Riptide is the eighth studio album by the English singer Robert Palmer, released on 4 November 1985 by Island Records. The album was recorded over a period of three months in 1985 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. The album peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 8 on the US Billboard 200. It was certified double Platinum in the US by the RIAA in March 1996 and certified Gold in the UK by BPI in August 1986. It features the songs "Addicted to Love", "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On", "Hyperactive", "Discipline of Love", and the title track "Riptide" which were all released as singles.Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard BooksRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited The single "Addicted to Love" was accompanied by an iconic and much-imitated music video, directed by Terence Donovan, in which Palmer is surrounded by a bevy of near-identically clad, heavily made-up female "musicians," either mimicking or mocking the painting style of Patrick Nagel. In September 1986, Palmer performed "Addicted to Love" at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California.1986 MTV Video Music Awards MTV.com. Retrieved 5 December 2011 In 1987, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Addicted to Love". At the 1987 Brit Awards, Palmer received his first nomination for Best British Male.BRITs Profile: Robert Palmer . Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2012

Another single from Riptide, his cover of R&B singer Cherrelle's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On", also performed well (US No. 2, UK No. 9). The song, "Trick Bag," was written by one of Palmer's major influences, New Orleans blues artist Earl King.

For the album, Palmer collaborated with two former members of his band the Power Station: guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Tony Thompson. The Power Station's producer Bernard Edwards also played bass and produced the album. The album also features contributions from Chaka Khan and notable session musicians such as Guy Pratt, Wally Badarou, Jeff Bova, Eddie Martinez, Dony Wynn, and Jack Waldman (who died a year after the album's release).

The title track of the album is a cover of a 1933 song written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn and first recorded by Eddy Duchin and his orchestra.

2013 reissue Riptide was reissued on 30 April 2013 by Culture Factory USA, an independent label that specialises in cult artists. The reissue CD was packaged in a miniature replica of the original quality vinyl packaging complete with an inner sleeve that features the original lyrics, photographs of Palmer and credits for the album. The label side of the CD features a replica of what the original Island label looked like at the time of issue and even features "grooves" as if the black CD is made of vinyl.

The reissues did not have any additional outtakes or bonus tracks.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "C+" and described it as "his pop breakthrough" and added that "what makes him barely listenable is his holdings in r&b."

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Tim DiGravina gave the album four and a half out of five stars and wrote that "Riptide packages Robert Palmer's voice and suave personality into a commercial series of mostly rocking songs that seem custom-tailored to be chart hits."

Track listing

Additional tracks Bonus tracks on Pride + Riptide 2013 release"Discipline of Love" (12" Mix) – 4:49 "Riptide/Get It Through Your Heart Medley" (Promo 7" Mix) – 4:33 "Sweet Lies" (12" Version) – 5:36 "Let's Fall in Love" (B-Side of "Addicted to Love" – mislabelled on sleeve as "Previously Unreleased") – 4:02 "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" (12" Mix) – 4:24 [mislabelled – this is the LP version slightly longer] "No Not Much" (Live on the Tube) (B-Side of "Riptide") – 2:33 "Trick Bag" (Live on the Tube) (B-Side of "Riptide") – 3:12 "Les Planches" (French Version of "Some Guys Have All The Luck") (Previously Unreleased) – 4:08

Personnel Credits are adapted from the Riptide liner notes.

Robert Palmer – vocals, backing vocals Wally Badarou – keyboards Jeff Bova – keyboards Jack Waldman – keyboards Eddie Martinez – guitars Andy Taylor – guitar (3) Bernard Edwards – bass (1–7, 9) Guy Pratt – bass (8) Tony Thompson – drums (1–4, 6, 7, 9) Dony Wynn – drums (5, 8) Lenny Pickett – saxophone Benny Diggs – backing vocals (3, 8) Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (3, 8) Chaka Khan – vocal arrangements (3)

Production Producer – Bernard Edwards Post-production – Eric "ET" Thorngren and Robert Palmer Engineer – Jason Corsaro Assistant engineers – Michael Abbott, Benjamin Armbrister, Steve Boyer, Jamie Chaleff, John Davenport, Billy Miranda, Dan Peterkofsky and Steve Rinkoff. Mixed by Eric "ET" Thorngren Recorded at Compass Point Studios (Nassau, Bahamas). Mixed at The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios, The Hit Factory and Right Track Recording (New York, NY). Mastered by Jack Skinner at Sterling Sound (New York, NY). CD mastering by Barry Diament at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY). Illustration – Susan Palmer Design – Robert Palmer Photography – Giuseppe Pino

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986)PeakpositionAustralia Albums (Kent Music Report)17Canadian Albums (RPM)2

Year-end charts Chart (1986)PositionUS Billboard 20011Chart (1987)PositionUS Billboard 20063

Certifications

Release history Label Cat. No. Format Date Island 90471-1, 7 90471-1 US Vinyl 1985 Island 7 90471-4 US Cassette 1985 Island 610 541-222, CID 130, 90471-2 GE CD 1985> Island ICT 9801 UK Cassette 1985 Island 407 083-630, 407 083 GE Cassette 1985 Island ZCI-9801 UK Cassette 1985 Island A4-90471, A4 90471 US Cassette 1985 Island ISLC-1066, ISLC 1066 CA Cassette 1985 Island ILPS 9801 UK, IRE, PO, SC Vinyl 1985 Island R25D-2014 JP Vinyl 1985 Island ISL 1066 CA Vinyl 1985 Island 7 90471-2 US CD 1986 Island P35D 20010 JP CD 24 April 1987 Island, Island Masters 826 463-2, IMCD 25 EU CD 1989 Island Masters PSCD-1152 JP CD 25 November 1991 Island Masters UICY-6600 JP CD 22 November 2006 Culture Factory 782026 FRA CD 30 April 2013

References

External links