Robert Palmer – At His Very Best (Sound + Vision Deluxe)

Robert Palmer – At His Very Best (Sound + Vision Deluxe)

At His Very Best (Sound + Vision Deluxe) is an expansive 3-disc Robert Palmer collection, bringing together two CDs of essential recordings and a bonus Addictions DVD featuring 18 of Palmer's most memorable music videos. Originally released in the UK in 2004, this Deluxe Sound + Vision edition offers an unusually comprehensive overview of a career that moved effortlessly between soul, R&B, rock, reggae, new wave, synth-pop and sophisticated pop.

Palmer's musical career was remarkably varied. Following his early work with Vinegar Joe, he launched his solo career in the 1970s with Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley, establishing a distinctive sound that combined blue-eyed soul and R&B with Caribbean influences and a sophisticated rock sensibility. His early successes included “Every Kinda People”, “Best Of Both Worlds” and his celebrated version of “Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor)”, all represented on this collection.

The first disc follows Palmer's progression through the late 1970s and 1980s, including “Johnny & Mary”, “Looking For Clues”, “Some Guys Have All The Luck” and “You Are In My System”. These tracks demonstrate his willingness to embrace emerging electronic and new-wave sounds, with Looking For Clues in particular showing how Palmer could incorporate the influence of artists such as Kraftwerk, Devo and Gary Numan without losing his soulful vocal identity.

Palmer's association with The Power Station is also represented by “Some Like It Hot”, recorded with Duran Duran's John Taylor and Andy Taylor and Chic drummer Tony Thompson. The supergroup's muscular rock sound fed directly into Palmer's next major solo phase and the hugely successful Riptide album, from which “Addicted To Love” became one of the defining songs and videos of the 1980s.

The collection continues into Palmer's later career with tracks including “I Didn't Mean To Turn You On”, “Sweet Lies”, “Simply Irresistible”, “She Makes My Day” and the UB40 collaboration “I'll Be Your Baby Tonight”. Alongside the major hits are deeper cuts and album favourites, making this considerably more interesting for established Palmer fans than a conventional singles-only compilation.

The second CD digs further into Palmer's catalogue, featuring “Remember To Remember”, “Pride”, “Woke Up Laughing”, “Can We Still Be Friends?”, “Man Smart, Woman Smarter”, “Best Of Both Worlds”, “Give Me An Inch”, “I Dream Of Wires” and “The Silver Gun”. Together, the two CDs demonstrate just how difficult Palmer was to place neatly within one genre: blue-eyed soul, funk, reggae, rock, R&B, new wave and polished 1980s pop all formed part of his musical vocabulary.

The Addictions DVD makes this Deluxe edition particularly appealing to collectors. It contains 18 video performances, including “Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley”, “Johnny And Mary”, “Looking For Clues”, “Some Like It Hot”, “Addicted To Love”, “Simply Irresistible” and “Every Kinda People”. Palmer's visual presentation became an important part of his 1980s success, with the iconic Addicted To Love video becoming one of the era's most recognisable MTV images.

For collectors of Robert Palmer CDs, 1970s and 1980s rock, blue-eyed soul, sophisticated pop and new wave, At His Very Best (Sound + Vision Deluxe) is an excellent career-spanning set. With 33 tracks across two CDs plus 18 videos on the bonus DVD, it captures both sides of Palmer's appeal: the adventurous musician who absorbed influences from soul, blues, reggae and electronic music, and the impeccably presented pop star responsible for some of the most recognisable songs and music videos of the 1980s.

Tracklist

CD1

1. Every Kinda People
2. Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor)
3. Johnny & Mary
4. Looking For Clues
5. Some Guys Have All The Luck
6. You Are In My System
7. You Can Have It (Take My Heart)
8. Some Like It Hot
9. Addicted To Love
10. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
11. Sweet Lies
12. Simply Irresistible
13. She Makes My Day
14. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
15. Medley: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / I Want You
16. Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley
17. Riptide
18. I Need Your Love So Bad
19. TV Dinners

CD2

1. Remember To Remember
2. Pride
3. Maybe It's You
4. Woke Up Laughing
5. What's It Take?
6. Can We Still Be Friends?
7. Man Smart, Woman Smarter
8. Too Good To Be True
9. Style Kills
10. Best Of Both Worlds
11. Give Me An Inch
12. You're Gonna Get What's Coming
13. I Dream Of Wires
14. The Silver Gun

Addictions DVD

1. Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley
2. Which One Of Us Is The Fool?
3. Man Smart, Woman Smarter
4. Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor)
5. Johnny And Mary
6. Looking For Clues
7. Some Guys Have All The Luck
8. Pride
9. You Are In My System
10. Some Like It Hot
11. Get It On
12. Riptide
13. Addicted To Love
14. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
15. Discipline Of Love
16. Sweet Lies
17. Simply Irresistible
18. Every Kinda People