Search - Robert Palmer :: Very Best of the Island Years

Good overview of his best work

J. W. Aughinbaugh | Webster Groves,MO USA | 11/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Palmer already had a body of work when MTV catapulted him to superstar status.Alas,this was for him a double-edged sword as his video image leading his zombie girl band began to overshadow and undervalue his work-others,like Cyndi Lauper, had this problem as well.This CD should restore his credibility,however, as it showcases his gifts as a singer of his own fine songs and as an interpreter of the material of others.There is no Power Station and some of his last worthy work,created after leaving the label,is also missing but what is here is a generous sample of his talent and versatility."

Sing that funky music white boy!

Rick Devore | Butler, Pa. | 06/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD chronicles the late Robert Palmer's journey from funked-up soul singer and 70s pop stylist through his new wave and techno era to commercial-rock MTV star. The journey begins with his killer medley of "Sailin' Shoes", "Julia", and "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" backed by Little Feat and ends on this disc with a rowdy live version of "Simply Irresitable". Regardless of what style of music he did, he always sang with a genuine gutsy soul style. In between, the album cruises through the aformentioned musical genres in a somewhat jagged manner. It's not that any of it is bad; it's just a little aggravating the way the music jumps from one style to another as you listen to this release. However, that's the only way an overview of Palmer's singing career can be presented. Robert Palmer has always been one of my favorite singers, and I will keep and (selectively) cherish this CD. Be sure to check out his last album "Drive", which featured some full-blown, hardcore blues, and also his Power Station material."

He really meant to turn you on

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 03/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The late Robert Palmer was a style chameleon to rival the likes of David Bowie. His body of work, as undervalued as it is, twists and turns so many times that you'll marvel at just what Palmer accomplished. This CD covers his long term association with Island Records, which ended just as he finally tasted the success many had said was long-time due him. That album, the multi-platinum Riptide (long overdue for an upgrade) was also a loadstone for 80's hits. If you can't recall the zombie-girl band that stood with Robert on the videos for "Addicted To Love," you're either too young or lived in a bathosphere under the Pacific in 1986.



The trip there, however, was laden with some strange side roads. Palmer first came to notice as the suave, tasteful singer who looked better than he sounded on Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley. Backed by Little Feat, it established Palmer as a song-stylist with not only impeccable taste in clothes, but in songwriters. His albums were laced with choice selections from the likes of Todd Rundgren ("Can't We Still be Friends"), Allen Toussaint ("Sneaking Sally Through The Alley") and others. But as you listen to this set and the years progress, you can hear Palmer literally gaining strength as a singer (and songwriter - "Jealous" became well known in a version by Bonnie Raitt).



The strength hit stride when Palmer recorded Secrets. Having scored a minor US hit with "Every Kinda People" a year before, Palmer's take on Moon Martin's "Bad Case Of Loving You" put him on rock radio (and helped Martin jump start his career). He even took a sideswipe at his "glamour" image by posing on the cover shaving his face. He also was getting restless musically and taking notice of new wave. When Palmer dropped Clues, he surprised everyone not just by teaming up with synth-upstart Gary Numan, but making a decent album in the process. "Johnny and Mary" is one of his best singles, and the quirky cover of "Not A Second Time" bolstered his image as a musical risk taker.



While things did go a little dry in the hits department (and why his cover of The System's "You Are In My System" didn't become huge has always mystified me), Palmer was artfully exploring new wave, funk and rock...which led to The Power Station (not included here). But that association obviously influenced the next album, because the exploding stutter of "Hyperactive" signaled that "Riptide" was going to pull no punches. It is probably the album Palmer is most measured by, with Bernard Edwards' production perfectly capturing Palmer and the sound of the day. "Addicted To Love" remains a classic, and Palmer's nuanced take on the Terry Lewis/Jimmy Jam number "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" a chilling piece of funk.



While Palmer did have some more hits on EMI (and the version of Heavy Nova's "Simply Irresistible" here is a live take), this best of covers the stylistic zigs and zags of Palmer's discography well. He left us while still releasing albums and still a young 54, but with a great legacy.

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