Pursuing Atmosphere In Music: Robert Palmer In 20 Quotes
A history of the English music stylist with a difference, as it’s told by the man himself.
The music that Robert Palmer left us stands tall and echoes loudly to this day. To underline our respect for the legacy of the man born on January 19, 1949, this is a history with a difference – as told by Palmer himself, in 20 quotes. They’re presented non-chronologically, in numerous interviews with the music press over a period of nearly 20 years.
The comments cover Robert’s work on particular albums and tracks, memories of the first records he loved and his own early days in music, collaborations with Gary Numan, the Meters and others, and observations about the life and style of a great and much-missed artist.
“‘Respect’ by Otis Redding was the first piece of music that totally engulfed my attention, and I started to collect records. I wrote to Stax, Atlantic, Motown and Sun Records, and discovered things like the British label, Sue, that released ska singles. It was more than a minor obsession! It lead me into the pursuit of atmosphere in music, something completely different from what other people were into at the time. Everybody else was playing Yardbirds and Chuck Berry and I was doing the ‘Harlem Shuffle’” (Playgirl, 1977)
“I used to hate it when I was in my first group in Yorkshire and we’d open for The Move and Jimi Hendrix and I’d think, ‘How come these people act that way? What gives them the right to be that way?’ And I still can’t understand” (NME, 1980)
“I can waste less words now, people understand me more quickly. It just hits quicker. The enthusiasm I’m getting is matching my enthusiasm for the projects, instead of having to fire a situation to get what I want, it’s coming right at me…” (Sounds, 1976)
“I’ve been playing music for 12 years and I don’t want to make a mistake because I’m making my shot now. But I’ve been taking my time doing it because there are so many easy routes which look so treacherous to me that I ain’t prepared to tread ’em. I enjoy singing; it’s the only thing I do that gives me complete satisfaction and I don’t want to jeopardise that” (NME, 1976)
“Allen Toussaint was hanging around the studio when we were making Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, but Steve Smith was the producer. The Meters are a burning band, they lock together like a musical puzzle. If you listen to any individual part, it seems so simple. It’s African, it’s all about syncopation” (Mojo, 1994)
“I’ve bought a house in Nassau. I’m off there in a couple of days. It’s the first place I’ve had to live since last August when I left England. I wasn’t staying anywhere more than a month, and it was beginning to get to me, having nowhere to hang your toothbrush, y’know. It’s right by the sea, I can go and check out the tropical fish” (Sounds, 1976)
“I can buy myself a house in Nassau and I can afford to fly back and forth, fly my wife back and forth, and go and see my parents, and fly them out for Christmas and stuff like that. They’re the things I really like to do, and I get to be able to do them because I like to sing. That seems really precious to me and I don’t want to jeopardise it” (NME, 1976)
“[Home in Nassau] is very, very quiet, it’s neutral ground. It’s a place where there’s no competition and no structures. It takes away a lot of the false class crap you find here, where people look at your shoes or listen to your accent and then slot you” (Smash Hits, 1981)
“This new album [Some People Can Do What They Like] is a killer, it really is. It’s nice because I don’t need to feel awkward when people come up to me and say they really like my stuff. I can say, thank you very much, that’s what I do and I do it to the best of my ability. I like it too.” (Sounds, 1976)
“I had a radio hit in America. So I just came over. I just followed the demand rather than trying to go places and create one. That’s why it took me so long to get back to England. I like to go places I’m asked, instead of inviting people to come and see if they like it: ‘Did I pass the audition?’ I’d had enough of that in the groups I was in in England” (NME, 1980)
“I pursue music like I relate to a woman. I feel the rhythm first, then the melody, and finally the lyric. I want to turn into a dolphin next time around. They are the hippest creatures on earth. They appear to have more intelligence than humans, more sensory potential, yet they spend their time in play” (Playgirl, 1977)
“Personally, I’ve always thought that making hit records was a useless pursuit in itself. I’d rather build an audience gradually and create a demand myself rather than use the music industry machinery to create that demand” (Circus, 1978)
“James Jamerson, what a fabulous fellow. Five foot three, never changed his strings. And when he would find a line – because his lines were like songs themselves – he’d stop the take. He’d get so high on himself, he’d go ‘Listen, listen! I’ve found it!’” (Mojo, 1994)
“I’d rather visit a place and play to the demand I’ve already created, so that it’s realistic and I understand the audience reaction. They’re not just clapping because everybody else is. So in some places we play 200-seat clubs for three nights, two shows a night. Other places we go in and do one show to 3,000 people and go out of the place. It just depends what’s happening in each place” (NME, 1976)
“I was doing three of [Gary Numan’s] tunes in my live show about 18 months ago and he came and saw the show with his dad. We got on really well so I suggested that…well, actually he suggested that we work together, so we did.” (NME, 1980)
“People either love what I do or hate what I do – so I’ve got to the point where I just get on with it and the content of what I put on the records is determined from what I learn from the audience, from what works live, from what I want to hear when I go to a club or what I’d like to play when I get home. I’m just trying to include all those different things and mix it up, ’cos otherwise you end up with, what do they call it, a ‘concept’ album or something…” (NME, 1980)
“Lowell George was extremely bright, with a surreal sort of wit, and he was basically a workaholic. Day and night, all he did was make music. I’d never met him until we met up in New Orleans, but it was just instant. After the first couple of songs, he said ‘I’ve got this group, howzabout you come and sing with my band?’ So I joined up with Little Feat and went on the road with them for six months” (Mojo, 1994)
“When I read about myself in the papers, I’m fascinated. I don’t know what they’re talking about…it’s just journalists and record companies trying to create an image for me. Sure, I like food, clothes and the company of women…but a sophisticate and a womanizer? Give me a break!” (The Face, 1983)
“I always find it very difficult to pinpoint anyone particular Marvin Gaye song…It’s the mood he creates when he goes into it, like that ‘I Want You’ record, it’s just a gas. But I never went to see Marvin Gaye sing live, because I didn’t want to see him take his shirt off and all that stuff” (Q, 1986)
“My manager always accuses me of being a cruiser – he says I cruise through things, whereas he believes in going at them with your fists. But I don’t have that kind of pride. The only things I believe in are birth and death, and in between you get on with it” (Smash Hits, 1981)
John Farrar
December 1, 2015 at 7:24 am
Great article about someone I always liked, and miss greatly.
Would have loved to have seen which way his career went.
Sadly missed.
Rousian
December 1, 2015 at 11:09 am
I MISS HIM SO MUCH!!! XOXOX
Keithybee
December 5, 2015 at 11:05 am
Intelligent answers, from an intelligent guy, who made excellent music. No one as filled the void that was left by Robert Palmer.
Joe
June 13, 2016 at 7:55 am
This is great! I didn’t know much about him until recently. I only started taking him seriously a few months ago when I learned Allen Toussaint, The Meters, and Dr John played on Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley. And, I only know that song because of Phish’s cover song.
Lately, I’ve been digging into his catalog, and discovered that he was a great Soul singer.
Jerry
June 6, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Phish sucks.
mike
June 15, 2016 at 3:19 am
People dismiss Mr. Palmer in a lot of ways but he was so much more then “that guy who did that video with all those woman in it.” His diversity was vast, how he would change from album to album depending on what was influencing him at the time was a testament to his diversity. Who do you know that was in mainstream music even today would put a song on an album in a different language? He did this some 20 yrs ahead of anyone that I know of.. He moved from dance, electronic, classic standards, to rock within his career and his discography and for this I for one highly respect his catalog.
IMO he was way under rated for his creativeness and chameleon talents he had to weave his way through the musical landscape. Check out his catalog these are a ton of gems waiting for you to discover.
Scot Bartrug
September 10, 2016 at 3:14 am
I live in a small town on the eastern shore of Maryland, Salisbury, Maryland to be exact. We have a University in town ( Salisbury University) but back in the years 1975 – 1979 it was a small college. Mr. Palmer played there on three different occasions. The hall may have seated 1000 people. We always managed to be down front. It was great, to say the least. Would love to hear him sing ” Sneakin Sally thru the alley.” one more time. See ya in Heaven!
Stevo
June 5, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Excellent article… and great comments by the fans.
Robert Palmer… absolutely a first class musician with a real passion for music…
From Sneaking Sally…to his last album Drive…. enjoyed them all again and again…
Riptide being my favourite
Thankyou RP top bloke!!!
L.Ortado
July 4, 2017 at 4:57 am
Luigi O
Here, from down under in Sydney Australia,, I’v always like Robert he’s so clean net & tirdy a true gentleman from the old school so to speak, his heavy metal go’s down well on a Sunday morning in a block of units. & I think he would like it as well,as alway
sadly missed
Ciao Ciao
linda
September 26, 2017 at 5:41 pm
so glad that i got to see him perform live in the mid 1980’s. saw him at garden state art center outdoor venue in NJ and the sound was horrible regardless of the seat so i followed him to NYC to see him play at an enclosed venue – don’t recall the theatre name. it was an awesome show, especially the acapella song. i keep waiting for his song “takes every kind of people” to be used for something meaningful. still love his unique musical style!
Josey
September 27, 2017 at 1:50 am
Roberts Pride CD is still in my top ten when I want to hear a slick, smooth sound. Very underrated CD and artist. Saw Robert perform live and it was a show I’ll never forget, great entertainer.
Susannah
October 7, 2017 at 3:49 pm
I was a fan of Robert’s music back in the 70’s. When listening to the music was all it was about. Loved every minute of him and still do, having reconnected with a bit of reminiscing going on. Can easily remember listening to him many times and whooping. His ballads were beautiful and so heartfelt and his more upbeat music, always tremendous fun lyrics, bass and drum. Awesome. Such a clever musician. A true talent, but always appeared to me as ‘shy of the light’ that being so talented threw his way.
I’ve watched many of his live performances and he doesn’t look entirely at ease with cameras and the like. I suspect a very private man with an enormous talent that needed to be shared, for which I, like so many others, are grateful xxx
Susannah
October 7, 2017 at 3:49 pm
I was a fan of Robert’s music back in the 70’s. When listening to the music was all it was about. Loved every minute of him and still do, having reconnected with a bit of reminiscing going on. Can easily remember listening to him many times and whooping. His ballads were beautiful and so heartfelt and his more upbeat music, always tremendous fun lyrics, bass and drum. Awesome. Such a clever musician. A true talent, but always appeared to me as ‘shy of the light’ that being so talented threw his way.
I’ve watched many of his live performances and he doesn’t look entirely at ease with cameras and the like. I suspect a very private man with an enormous talent that needed to be shared, for which I, like so many others, are grateful xxx
Matt
June 29, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Great piece about a strangely-forgotten but totally unique British artist. There’s no-one around these days quite like Robert…
Curtis B Peters
September 13, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Robert Palmer was a subtle blue eyed soul singer who had a distinctive style drawn from the artists he loved. He was interesting because he was not overstated. You had to let his music unfold for you – it didn’t explode like many other soul songs did. He is missed for many reasons, but his quiet class and charm is no small part of his magnetism. I, for one, hope he is long remembered in a business that too easily forgets great artists.