Clues (Robert Palmer album)

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Clues
Robert Palmer
chronology
Secrets
(1979)
Clues
(1980)
Maybe It's Live
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Billboard(unrated)[3]

Clues is the sixth studio album by

Robert Palmer, released in 1980. It has a rockier, new wave edge compared to his previous releases.[2] The album peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 31 in the UK in 1980. The album also peaked at No. 1 in Sweden, No. 3 in France, No. 15 in the Netherlands and No. 42 in Italy. Donald Guarisco of AllMusic described Clues as "one of Robert Palmer's strongest and most consistent albums", despite being somewhat short at 31 minutes.[2]

Palmer, who played percussion on

Maybe It's Live) and played keyboards on a remake of his own song "I Dream of Wires".[2] This was first issued on CD in 1985 when Island's catalogue was issued under WEA Manufacturing
. The WEA pressings are sought-after collector's items.

The video to the first track on the album, "

first day of broadcasting
on 1 August 1981.

The album was certified gold in Germany by BMieV in 1992.

Songs

The lead track, "Looking for Clues" was described by AllMusic as "a clever slice of new wave pop that surprises the listener with an unexpected xylophone solo".[2]

"I Dream of Wires" is a cover of a song from Gary Numan's album Telekon released the same year.

The cover of the Beatles' "Not a Second Time", featured a second verse added by Palmer.

Track listing

All songs by

Robert Palmer
except where noted.

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:52
  2. "Sulky Girl" – 4:07
  3. "Johnny and Mary" – 3:59
  4. "What Do You Care" – 2:44
  5. "I Dream of Wires" (Gary Numan) – 4:34
  6. "Woke Up Laughing" – 3:36
  7. "Not a Second Time" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:48
  8. "Found You Now" (
    Robert Palmer
    ) – 4:37

Personnel

  • Robert Palmer
    – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums (track 6), percussion, production
  • Dony Wynn – drums
  • Jack Waldman – keyboards
  • Kenny Mazur – guitar (tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Chris Frantz – drums (track 1)
  • Andy Fraser – bass guitar (tracks 2, 7)
  • Alan Mansfield – guitar (track 3)
  • Paul Gardiner – bass guitar (track 5)
  • Gary Numan – keyboards (track 5)
Technical
  • Alex Sadkin – engineer, mixing
  • David Harper – executive producer
  • Graham Hughes – cover
  • Cover photograph taken by Susan Palmer in Nassau, Bahamas
  • Mastering engineer – Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[14] Gold 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References