At His Very Best

Most people primarily know Robert Palmer as the smooth crooner surrounded by sultry, black-clad models in the hit video for "Addicted to Love". Yet At His Very Best reveals him to be far more than simply a suave lady-killer. Indeed, he could be considered one of the finest white soul singers of his generation. Of course, his 1980s heyday is well represented here. "Addicted to Love" is a stand-out, alongside such hits as "Some Guys Have All the Luck", "Simply Irresistible" and "Some Like It Hot", the big hit he shared with Duran Duran's John and Andy Taylor as the Power Station. But fans will also enjoy the disco stylings of 1978's "Every Kinda People" (written by Free's Andy Fraser), the swampy funk of 1974's "Sneakin' Sally Thru the Alley" and a minimalistic but driving cover of ZZ Top's hilariously dumb "TV Dinners". This last track is a telling choice. Though Palmer is a serious student of music, he has always exhibited a gratifying sense of humour, a quality that's contributed mightily to his long-standing success. He's a wealthy man, and a diamond geezer.