“Some People Can Do What They Like” (1976) and “Double Fun” (1978) by ROBERT PALMER - A Review Of His 3rd and 4th Solo Albums – Now Reissued And Remastered By Edsel Of The UK In 2013.

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"…Takes Every Kinda People…" 

After stints with THE ALAN BOWN in the Sixties, DADA in 1970 and three albums with VINEGAR JOE (featuring Elkie Brooks) between 1972 and 1973 – ROBERT PALMER was finally ready to go Solo. I’ve already reviewed his 1974 debut "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" and its sexy 1976 follow up "Pressure Drop". This 2CD reissue on Demon's Edsel label celebrates the next stage – his 3rd and 4th solo albums.

UK released 26 August 2013 - Edsel EDSK 7038 (Barcode 740155703837) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:41 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd Solo LP “Some People Can Do What They Like” – UK released October 1976 on Island ILPS 9420

Disc 2 (35:01 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 4th Solo LP “Double Fun” – UK released March 1978 on Island ILPS 9476

The outer card wrap is generic to all these Edsel reissues and certainly gives the whole thing a classy feel. Fans will also know that outside of the “Gold” anthology on Universal – Palmer’s Island catalogue has been languishing without remasters for decades. Although it doesn’t say who remastered these album at Universal – the sound quality is great – a huge improvement over the dull Eighties discs we’d had for years. One reviewer is ranting on about MP3 files but I don't hear anything of the sort - and if these are sourced from Universal's remasters for "Gold" then they are vast improvements on what we had before. The 28-page booklet is substantial – pictures of the albums and rare singles, studio shots, colour publicity stuff, lyrics to both albums, affectionate and knowledgeable liner notes by CHRIS JONES – it’s a bang-up job done.  

Having relocated to the Bahamas and with his 2nd album “Pressure Drop” only just released to the shops in April of 1976 – Palmer was already under pressure to produce another album immediately. Hence only two songs on “Some People…” are originals – the other 8 are hastily worked out covers. But cobbled out of nothing – the album is brilliant - and perhaps one of the great lost Funk-Rock nuggets of the mid Seventies.

It opens with a Bill Payne original (of Little Feat) “One Last Look” and not surprisingly Palmer makes a return to the mighty Feat on Lowell George’s fab “Spanish Moon”. Two absolute belters however come in the shape of drummers – his pal Alan Powell (the backbeat behind Vinegar Joe) co-writes the brilliantly funky “Gotta Get A Grip On You (Part II)” while legendary Kansas sticks man James Gadson (Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, The Jungle Brothers and later with Beck and Paul McCartney) gives us the stunning “What Can You Bring Me”. An old Harry Belafonte Calypso hit “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” was funked up and lifted as a single on Island WIP 6345 but it made few inroads. The album ends on a high note though with his own fabulously groovy “Some People Can Do What They Like” featuring Old Grey Whistle Test Theme type harmonica wailing from Greg Carroll. The album scraped the Top 100 in the USA. Commercially things fared better next time around…

I recall first hearing the stunning groove of “Every Kinda People” – a song penned by Andy Fraser of Free (lyrics above). I bought the single immediately and played it to distraction (there is a ‘Remix’ of it on the 1999 Universal CD compilation that is not included here – would have made a good bonus track). With a two year layoff Palmer contributed 7 originals to the superbly crafted 10-track “Double Fun” album – the other two covers being “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks and “Night People” - a new contribution from his old New Orleans pal and genius songwriter Allen Toussaint.

The boppin’ “Best Of Both Worlds” sees Reggae seeping into his funky style – the same with “Love Can Run Faster” only featuring more piano. Again Richie Hayward, Bill Payne and Paul Barrere of Little Feat are all over the tracks on Drums, Keyboards and Guitars respectively. Things take a string-plucked change with the lovely “You Overwhelm Me” – a great Palmer melody.  And it ends well with the “Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)” funk-rock of “You’re Going To Get What’s Coming” which is just great.

I’ve always thought Robert Palmer was a class act – not just as singer – but also as a vessel for other people’s songs. On this reissue you get a whole lot of both. Bluntly there’s a hunk of quality Seventies Funk-Rock-Soul-Reggae on offer here for not a lot of your hard earned.

Get this fabulous double-CD in your life and you’ll find yourself sneakin’ those other titles into your shopping basket too.

I miss him…

"Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley/Pressure Drop" by ROBERT PALMER - featuring members of LITTLE FEAT and THE METERS (2013 UK Edsel 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Gotta Work To Make It Work…"

After stints with THE ALAN BOWN in the Sixties, DADA in 1970 and three albums with VINEGAR JOE (featuring Elkie Brooks) between 1972 and 1973 – ROBERT PALMER was finally ready to go Solo. The result was his fabulous debut "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" in 1974 on Island Records and its under-appreciated follow-up "Pressure Drop" in 1976. This 2CD reissue on Demon's Edsel label celebrates both records with real style (even throwing in 6 Bonus cuts which all new to CD - 4 Previously Unreleased).

UK released 26 August 2013 - "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley/Pressure Drop" by ROBERT PALMER on Edsel EDSK 7037 (Barcode 740155703738) is a 2CD set in a Card Slipcase with Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (52:24 minutes)

1. Sailin’ Shoes

2. Hey Julia

3. Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley

4. Get Outside

5. Blackmail

6. How Much Fun

7. From A Whisper To A Scream

8. Through it All There’s You

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut Solo LP “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley” – UK released September 1974 on Island ILPS 9294

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley (Single Mix)

Non-Album version released November 1974 as a US-Only 7" single on Island 006

10. Epidemic

Non-Album B-side to "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley", November 1974 US 7" single on Island IS 006 - his debut 45 in the States (no UK equivalent)

11. Blackmail (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased

12. Get Outside (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased

Disc 2 (43:56 minutes):

1. Give Me An Inch

2. Work To Make It Work

3. Back In My Arms

4. River Boat

5. Pressure Drop

6. Here With You Tonight

7. Trouble

8. Fine Time

9. Which Of Us Is The Fool

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd Solo LP “Pressure Drop” – UK released April 1976 on Island ILPS 9372

BONUS TRACKS 

10. Willin' (Demo, Little Feat cover version) - Previously Unreleased 

11. Hope We Never Wake (Demo) – Previously Unreleased

The outer card wrap is generic to all these Edsel reissues and certainly gives the whole thing a classy feel. Fans will also know that outside of the “Gold” anthology on Universal – Palmer’s Island catalogue has been languishing without remasters for decades. Although it doesn’t say who remastered these album at Universal – the sound quality is great – a huge improvement over the dull Eighties discs we’d had for years. The 28-page booklet is substantial – pictures of the albums and rare singles, studio shots, colour publicity stuff, lyrics to both albums, affectionate and knowledgeable liner notes by CHRIS JONES – it’s a bang-up job done.  

Fans will know that the original UK vinyl album has barely decipherable credits on the top left of the rear cover that give no real recording info and there was no inner sleeve (the standard issue blue inner bag). I say this because recording history now shows that members of LITTLE FEAT (Lowell George, Bill Payne and Paul Barrere) and much of THE METERS (Art Neville, Leon Noncentelli, Ziggy Modelisti and George Porter Jr.) filled out the sessions with Funky-Rock magic.

As if that isn’t amazing enough – there’s Jazz-Funk main men RICHARD TEE on Keyboards with CORNELL DUPREE on Guitar, the legendary sessionman BERNARD PURDIE on Drums (Steely Dan and millions of others) and even STEVE WINWOOD on keyboards. He also took the Bassist STEVE YORK from Dada and Vinegar Joe with him and Steve provides some amazing backbeat and Harmonica Solos throughout. None of this was on the artwork! Perhaps had that info been displayed – it might have sold better – or made more of an impact…

The debut opens with the distinctive guitar of Lowell George on a boogie cover of his own “Sailin’ Shoes” followed by Palmer getting funky with his beat box on “Hey Julia” (an RP original). A slice of magic occurs with Allen Toussaint’s “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley” – all the staggering funk of the musicians collides to produce a mean shuffler. There’s some hiss for sure on the slinky “Get Outside” (another Palmer original) but the remaster still allows the amazing Bass and Rhythm breathe like never before –it’s fantastic (the lady vocals are still uncredited).

“Blackmail” is an upbeat co-write with Lowell George (good rather than great) while “How Much Fun” goes as fully Little Feat as possible – stabbing keyboards, backing girl vocals, lingering slide guitar notes – it’s very cool. There then follows the album’s double masterpiece finishers – the incredible “From A Whisper To A Scream” (more Allen Toussaint New Orleans old-skool coolness) and the twelve and half minute Palmer original “Through It All There’s You”. It’s the kind of slow building funky Rock tune that always brings customers to the counter – Winwood on the Fender Rhodes with Cornell Dupree flicking those licks throughout. It has an infectious vocal too – truly brilliant stuff.

Fans of both Palmer and Little Feat will thrill to the two debut LP outtakes – “Blackmail” features Lowell and the band giving it some melodic magic – it’s just superb. “Get Outside” is a slow bluesy take instead of the funkier album final – and again – great guitar and a very pronounced lady vocal.

After the heavy dependence on covers on the debut – album number 2 “Pressure Drop” features six Palmer originals with “Trouble” being another Little Feat Cover, the title track a take on the famous Toots & The Maytals reggae anthem and “River Boat” a return to one of his faves – Allen Toussaint. The opener “Give Me An Inch” would later be covered by Ian Matthews to stunning groovy effect on his underrated and soulful “Stealing Home” album from 1979. There then follows a huge favourite of mine – the groovy “Work To Make It Work” (lyrics above). For 1976 it seemed to somehow predate so much Funk-Rock that followed in a similar vein in the late Seventies. Things get a bit too syrupy with the stringed-up “Back In My Arms” while “River Boat” returns to that New Orleans choppy feel and is far better.

The album’s second real gem is “Here With you Tonight” sounding like Little Feat with The Tower Of Power horns blasting in the background with an impassioned Palmer vocal out front. What a winner.

Again – Little Feat fans will flip for the simple acoustic demo of George’s gorgeous “Willin’” – even as a basic demo recording – its lovely and intimate.

“Hope We Wake Up” is similar – a simple acoustic demo – where he stops and starts as he works out the melody – it’s lovely too.

I’ve always thought Robert Palmer was a class act – not just as singer – but also as a vessel for other people’s songs. Sure it’s not all genius – but there’s a lot of quality Seventies Funk-Rock on offer here for not a lot of dollar bills.

Get this fabulous double-CD in your life and you’ll find yourself sneakin’ those other titles into your shopping basket too…

"Ain’t Got No Home: The Best Of…" by CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY (1994 USA Chess Label CD Compilation) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s of Others 

Is Available in my SOUNDS GOOD E-Book

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BLUES, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES, 
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Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95
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"…I Don"t Why I Love You…But I Do…" 

Born in New Orleans in early 1937 - the 19-year old Clarence Henry Jr. had his first American R`n'B hit in December 1956 with his self-penned "Ain't Got No Home". In one of the verses of Argo 5259 - he began aping and croaking a 'lonely' frog - and the nickname stuck with him for everything afterwards. 

Which is a shame in some ways  because it kind of pigeonholed him as a one-trick pony - a type of novelty act - and this wonderful 18-track US-only CD compilation from April 1994 will go a long way to changing that hopefully - because frankly it's a bit of a revelation. 

Here's a track-by-track breakdown of "Ain't Got No Home: The Best Of..." by CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY on Chess CHD-9346 (Barcode 0076732934623) - all songs are Argo USA 7" singles (Chess label subsidiary) except 9 and 12 which are album cuts (42:01 minutes):

1. Ain't Got No Home (1956, Argo 5259, A)

2. Troubles, Troubles (1956, Argo 5259, B)

3. Lonely Tramp (1957, Argo 5266, A)

4. It Won't Be Long (1957, 5273, A)

5. Baby Baby Please (1958, Argo 5305, A)

6. I'm In Love (1958, Argo 5305, B)

7. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do [aka "But I Do"] (March 1961, Argo 5378, A)

8. Just My Baby And Me (1961, Argo 5378, B)

9. Your Picture (1961 USA LP "You Always Hurt The One You Love" on Argo 4009)

10. You Always Hurt The One You Love (May 1961, Argo 5388, A)

11. Lonely Street (August 1961, Argo 5395, A)

12. I Love You, Yes I Do (1961 USA LP "You Always Hurt The One You Love" on Argo 4009)

13. Standing In The Need Of Love (1961, Argo 5401, A)

14. On Bended Knees (1961, Argo 5401, B)

15. A Little Too Much (1961, Argo 5408, A)

16. Lost Without You (1962, Argo 5414, A)

17. Long Lost And Worried (1964, Argo 5480, A)

18. Looking Back (1964, Argo 5480, B)

The 16-page booklet has affectionate and informative liner notes by DAVE "DADDY COOL" BOOTH of Canada's Showtime Archives. There's a cool centre photo spread of Henry with THE BEATLES (he opened for 18 of their 1964 dates) while there's even a snap of him and his band arriving off a plane in Kingston Jamaica in 1957. 

ERICK LABSON, who has almost exclusively handled the vast CHESS catalogue across the decades (over 800 mastering credits to his name), has outdone himself on this compilation with tape transfers, because the clarity of sound is just BEAUTIFUL - clear as a bell - warm and lovely all the way. 

Two principal songwriters loom large too - his fellow label mate and Piano player PAUL GAYTEN (wrote 4 of the songs and played on others) while ROBERT GUIDRY (stage name Bobby Charles of "See You Later, Alligator" fame) had his hand in 7 of the others. 

"Long Lost And Worried" is a DR. JOHN cover version while "Standing in The Need Of Love" and the infectious "On Bended Knees" feature BOOTS RANDOLPH on Tenor sax, BILL JUSTIS on Guitar and FLOYD CRAMER on Piano. Another superb contributor is ALLEN TOUSSAINT whose Piano work is featured on "You Always Hurt The One You Love", "Lonely Street", the sweet "Just My Baby And Me" and my personal favourite - the lovely "Your Picture". 

Fans should also note that a really good previously unreleased Henry recording called "Lady With The Hat Box" turned up on Disc 2 of the stunning "Chess Rhythm & Roll" 4CD Box Set from 1994 on USA MCA (recorded in June 1957 in New Orleans) - it's not included on here unfortunately - but it and the box are worth seeking out - see my separate review. 

It all ends with the slow reminiscing of "Looking Back", an apt choice of song that BROOK BENTON co-wrote with CLYDE OTIS and BILL HENDRICKS - very nice indeed. 

While the huge shadow of Fats Domino and his New Orleans Rhythm 'n' Blues style hangs over almost every track, Henry wasn't just a mere copyist, he had a charm all of his own - and this is still far better than I ever expected it to be. And it's dirt-cheap too...

A lovely CD and well done to all involved. Recommended.