Robert Palmer - Riptide

Cool Artist

Well - Hyperactive / Didn't Mean To Turn You On - songs I can't simply live without. I've played this CD over and over. January 15, 2007

Palmer Showcases a Variety of Styles on this Collection

Robert Palmer's career in the 1970s and the early 1980s could best be described as a "talented journeyman". Many recognized his talents early on, but it did not translate into commercial success. That would all change for Palmer in 1985 when he was asked to become the lead singer for a supergroup called "The Power Station". When Power Station was formed, Palmer could have easily been considered the least known of the four members - the other members being Tony Thompson from Chic and Duran Duran's John and Andy Taylor. Some may say that the big names in Power Station helped propel them to success and made Palmer a household name. I think a more accurate statement is that Power Station provided Palmer the vehicle to promote his career. Power Station was intended to be a one time project (although they would reunite many years later). Thompson's Chic band mate - bassist and super producer Bernard Edwards was involved in the Power Station project. Spurned on by the success of the Power Station, Edwards would join forces with Robert Palmer to produce his "Riptide" album. Thompson would also come along to provide the drums on the majority of the tracks. This album proved to be the cornerstone and springboard for what would be a very successful solo career for Palmer.

When Edwards produced Power Station he successfully worked to achieve a high energy hard rock sound. In a lot of ways, the decision to bring Palmer into Power Station was an odd one. Palmer was known more for being a soul-like crooning singer, but he proved to be successful in delivering Power Station's hard rock sound. When Palmer moved over to concentrate on "Riptide", he would have a variety of music styles which would make this a very unique album. This album showcases Palmer's hard rock sound that was featured on the original Power Station album. However we also see a soulful and funk side of Palmer - and even some of his crooning style. It's Palmer's crooning style that really surprised me the most. In fact, I'm very surprised that Palmer's name isn't mentioned in the upper echelon of crooners in music history.

Here is a song by song recap of the songs on the collection:

"Riptide": I admit when I first heard this track, I didn't get into it right away. This was a 1930s track written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson and Palmer's version still has very much a 1930s feel. The song has very much a tropical island feel (in sync with the title). Palmer gets a chance to showcase his crooning abilities. The more I hear Palmer's vocals, the more I like them.

"Hyperactive": This song is vintage Power Station with the hard rocking sound and ferocious drums. Palmer's vocals are spot on the money with the hard rock sound. However, like Power Station - it is very hard for Palmer to upstage the drumming of one Tony Thompson. People forget that Thompson was once in line to join Led Zeppelin to replace the late John Bonham (until a car accident would prevent that from ever happening). Thompson's drumming is in his classic ferocious style and it really pays off. I give Palmer credit - he is able to sing (in a very believable manner) about the successful and wild woman in this song.

"Addicted to Love": The video (featured those women on guitar) probably helped springboard this song. This song also features a hard rock sound. This would prove to be Palmer's most commercially successful song. This is a good song, but it pales in comparison when I hear it against "Hyperactive".

"Trick Bag": I can hear Bernard Edwards' funk influence on this song - and it is Palmer who is able to deliver the funk-like vocals flawlessly. Like the title track, this song took me a bit to get into as well - but eventually I did.

"Get it Through Your Heart": This is classic Robert Palmer crooning. Unlike "Riptide", which was a song not written by Palmer - this is a song that was written by Palmer. When I heard this song, it feel it backs up my claim of putting Palmer in the upper-echelon of crooners.

"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On": This was the second most successful track of the collection. This song has Rock feel, but it isn't the hard-rocking feel of "Hyperactive" or "Addicted to Love". This song also has a funk feel, but not as funky as "Trick Bag". This song was written by Funk/Dance songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Palmer's smooth vocals shine, but the star of this track has to be the bass of Bernard Edwards. Edwards delivers some of the best bass work in his career on this song.

"Flesh Wound": This song combines some of the hard rocking vocals with the smooth styled vocals of Palmer. This wasn't a bad track, but it was the weakest track on this collection.

"Discipline of Love": Many people don't realize that this song was released before "Addicted to Love", but it wasn't nearly as commercially successful. I thought this was a very strong track - and it brought both the hard rock with the funk sound. Like "Flesh Wound", Palmer has his smooth styled vocals - but they are much more effective on this track.

"Riptide": This is a reprise of the opening track. I like how this was also included at the end - it was the perfect "wrap-up" on this album.

When I got this album, it was one of the first ones that was in the "Digipak"-style format. Overall I still prefer the jewel case as the "Digipak" style wears down easier. It is also worth noting that the lyrics are included for all of the songs - along with songwriting and musician credits. While some of the songs took me a while to get into - eventually I did. This is a very good album. Highly recommended. September 15, 2006

Almost The Power Station

Looking at the credits reveals Andy Taylor & Tony Thompson, 2 more quarters of The Power Station. The sound is similar and there's 4 or 5 strong tracks that really rock it and a few that are just OK, but I liked it when it came out on vynal and I just picked up this CD and it still sounds as fresh as it did back then.
May 26, 2006

Awesome Stuff

It's summer 1986. I'm 21 years old. I get a summer job in Manhattan after junior year of college, and I buy the cassette of "Riptide" after hearing the song "Hyperactive" on the radio.

Every morning taking the LIRR to Manhattan, I have this album playing on my Walkman. Hey, I already had heard "Addicted to Love" but I really thought "Hyperactive" was a better song.

Only Peter Gabriel's "So" competed with this album for Walkman time that summer. I knew very little about Robert Palmer before this record so I can't comment about this album alongside his other material. But if you're looking for a rocking album, this guy had some really good songs on this record.

April 14, 2006

From the man himself. R.I.P.

I luv the man since he been out with the classic hit "Addicted to Love". Yeah Robert Palmer always got some style. That's why he so unique and real diverse on what he sings about. This man had it all. I was shocked to see that he died from a heart attack in Paris of Sept 2003. Whoa that was a big blow for me. Anyway he lives on tho.

I'm blessed to see what he left us since he been around and how he died. But this far is one of my favorites I ever own on tape but sooner or later I'll own it on both CD and cassette.

Favorite songs are: Riptide (such a bluesy song), Hyperactive, Addicted to Love, Get it Through Your Heart (more like a standards song), and I Didn't Mean to You On.

Don't need to add every song on my list but I love 'em all, gets me crazy when I listen to this. I'm 'specially a singer and a trumpet player so whether u call it that's fine.

May your music and legacy rest in peace, Mr. Robert Palmer, we greatly miss you. Wish you was here. February 25, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...