed Barry Reynolds, the Compass Point guitarist, he said he'd co-written a song with Robert.
I just love that this all opens up possibilities as to what else might be out there. That's always an enticing prospect. And along the way it's great to hear other takes on why he's an artist worth making proper time for. That's what I love about music. I guess in a way it's why I started Missed Listens too. The stories around the music seem to have gotten lost, and I always enjoyed sharing those stories - personal or about the artist etc - when I was doing the radio show with Tom.
Good times!
I love the fact that it's really becoming a DJ that opened me up to taking everything seriously. I've got a bag full of unfashionable shit from all kinds of people (Leo Sayer, The Sweet, Smokie and Cliff Richard spring to mind). When I was a teenage NME reader I would have taken ‘line’ on all of them.
I wonder if some of it is age too. Less knee-jerk reactions to things and maybe just a mellower disposition (and in my case, definitely giving less fucks as to what people think of my taste!)
Awesome piece and great album. I haven’t played it in quite some time but it has always been a favorite. I think the success of RP’s Riptide overshadowed the rest of his stellar catalog. I’ll definitely check out the book you and Adam recommended.
Great piece. Steve Smith and Phill Brown made this record happen, if you want to go deeper Phill covers the recording in detail in his book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-We-Still-Rolling-Recording/dp/0977990311?nodl=1&dplnkId=5dd939f0-cb8d-4619-a3c4-903e856d34d4
Thanks Adam! I must confess that whilst I've read (and absolutely LOVED) Phill's book, I'd forgotten that he covered this album in there. No shade on Phill I might add; just a reflection of my dreadful memory. To anyone else reading this though, I second Adam's book recommendation there - fantastic reading.