It's the Robert Palmer singles POLL!!! (Couldn't be called the POLLmer POLL, because it would never be found via search)

"didn't mean to turn you on"

("bad case of loving you" is a close second, but not as icy and self-involved, which was palmer's strong suit.)

Lots of good stuff between "Bad Case..." and "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On." But "Johnny & Mary" reigns supreme.

Yeah, 'I Didn't Mean To Turn You On' or 'Johnny & Mary' for me.

Johny & Mary -- or, surprisingly, Pride -- for me.

Also really like 'Some Like It Hot' by the Power Station.

Kinda want to hear the Devo cover - is it any good??

Devo did 'Some Like It Hot'?? That's sounds like it would be somewhat not good, but who knows?

Heh no I meant Robert Palmer covering Devo's Girl U Want

Haha, that makes more sense! But that's a bit wtf too eh?

"Johnny And Mary", easily.

Missing early singles "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley" "Which of Us Is the Fool" & "Gimme an Inch/Pressure Drop"

Johnny and Mary times a gazillion.

Wasn't he 31 yrs old when it came out? Christ, I feel old now. :-(

Yeah Johnny & Mary no question.

My dad played the "Clues" album a lot when it came out - just realised he was the same age then - 36 - as I am now. That feels weird in ways I can't really explain.

"johnny & mary" is great, but it's a tad generic-new-wave. it could have been by lots of people. RP was a sexy r&b singer, and i think that song underrepresents him.

(and he totally is dad-rock -- my dad had the album with "bad case...")

Perhaps this is heresy, but I sort of prefer his version of "You Are in My System" to the original, though I'm not sure I'd vote for it here.

No, you're OTM. It IS superior.

Now "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" is as good as the original.

Of these, "Man Smart, Woman Smarter", but I would have picked "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley".

Now "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" is as good as the original.

which is pretty damn good.

Both versions are so overstated: the original is garish in that early eighties Prince-esque way, the cover mixed LOUD and bass-heavy.

Johnny and Mary at a canter. Has no chance of topping this poll though.

TS: Rod Stewart vs Robert Palmer's "Some Guys Have All the Luck"

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On

This dude knew how to pick AND perform covers.

thanks to him i thought Mercy Mercy Me and I Want You were not two separate songs for a little longer than i should've

Perhaps this is heresy, but I sort of prefer his version of "You Are in My System"

As far as I'm concerned that IS heresy. I much prefer the System guy's vocals and also their drums. The System version has a poise and subtlety strangely absent from Palmer's.

The Palmer version is too much BOOM SPLAT BOOM SPLAT taking over from a more elastic feeling.

Johnny and Mary, definitely.

The Palmer version is too much BOOM SPLAT BOOM SPLAT

yum!

Srrsly, it's his vocal that ultimately sells the thing.

No, it's 'boom splat boom splat' on the original of course as well, but the (DMX) drums sound kind of softer. As a result the ebb and flow of the keyboards comes more to the fore (they might even be a bit louder in the mix as well). I really like Mic Murphy's vocal tone as well.

Palmer's vocals kind of grate to me, somehow

Oh yes, the original is a bit slower, I think. More stately.

Palmer's vocal kind of great to me.

"Johnny and Mary" is wonderful in its own way of course, and came a close second, but I voted for the awesomely cool "Looking For Clues".

Missing early singles "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley" "Which of Us Is the Fool" & "Gimme an Inch/Pressure Drop"

― President Keyes, Friday, March 27, 2009 7:25 AM (5 hours ago)

Not sure why those weren't included in the Wiki list. Now this poll is tainted!

This dude knew how to pick AND perform covers.

OTM. In many ways, he was just another well-styled handsome white soulster, but he was an especially canny one, and I think that's a big part of the reason why we're nerding out on him like this.

Johnny, you are really something for giving some intelligent thought to your poll title. Well done! I wish more folks would, here.

I don't really know Palmer (or even love him) well enough to feel comfortable voting in this, but pitting Johnny And Mary against You Are In My System is about enough to cause a most disagreeable riot in my Gemini-mooned, indecisive brain. Therefore, I abstain.

God I love me some Palmer...Shame "Give Me An Inch" not included...Check out "One Last Look" off the Some people album...utterly sublime...went for "She makes my day" although I could of picked bout 10 of em...

What's the song where he has those little breaks that screw with the time signature? I can never remember what it is

"Looking For Clues" is pretty great too, don't forget that one in the J&M lovefest that's bound to transpire.

Yes, that! The only Robert Palmer song I ever found worth listening to.

Surprised no one's repping for any of the gravy train era of hits besides, of course, "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On." "Hyperactive" is a pretty decent slab of funk-metal, with Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards holding the groove while Palmer hyperventilates hyperactively.

if "Woke Up Laughing" was on here, i would have voted that in an instant, voted "You are in my System" instead.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

i was enjoying listening to his best of/island years more until mrs. hunter said that she had thought bad case of lovin you was huey lewis.

still clues is pretty unfuckwithable in my book.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Wow, this is bizarre - - - I genuinely had no idea this guy had anything besides "Addicted to Love," "Simply Irresistible" (came here mainly to ask what people think he means by "she's so fine, there's no telling where the money went") and I guess "Bad Case of Loving You" - - but wow, turns out there's like a whole giant back catalogue here. Listening to Clues right now, feeling it already on the first track. Thanks, ILX!

I Didn't Mean To Turn You On is a cover. The original is by Cherelle and it has a Twin City sound to it. It's better than Robert Palmer's version.

xpoat
I've long wanted to start a thread about the "money went" line, but alas laziness always prevailed.

yeah i remember having my mind mildly blown by seeing the "Looking For Clues" video on VH1 Classic and realizing how far his career went back. and then had it blown again when I heard the Little Feat stuff on Sneaking Sally Through The Alley and realizing it went back even further.

The guy was wizardly when it came to covering eighties electro R&B. I even like his take on Jermaine and Michael's "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" as much as the original.