Addicted To Cool: Robert Palmer
In 1974, Robert Palmer drops his solo debut, Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley. And oh boy, it is funky.
Produced by Lowell George of Little Feat, recorded in New Orleans, and backed by The Meters—this album was Palmer’s love letter to Southern funk and groove. The title track, originally by Allen Toussaint, is smoother than a jazz cigarette.
Now here’s the thing—this album didn’t chart like crazy, but it got Palmer noticed. Critics loved him. Musicians loved him. He was the cool guy’s cool guy.
And his next few albums? Wildly diverse. Pressure Drop brought reggae. Some People Can Do What They Like? Funk-rock and soul with a splash of island vibes.
Palmer didn’t care about sticking to one sound—he was too curious, too stylish, too unwilling to settle. He was like Bowie’s funky cousin who read GQ religiously.
In 1985 he drops Riptide. Boom. Robert Palmer becomes a household name. The man. The myth. The music video legend.