70s Robert Palmer...Who knew?

[two fingers]

OK, so I'm late to the game.

Somehow I went down a Robert Palmer worm hole. First off, the dude was ridiculously talented. He played everything. He wrote. He sang. He collaborated. If you're into that kind of thing, he was even a fashion icon in the 80s.

But his 70s stuff is stupid good. Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley album has The Meters, Lowell George, Steve Winwood, Gordon Edwards, Bernard Purdie.... a who's who from that era.

Double Fun has Every Kind Of People written by Andy Fraser (sure sounds like him on bass too). Secrets has Bad Case Of Loving You. All of the 70s Palmer albums have ridiculously good players. Even Clues from 1980 has some cool playing on it, albeit a little more "synthy" by then.

Any of you guys into his earlier stuff? What's your hidden gem? I didn't listen to every track on every album.

 

[SteveCS]

Vinegar Joe with Elkie Brooks

 

[two fingers]

Vinegar Joe with Elkie Brooks

I had never even heard of this!

 

[Winslow]

Any of you guys into his earlier stuff? What's your hidden gem? I didn't listen to every track on every album.

Oh [bleep] yeah. Robert Palmer was the freakin' Man. Gone WAY too soon.

The Don't Explain album is a subtle work of concept genius end-to-end, shifting between genres song by song. As for the earlier stuff, this is a great little track. Layers and layers. I never get tired of this one:

 

[kevindahl]

Only know and played his hits. I'll have to check out more of his music.

 

[Spidey2112]

He's the epitome of cool.

 

[Richland123]

I was listening to Robert Palmer's Addictions Vol. 1; a collection of some of his hits. The song "Woke Up Laughing" really sticks out as a very cool tune.

 

[WillyW]

dammit, I guess it's my turn down the rabbit hole.....

 

[Jaycat]

. . . Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley . . .

For those interested in the real thing:

 

[LBS-bass]

I knew. It wasn't all awesome. I forgave the horrible off pitch vocals on Hey Julia because Sneakin' Sally came up next.

Loved that record when it came out. Yep, I'm old.

 

[JimmyM]

OK, so I'm late to the game.

Somehow I went down a Robert Palmer worm hole. First off, the dude was ridiculously talented. He played everything. He wrote. He sang. He collaborated. If you're into that kind of thing, he was even a fashion icon in the 80s.

But his 70s stuff is stupid good. Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley album has The Meters, Lowell George, Steve Winwood, Gordon Edwards, Bernard Purdie.... a who's who from that era.

Double Fun has Every Kind Of People written by Andy Fraser (sure sounds like him on bass too). Secrets has Bad Case Of Loving You. All of the 70s Palmer albums have ridiculously good players. Even Clues from 1980 has some cool playing on it, albeit a little more "synthy" by then.

Any of you guys into his earlier stuff? What's your hidden gem? I didn't listen to every track on every album.

Bob Babbitt did "Every Kinda People."

My favorite early track of his is his version of "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)."

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I sing and play Bad Case Of Loving You on every gig. We do in D, because yours truly can't make the vocal work in E. And every time, I have to look down to find the 17th fret for that little riff...

 

[stigbeve]

LOVE the bass tone on Bad Case Of Loving You!

 

[Winslow]

I was listening to Robert Palmer's Addictions Vol. 1; a collection of some of his hits. The song "Woke Up Laughing" really sticks out as a very cool tune.

I couldn't (have) agree(d) more.

 

[JimmyM]

I sing and play Bad Case Of Loving You on every gig. We do in D, because yours truly can't make the vocal work in E. And every time, I have to look down to find the 17th fret for that little riff...

That's OK. Moon Martin wrote it and sang it in D. Dm to be exact. He had a lot of strange uses for minor chords. His only hit "Rolene" is the same way.

 

[Troy Eggen]

Embarrassed to say I only know his 3 biggest hits. In my defense, at that period of time (80’s )- I was into hair metal and Robert Palmer wasn’t hair metal. So I dismissed a lot of music for no other reason than that

 

[two fingers]

I was listening to Robert Palmer's Addictions Vol. 1; a collection of some of his hits. The song "Woke Up Laughing" really sticks out as a very cool tune.

I was listening to that earlier. Agreed. Cool song

 

[The Owl]

 

[two fingers]

I sing and play Bad Case Of Loving You on every gig. We do in D, because yours truly can't make the vocal work in E. And every time, I have to look down to find the 17th fret for that little riff...

I may be adding that one to my vocal repertoire. Only it's actually a little low for me.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Always liked his recordings. He was the James Bond of rock - cool, sophisticated but at the same time a real rocker.

edit: and those girls in his videos.