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Island's 2005 compilation The Very Best of the Island Years is a near-perfect single-disc overview of Robert Palmer's stint at Island Records, which ran from 1974's Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley to 1985's Riptide. This is regarded by fans and critics alike as his peak creative period, and it also contained his best-known hits, including 1978's "Every Kinda People," 1979's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)," 1980's "Can We Still Be Friends," 1981's "Johnny and Mary" and "Looking for Clues," and, of course, 1986's "Addicted to Love" and 1987's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On." While he continued to chart into the early '90s, only one song -- 1988's "Addicted to Love" rewrite "Simply Irresistible" -- could hold a candle to those hits, and it's here in a live version that concludes the album. While it would have been nice if the original studio version had somehow made the cut, the rest of this is such a terrific listen, charting Palmer's progression from laid-back New Orleans-styled blue-eyed soul crooner through new wave pop guy through his sleek rock makeover with Riptide, that most listeners won't mind that it's a live version, and choose to simply enjoy the best single-disc Palmer compilation yet assembled (and anybody wanting to dig deeper should turn to 2002's similarly excellent double-disc set Best of Both Worlds).
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Lowell George, ComposerLyricist - Steve Smith, Producer - Phil Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist
℗ 1974 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Smith, Producer - Phil Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1974 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Smith, Producer - Phil Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Allen Toussaint, ComposerLyricist - Robert Palmer, MainArtist
℗ 1974 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Smith, Producer - Phil Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Smith, Producer - Phil Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Smith, Producer - Robert Palmer, MainArtist - J.F. Kuhn, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Gene Page, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Bob Babbitt, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist - Paul Barrere, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Freddie Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Schwartzberg, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jody Linscott, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Eric "E.T." Thorngren, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Alan Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Greenridge, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1978 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Kendal Stubbs, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Moon Martin, ComposerLyricist - Karl Pitterson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenny mazur, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Robbins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Armbrister, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Pierre Brock, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kendal Stubbs, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Todd Rundgren, ComposerLyricist - Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist - Karl Pitterson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenny mazur, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Robbins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Armbrister, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Pierre Brock, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kendal Stubbs, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist - Jo Allen, ComposerLyricist - Karl Pitterson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenny mazur, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Robbins, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Armbrister, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Pierre Brock, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Alex Sadkin, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Alex Sadkin, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Bass, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Frantz, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny mazur, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Alex Sadkin, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alan Mansfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Palmer, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Nuber, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kenny mazur, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Fortgang, ComposerLyricist - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Rupert Hine, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dominique Blanc-Francard, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Alan Mansfield, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Nuber, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Blair, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dawe, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Bonaparte, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rupert Hine, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Frank, ComposerLyricist - Mic Murphy, ComposerLyricist - Dominique Blanc-Francard, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Mansfield, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Nuber, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Blair, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dawe, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jeff Bova, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - BERNARD EDWARDS, Producer - Lenny Pickett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Nelson, ComposerLyricist - Wally Badarou, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Ray Haynes, ComposerLyricist - Eric "E.T." Thorngren, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Andy Taylor, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Fonzi Thornton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Bova, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Martinez, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - BERNARD EDWARDS, Producer, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Thompson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - CHAKA KHAN, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Pickett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Wally Badarou, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bennie Diggs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric "E.T." Thorngren, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Fonzi Thornton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Bova, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Guy Pratt, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - BERNARD EDWARDS, Producer, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Thompson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Pickett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist - David Batteau, ComposerLyricist - Wally Badarou, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Don Freeman, ComposerLyricist - Bennie Diggs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Eric "E.T." Thorngren, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jeff Bova, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - TERRY LEWIS, ComposerLyricist - BERNARD EDWARDS, Producer - Lenny Pickett, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, MainArtist - JAMES HARRIS, ComposerLyricist - Wally Badarou, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Eric "E.T." Thorngren, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Waldman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tim Kramer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Palmer, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Gibbs, Keyboards, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Blair, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Brie Howard, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Martinez, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - B.J. Nelson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Palmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Mansfield, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dony Wynn, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Blair, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce Jones, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Remlap Co. Inc.
Album review
Island's 2005 compilation The Very Best of the Island Years is a near-perfect single-disc overview of Robert Palmer's stint at Island Records, which ran from 1974's Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley to 1985's Riptide. This is regarded by fans and critics alike as his peak creative period, and it also contained his best-known hits, including 1978's "Every Kinda People," 1979's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)," 1980's "Can We Still Be Friends," 1981's "Johnny and Mary" and "Looking for Clues," and, of course, 1986's "Addicted to Love" and 1987's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On." While he continued to chart into the early '90s, only one song -- 1988's "Addicted to Love" rewrite "Simply Irresistible" -- could hold a candle to those hits, and it's here in a live version that concludes the album. While it would have been nice if the original studio version had somehow made the cut, the rest of this is such a terrific listen, charting Palmer's progression from laid-back New Orleans-styled blue-eyed soul crooner through new wave pop guy through his sleek rock makeover with Riptide, that most listeners won't mind that it's a live version, and choose to simply enjoy the best single-disc Palmer compilation yet assembled (and anybody wanting to dig deeper should turn to 2002's similarly excellent double-disc set Best of Both Worlds).
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:19:10
- Main artists: Robert Palmer
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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