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In the past week, I have listened to The Power Station four or five times. It's such a great one-off record. There's no pining motivation or striving for greatness. It was just three guys that wanted to cover some T. Rex and everything just took off from there.
This is one of those records where you listen to the drums and percussion almost more than anything. These weird edits where the beats must've been run through a sequencer or something. These strange clipped edits all over the place. Goofy vocals popping up at different moments like some strange Daffy Duck laughter in the middle of "Some Like It Hot". One part of "Murderess" seemed so overphased in my truck speakers that I thought a C-130 was doing a flyby over me. And the fade-outs would make David Chase jealous with their abrupt disappearances.
And just the very idea of two Duran members getting tired of the teenpop scene and getting connected with members of Chic to make this album. I try to imagine Nile Rodgers standing behind the production console behind the glass after a take of "Harvest of the World" saying, "You really nailed the vocal on that, Andy!"
And the whole backstory of the group planning on recording with multiple lead vocalists (like Mick Jagger and Billy Idol!) until Robert Palmer just came in and knocked all the demos out. It couldn't have been anyone else.
It's just a great record of a group of musicians having fun with no strings attached. They'd later try to make it a real band, replacing the departing Palmer with Michael Des Barres, but it would never be the same as it was when they recorded The Power Station.
Obviously, I say Classic.
― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 13 June 2007 20:28 (eighteen years ago)
I'm very sure there's a thread already. But I say: dud. All the worst attributes of post-Chic Nile/'Nard production: deafening drums, shriek guitar, and Robert Palmer showing his armpit sweat. "Communication," however, is a monster in its 12" mix.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 13 June 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)
and I speak as a huge fan of Chic, Duran Duran, and Robert Palmer.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 13 June 2007 20:58 (eighteen years ago)
I have to disagree, Alfred. Before tonight, it's probably been close to 20 years (!!) since I've listened to this, but despite all the ultra-modern 80s production and general bombast, it's got a captivating energy. The Bang a Gong cover is superb, but Some Like it Hot and Murderess are undeniably mindbendingly awesome.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 6 January 2008 07:41 (eighteen years ago)
The duddest thing associated with Duran Duran until "Big Thing".
― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 6 January 2008 14:50 (eighteen years ago)
WAHT! Big Thing is one of my favorite DD albums.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 6 January 2008 17:42 (eighteen years ago)
I almost listened to this when I happened across my old cassette copy this past weekend. I'll run through it this week. In the meantime I think the Power Station album was better than the Arcadia album (which of course was sort of the "yang" by the remaining three DD members to the PS's "yin"). And I can remember enjoying "Big Thing" at least a few times.
― christoff, Monday, 7 January 2008 18:21 (eighteen years ago)
"Election Day" > Power Station
but
Power Station >>>>>>>>>> the rest of So Red The Rose
― Mackro Mackro, Monday, 7 January 2008 18:46 (eighteen years ago)
"Bang a Gong" sounds dreadful to these ears; Andy Taylor's guitar tone and Palmer's bellowing are exactly what the song doesn't need.
However, props to "Communication," which is genuinely sultry.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 7 January 2008 18:50 (eighteen years ago)
My favorite part of "Bang A Gong" is the weird fizzing guitar jet sounds intro... once the song actually starts, I ffwd.
― Mackro Mackro, Monday, 7 January 2008 19:31 (eighteen years ago)
all the ultra-modern 80s production and general bombast
sounds right up my alley!
― artdamages, Monday, 7 January 2008 20:15 (eighteen years ago)
I hate them still
― J0hn D., Monday, 7 January 2008 20:57 (eighteen years ago)
wow this album is a lot better than i was expecting! (“bang a gong” excepted, WTF). great big 80s “let’s dance” style drums and synths/guitars like sun glares, great summer album.“I do this and I do that, and when it's cold, I wear a hat” hell yeah, man!
― brimstead, Friday, 30 July 2021 02:01 (four years ago)
humph
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 30 July 2021 02:14 (four years ago)