The Power Station(1985)

BAM! That was the shot that was fired right at this Metal Boy the first time I heard the lead off single from The Power Station  called Some Like It Hot. 

Back in mid 1985 my mind was blown as in that a couple of cronies from Duran Duran one being the Bass Player John Taylor and the Guitar Player John Taylor took a hiatus from the Duranie’s and got together with Singer  Robert Palmer  and Drummer Tony Thompson  and blasted out a huge ball of Funk O Cool Rawk with oh so good rhythm’s that no one was doing at that  time or since.

The Power Station debut was recorded at The Power Station in NYC hence where the name came.

It’s sad to say that in 2017 Robert and Tony are no longer with us but man they should be proud of this album as it Slays in a different rock kinda way!

8 song’s Under 35 minutes….Boom Done!

The Funkin Tracks!

All songs written by Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor, and John Taylor; except where noted

Side one
“Some Like It Hot” – 5:05
“Murderess” – 4:17
“Lonely Tonight” (Bernard Edwards, Palmer) – 3:58
“Communication” (Derek Bramble, Palmer, A. Taylor, J. Taylor) – 3:37
Side two
“Bang A Gong (Get It On)” (Marc Bolan) – 5:29
“Go to Zero” (Guy Pratt, Palmer) – 4:58
“Harvest for the World” (Isley Brothers) – 3:37
“Still in Your Heart” – 3:20

Short…Brief and to the point! 6 Original Tracks and 2 Cover’s…

Some Like It Hot. Are you kidding me? Listen to John Taylor Slappa Da Bass! Man oh man and I here I pigeonholed John  back in 85 who was just a pretty boy but the dude is a beast on this record on the 4 string! Also make mention that he laid down some serious Bass on the Neurotic Outsiders. Heard of Em? If not search for em around these parts as Taylor and Company layed down a brilliant debut.  Not to be outdone Andy Taylor man I finally can here some 6 String from him as was there any guitar heard on those Duran albums? Can some one verify this for me? Andy though plugs in and at times plays what sounds like simple riffs like in this tune. Than he goes kinda metallic at the solo spot. The Drums on this tune mixed with the Bass are huge..Holeeee Sheeeeeit even to this day when I hear this on my iPod I crank it! The production is handled brilliantly by Bernard Edwards. Palmer is a rock like swashbuckler showing up with his briefcase and just getting down to it….The voice of Robbo suits this material to a T! Must make the mention of some real cool Live Horns on this album added to enhance not to take away from your lsitening expierence! Dig the video as there’s Andy Taylor sporting the  Military Bullet Belt  look that he must have borrowed from Lemmy as well as Palmer doing the Preacher deal….

Murderess second track in and is another great track. Like the slinky like  shiver of the Andys guitar mixed with Tony’s drums. Palmer oozes cool and I like the strut and bounce of this tune. Tons of real sounding horns throughout. Two songs in and the Power Station shift gears…

Like the straight ahead rock n funk in Communication. Quick little tempo booster and Palmer delivers his laid back rock vocal with relative ease.

Now of course cover tunes worked for some in the early to mid 80’s(Quiet Riot/Cum On Feel The Noise)  for others it didn’t. Well wait ..(Quiet Riot/Mama Where All Crazee Now) Pushing the envelope …

Now the Taylors scored a decent sized hit with the Marc Bolan cover of Bang A Gong.  Thompson drives some cool drums forward while Andy and John keep the 4 and 6 string’s moving along while Robbo delivers a vocal that makes this tune his own. This was my first time ever hearing this track. Once this track made its way up the charts I recall MuchMusic  playing with Bang A Gong’s back 2 back…. it was interesting spin as the Station guys left it as is pretty much just updated it somewhat…cool cover version is the point I’m trying to make…

The album finishes up with 2 more originals(Go To Zero & Still In Your Heart) and a cover tune of the Isley Brothers Harvest Of The World and thats it….boom….done!

So the album rockets up the charts and so does Robert Palmer and his solo career so he decides not to tour behind this album but instead Michael Des Barres replaces Palmer at the mic and man oh man another singer change but compared to other singers quitting or getting shit canned there didn’t  seem to be too much written about Palmers leaving. Bummer though as I would have loved to have heard what these Funkin Dudes would have cooked up!

It’s funny how short this album was and considering 2 of the 8 tracks were cover tunes no one cared! It was more fun to rip on Quiet Riot as they were trying to become a Slade tribute act in the mid 80s but man these dudes laid down a foundation of rock I had never heard of!