Robert Palmer Songs Ranked

Robert Allen Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was known for his powerful, distinctive, gritty, and soulful voice, sartorial elegance, and for combining soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and blues. Palmer’s involvement in the music industry began in the 1960s, covered four decades, and included a spell with the band Vinegar Joe.  He found success both in his solo career and with the Power Station and had Top 10 songs in both the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Three of his hit singles, “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On”, “Addicted to Love” and “Simply Irresistible”, were accompanied by stylish music videos directed by British fashion photographer Terence Donovan. Palmer received a number of awards throughout his career, including two Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, an MTV Video Music Award, and two Brit Award nominations for Best British Male Solo Artist.[4][5] He died aged 54, following a heart attack on 26 September 2003. Here are all of Robert Palmer’s songs ranked.

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20. Which of Us is the Fool (Pressure Drop, 1975)

“A couple of times, such as the closer “Which of Us Is The Fool” it gets a little more slick than I’d like, but all in all, this gives you plenty of what you might expect.”

19. Pride (Pride, 1983)

“Pride” proves an experimental, extremely well-produced and highly addictive proposition, something that can rarely be said about Palmer’s subsequent career as an MTV rocker and lounge crooner.”

18. Sweet Lies (Sweet Lies: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1988)

Title song to a film of which I have no knowledge or recollection and I must say the track itself doesn’t exactly engender any enthusiasm on my part to look it up.”

17. Can We Still Be Friends? (Secrets, 1979)

“He gives it his best shot, but honestly, it’s just not much of a song.  The opening stanzas make it sound like it’ll be a very good pop tune, but the ideas quickly dry up, and the lengthy start-stop instrumental portions just sound like placeholders.”

See more: Robert Palmer Albums Ranked

16. Sailing Shoes (Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley, 1974)

“I couldn’t believe how good this was the first time i heard it. Seriously. maybe my expectations were too low. Damn, this is good!

15. Early In the Morning (Heavy Nova, 1988)

“In retrospect, it’s surprising how well Robert Palmer did funk and soul numbers. He doesn’t come close to the Gap Band original here, but his version is no embarrassment.”

14. Man Smart, Woman Smarter (Some People Can Do What They Like, 1976)

“Here, his distinctive lead vocal just about resolves any possible identity crisis and combining their forces on a fun and yes, smart song like this (and it would take a braver man than I to decry the title), it all makes for an addictive single which might have fared better if released in the summertime.”

13. Best of Both Worlds (Double Fun, 1978)

“Double fun indeed. Robert Palmer adroitly mixes up another fizzy cocktail of calypso pop with an added flavoursome reggae twist. Especially love the multi-tracked doody-doody-doo-doos.”

12. Hyperactive (Riptide, 1985)

“Busy lyric, busy tune, busy production on this Robert Palmer track from the “Rip Tide” album. Perhaps just a bit too hyper for its own good but a strong dance track all the same, confidently sung, as ever, by the late R.P.”

11. You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming (Double Fun, 1978)

“Relentless, doo-landing rocker from Robert Palmer, featuring Steve Val on guitar. Every line in the lyric is a euphemism for sex and of course we all know where that particular addiction ended for him in the 80’s.”

10. You Are In My System (Pride, 1983)

“There’s really no reason why Robert Palmer should’ve been so good at covering American R&B hits, but he did a damn fine job much of the time. Here, he manages to out-electro-funk the band System, giving the song a better read, and making it just a hair smoother and catchier.”

9. Sneakin’ Sally through the Alley (Sneakin’ Sally through the Alley, 1974)

“Robert Palmer backed by members of The Meters and Little Feat on some serious funky jams, what’s not to like? Can’t say that about every album in Robert’s lengthy career. But Sneakin’ Sally… was a promising starting point for him.”

8. Give Me an Inch (Pressure Drop, 1975)

“Subtle shades of 70’s Stevie Wonder for this Robert Palmer tune, with its swirling strings, dancing flute and accented piano, most of all its rolling groove.”

7. Every Kinda People (Double Fun, 1978)

“Odd to think that this slight but endearing paean to world peace was written by hard rock bassist Andy Fraser of Free and Bad Company fame. It chugs along pleasantly to a light calypso beat over which Robert Palmer croons persuasively and of course smoothly.”

See more: The Meters Albums Ranked

6. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On (Riptide, 1985)

“It may be blasphemous to state, but somehow this 30-something Brit did a better job than the certified soul singer. And if you can believe his persona/delivery here, he did it without hardly trying. That said, there were no gorillas breakdancing in Robert’s video, and that aspect was sorely missed.”

5. Simply Irresistible (Heavy Nova, 1988)

“Great song, so memorable and definitely outstanding for himself. I love the intro and the final parts. Sure the lyric is a bit lunk-headed, but knowing Palmer as I think I do, it’s probably deliberate, although I’m not sure I can stretch that contention to the matching video which accompanied it at the time.”

4. Looking for Clues (Clues, 1980)

“Brilliantly written and performed song – its sequenced bits, xylophone solo (huh?), occasional guitar riff, and those double-tracked lyrics that get chopped up and twisted around at the tail end of the song. Songs like this made Robert Palmer a lot harder to dismiss.”

3. Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) (Secrets, 1979)

“More than his work with Power Station (and who can forget the related music videos?), I like Robert Palmer’s rendition of “Bad Case of Loving You.” It’s a shame he died so young.”

2. Addicted to Love (Riptide, 1985)

“Robert Palmer made our life’s into strong love with this kind of songs. One of the greatest songs ever. The tune is so catchy as hell.”

1. Johnny and Mary (Clues, 1980)

“Best song ever, or well said most interesting song ever, or catchy, the hell but I don’t know if is the best ever but is the catchiest song ever to me. This is a great one, but I’m not sure if this is Palmer’s best.”