Robert Palmer has died

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3142710.stm

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Whether you liked him or not, it's pretty sad, he was only 54.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mr. Palmers bedside was surrounded by women in slicked back hair and black dresses as he lay dying."

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)

No you didn't!

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:45 (twenty-two years ago)

What??

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

(It's an American thing. I was responding to Chris's audicity with incredulity at his brazenness.)

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh I see, carry on!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

No, but really, this is sad. 54 is really young, and those two songs he had were pretty good. Plus I always got him confused with that rock journalist guy. It took me a while before I realized they were two different people.

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I am going to sex up Rob Palmer in the afterlife. But for now, I mourn.

― Sarah MCLusky (coco), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

He had pretty great taste in who to get to play on his records... I can't remember if he ever got to record w/Gary Numan or not, though.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I always liked "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Is this the year everyone has to die or something? WTF?

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Good, I won't get him mixed up with Robert Plant ever again.

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Umm, I just did on ILM.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah. It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough, you know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to Rob. She Makes My Day was good too.

Real sad: RIP RP.

― gobemouche, Friday, 26 September 2003 12:20 (twenty-two years ago)

not enough mentions of "johnny and mary". RIP

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I second great taste, which may have been his superlative quality as artist. He covered great tunes, consistently worked with some interesting people, and forged an idiosyncratic but successful path through the last three decades of pop. The posthumous best-of is gonna be worth hearing.

― Lee G (Lee G), Friday, 26 September 2003 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Sad news about Robert Palmer especially at such a young age. My kids used to listen to his music in the eighties.

― gale, Friday, 26 September 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

didn't he have a new album coming out this fall?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 26 September 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks to Chris V, I can't click on this thread without getting an image of the women from the videos slinking towards the cemetary as pallbearers. DAMN YOU CHRIS V.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 26 September 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

your welcome

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 26 September 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

But Dan, that's a FABULOUS image.

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 26 September 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

'Johnny and Mary' was a wonderful, clever, perceptive song that could have been about any of a number of couples I know. 'She Makes My Day' was simply beautiful. Most of his other stuff was inoffensively listenable.

However, maybe right now he is deservedly being grilled (poss literally) about 'Simply Irresistible', that most hoonish, odious, obnoxious piece of sexist drivel ever recorded. And that was BEFORE I clapped eyes on that repulsive vidclip.

RIP Robert, AFTER you've done your purg for matters raised in previous para.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I dug him. Hell, my girlfriends and I were so unoriginal in the 80s that we went to a Halloween party dressed as the Robert Palmer girls. I guess I know what I'm doing for Halloween this year. RIP Robert.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

The local cheeseball station I listen to busted out their entire lunch hour to play nothing but RP. They just spun the full medley version of "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley."

100.7 The Bay is A-OK in my book. I don't care what their normal target demo is.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 26 September 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

That recent 2 disc overview comp that came out a year or two ago gave me a new appreciation for the guy -- you could see how something a lot more interesting got a bit squashed over time in the commercial heyday.

But yeah, kudos for him -- he seemed like the type of guy who was never as overtly a chameleon per se like Bowie but had a similar sense of wanting to try everything once, and did. And his influence worked in not so clear ways -- he was a massive Comsat Angels fan, for instance, apparently recorded a few covers that have never surfaced, and got the band signed to Island when they were at a loose end, label-wise.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

When I made the announcement to my coworkers this morning right after Pinkpanther posted, it was really easy to tell the cool people from the not cool people. Because all the cool people were like 'Shit!' and all the not cool people were like 'Who?'

― TOMBOT, Friday, 26 September 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

From an interview

"Robert, what songs do you sing in the shower?"

"Nothing, but then I'm never alone in the shower"

An utter diamond, sadly missed.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I had that with the chick who sits next to me. "Who?"

She used the same excuse she uses for everything (ie, she's a stupid twat), 'well, I didn't speak English until I was 12!'

That's funny. You were born here, and went through elementary school, and I know it wasn's a Chinese ES because this is California, and everyone is going to speak English if it kills us, by god... do you think it means she's either (a) a stupid twat, (b) started kindergarten when she was 12, making her a stupid twat, or (c) just a stupid twat?

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(a) and (c). and i have to say that because of the timing of their deaths, i have visions of Palmer and George Plimpton walking hand in hand up to meet their maker. ditto for Johnny Cash and John Ritter; what odd combos. also, i picture the two pairs boarding a rollercoaster.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

and then mr furley walks in and catches them in a compromising postion.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

gah! all this talk of twats has gotten me all-a-twitter!

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

but then mr. furley is quickly escorted away by palmer's backup dancers. the scene ends with a closeup on the gleefully lusty look on furley's face.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

as they all head to the regal beagle for a concert with cash and palmer.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I believe that Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jim Henson died on the same day in 1990.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

What a shame, so early.

Now I've got to hook up my turntable & listen to "Clues" a few times when I get home... always loved "Woke Up Laughing".

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i love u NA

― Aaron A., Friday, 26 September 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No way. This is impossible. Robert Palmer can't be dead. He can't be.

*sighs* Robert Palmer was too young. I can't believe he's dead.

― Legendary Nothingness (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 26 September 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Why, Aaron?

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, thanks baby.

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

:-(

― geeta (geeta), Friday, 26 September 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Johnny And Mary is lovely, but also worthy of mention are Looking For Clues and Woke Up Laughing of the same album, Clues. The first is well known, the second a polyrhythmical tinkling thing of rare beauty, which hasn't left my head all day. [Pedant's note to Andrew, above: Gary Numan appeared on a track on the Clues album, entitled I Dream Of Wires.]

― Daniel (dancity), Friday, 26 September 2003 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel so lucky lovin' her
Tell me what else is magic for?
She thinks it's better left unsaid
She makes her mind up at a glance
It rarely made a difference
I seem to be unconditionally hers
She's like a new girl everyday
And all the rest don't bother me
I'm far too busy lovin' her

I'll never be lonely now I know her
She fills my heart with joy
She makes my day
She just has to smile to blow my cares away
She just has to touch my hand to make me stay
She's all good lovin' at once
She's all good lovin' at once
She's all good lovin' at once
She's all good lovin' at once

Our love was unintentional
She says we're not responsible
She thinks with her chin up
She always makes uncommon sense
Always knows just what to say
She always takes me unawares
In less time than it takes to fall
I'm here and there you are
We never fought it anyway

I'll never be lonely now I know her
She fills my heart with joy
She makes my day
She just has to smile to blow my cares away
She just has to touch my hand to make me stay

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 26 September 2003 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I said so on the ILM thread, but wanted to post again here since it's never been particularly cool to say so: I've always been a Robert Palmer fan. Everyone seems to know and like his Clues lp; search then the follow-up, Pride, which contains additional funky synthesizer expreriments, and the minor hit You Are in My System.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 26 September 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah ha, thanks Daniel. I think he wanted to do a cover of "Cars" at some point, too.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Saturday, 27 September 2003 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Gary Numan appeared on a track on the Clues album, entitled I Dream Of Wires

To be even MORE pedantic, "I Dream of Wires" is actually a Numan composition from the Telekon album.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 September 2003 06:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Nerk and RJG are right, musically.

I don't know 'Johnny and Mary' well, but when I have heard it on the radio it has surprised and attracted me.

'She Makes My Day' is a magnificent piece of 1988. The qualities of its melody and arrangement thrill. It is the most 'romantic' Palmer song I have heard, and all the better for that.

His cover of 'Not A Second Time' is also worth hearing.

― the pinefox, Saturday, 27 September 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I am genuinely sad about this.

― Dan I., Saturday, 27 September 2003 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i remember reading a long piece about lee scratch perry in some magazine that was full of the usual mythmaking stuff and the only person who actually offered any new observations about perry's production techniques and the equipment he used was...robert palmer. his comments were pretty insightful as i recall. palmer recorded with perry sometime in the 1970s. a friend of mine has some reggae cd of dubious provenance with one of the (officially unreleased) perry/palmer collaborations as a hidden track.

RIP

― amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 27 September 2003 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

first LP is a doozy. great early use of drum machine. BUT i actually think "pressure drop" exceeds it. not just for the early remote control on the cover (complete with LONG CORD) and the bare ass, but for the beautiful "back in my arms" and "which of us is the fool." palmer's early solo LPs really seem to have been conceived as ALBUMS. they flow beautifully.

― amateurist, Thursday, 15 October 2009 08:15 (sixteen years ago)

three years pass...

why does he follow his request to the doctor doctor for the news by immediately self-diagnosing himself with a bad case of loving you

for one thing it just doesn't make any sense and for another it's a waste of the doctor doctor's time

― del griffith, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:27 (thirteen years ago)

maybe the bad case of loving you is just a symptom of a deeper illness

― :C (crüt), Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:28 (thirteen years ago)

then he says "no pill's gonna cure my ill", immediately writing off a whole category of possible treatments.

― ledge, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:32 (thirteen years ago)

i bet he isn't even medically trained

― ledge, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:32 (thirteen years ago)

Perhaps he's hoping for the doctor to prescribe him a cure or give him the "news" regarding a new type of treatment

― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:33 (thirteen years ago)

Maybe he's in love with the doctor.

― your fretless ways (Eazy), Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:38 (thirteen years ago)

Dr Robert

― lo! dating (dog latin), Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:40 (thirteen years ago)

It does seem he's in love with the doctor doctor.

xpost TIMING!

― Mark G, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:40 (thirteen years ago)

― lo! dating (dog latin),

I spot the anagram!

― Mark G, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:41 (thirteen years ago)

wonder if he has the same symptoms of a burning feeling as the thomson twins

― ledge, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:42 (thirteen years ago)

the original lyric was "cooze" instead of "news" but the label protested

― da croupier, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:43 (thirteen years ago)

The TT's one was more visual, although they seemed concerned that the symptom might have been missed by the care professional.

― Mark G, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:43 (thirteen years ago)

maybe it was a visible rash with a burning sensation

― ledge, Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:44 (thirteen years ago)

http://www.laprofashions.com/9602v.jpg

― your fretless ways (Eazy), Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:53 (thirteen years ago)

This man helped me learn to objectify women. RIP

― Poliopolice, Thursday, 28 February 2013 17:33 (thirteen years ago)

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