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Interview
by Scott Sterling-Wilder
27-9-2003
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| Robert Palmer |
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Robert Palmer RIP
The 'Singer in sharp suits'
Robert Palmer, a ‘blue-eyed soulster’ (i.e. white soul singer), has died of a heart attack in Paris at the age of 54. His career spread over four decades, starting back in 1968 when he cut his first record, ‘Gypsy Girl’, that failed to chart. His luck changed mid-1970s to turn him into a solo artist equally renown for his taste in rock and R&B covers as for his designer suits and stiff drinks.
Alan Robert Palmer was born in Bantley, Yorkshire, but from the age of 3 lived with family in Malta (his father was in the services). Returning to London as a teenager, he joined Mandrake Paddle Steamer, a semi-pro group, before Alan Brown Set provided his first studio time. In 1970 he joined Dada, a rock-jazz outfit that evolved into Vinegar Joe by the following year. The band released three albums to a general hush despite its dual vocals, alongside Elkie Brooks.
After a split in March 1974, Palmer was retained by the band’s label Island but his initial success was Stateside where his dulcet tones were appreciated much more: ‘Addicted To Love’ was No.1 single that only reached the UK’s 5. Ten years later Palmer was fronting Duran Duran/Chic offshoot band The Power Station, which further broadened his musical language, as did a UB40 collaboration in 1990.
Palmer has handled plethora of styles that fed his mainstream stardom through a series of records that set his cool, understated vocals against smooth, catchy pop songs or overtly hard rockers. Possessor of one of the smoothly soulful, impressively adaptable vocal chords and an often-faultless choice in material, Palmer’s work is rather inconsistent.
That said, you can’t go wrong with his ‘Addictions’ or ‘The Very Best Of…’ sets.
Scott Sterling-Wilder
27-9-2003
Robert Palmer: 19 Jan 1949 – 26 Sept 2003
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