Robert Palmer – Pressure Drop (1975) (First U.S. Pressing) [FLAC]
EAC Secure Rip | Flac (image + cue + log) – 230 mb | Complete Artwork (Jpeg 600 dpi) – 95.6 mb
Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Funk | Island Records | # 7 90087-2 | 37:29 minutes | 5% WinRar Recovery
Pressure Drop is Robert Palmer’s second solo album, released in 1975. Palmer is backed by Little Feat and other musicians. The title track is a cover version of the reggae hit by Toots & the Maytals. However, many other songs on the album use New Orleans funk … along with smooth, dated disco ballads smothered in strings. David Jeffries’ review says that the album is considered too blue-eyed and polished for fans of Palmer’s more gutsy moments but concludes that Pressure Drop has grown into the great overlooked album in Palmer’s discography. The album peaked at #136 in the US.
Before he moved to Nassau and became a carefree, laid-back expat who craved sunshine, Robert Palmer lived in New York City, hired Little Feat for a backup band, and released the all over the place yet still solid Pressure Drop. Named after the massive reggae hit from Toots & the Maytals and the excellent cover version Palmer performs here, Pressure Drop is sometimes wrongly sold as the singer’s first island-styled album. Past the title cut, Feat and the New Orleans funk of the Meters are much bigger influences, along with smooth, dated disco ballads smothered in strings. The latter numbers are what make the album too blue-eyed and polished for fans of Palmer’s more gutsy moments, but the soft songs are well written and convincing, especially the opening "Give Me an Inch." Better still is the loose and feel-good funk that has long made this effort a fan favorite, with Palmer delivering full-bodied vocals over bright horns and popping basslines. Since compilations and Palmer’s own live set lists increasingly ignored the album over time, Pressure Drop has grown into the great overlooked album in the man’s discography, and it’s much more rewarding than the unfamiliar track list displays. Reviewed by David Jeffries allmusic.com
All songs by Robert Palmer except where noted:
01. Give Me an Inch – 3:17
02. Work to Make It Work – 4:27
03. Back In My Arms – 3:30
04. River Boat (Allen Toussaint) – 3:44
05. Pressure Drop (Frederick Hibbert) – 5:26
06. Here with You Tonight (Robert Palmer, Pete Gage) – 4:57
07. Trouble (Lowell George) – 2:25
08. Fine Time – 5:43
09. Which of Us Is the Fool – 3:25
Released November 1975
Personnel
Robert Palmer – vocals, percussion
Lowell George – Guitar, Vocals
Bill Payne – keyboards
Paul Barrere – Guitar, Vocals
Richie Hayward – drums, Percussion, Vocals
Kenny Gradney – Bass
Sam Clayton – Vocals
James Jamerson – Bass
Ed Greene – Drums, Percussion
Jean Rousseau – Clavinet
Gordon Dewitte – Clavinet
Gene Page – Strings
The Muscle Shoals Horns – Horns
Melvin A. Collins – Horns
Mongezi Feza – Horns, Flageolet
Ray Allen – Horns
Vicki Brown – Vocals
Fran Tate – Vocals
David Snell – Harp
Joe Brown – Banjo
Steve York – Harmonica
Martin Frye – Tuba
Steve Smith – Production
Phil Brown – Engineering
Paul Barrere, Lowell George, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward, Bill Payne, and Sam Clayton were members of Little Feat at the time.
Fran Tate sang backup vocals on some Little Feat records, extending the Little Feat connection.
Interesting Note:
The model in the album cover is Geraldine Edwards. She was a friend of Robert Palmer at the time. The picture was taken at the Beverly Hills Hotel 1975. She was also his girlfriend at the time of his death… 28 years later!
