Customer Reviews

Best of Both Worlds: Anthology 1974-2001

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This would have been almost 100% perfect if they had used the original versions, instead of using remixes of alot of his biggest & best songs. As it is, it's only rates a 6 on a scale of 10. What a wasted oppurtunity!

There's a a lot of good to said for this collection. While there have been several in the past like "Addictions" Vol. 1 & 2 where he went back and remixed tracks or added new vocals, or "The Very Best Of" album, there had not been a good comprehensive collection of Palmer until this one. Perhaps that's why it's sold as a two disc set. All the hits are here. This includes a few remixed tracks from "Addictions" which may annoy purests, although I think his updated versions of "You Are In My System" is improved over the original. You can understand why he felt he could give a better performance. The new versions of "Give Me An Inch" is beautiful and soulful, and "Every Kinda People" has moving, sweet colors of Marvin Gaye. It includes Power Station tracks and soundtrack songs ("Sweet Lies"). Also the album's 24 bit remastering is top-notch. Everything here is crisp and balanced with very little analog hiss from the originals.

"Anthology" goes from "Sneaking Sally" all the way through the "R & B" albums covering three labels, so you have to tip your hat to Island Records for putting it all together. Yet the collection has some strange quirks. For example, they use the single version of "Get It On (Bang A Gong)", yet they have the album version of "Some Like It Hot". The album ends with a wimper with awful live versions of "Johhny & Mary" and "Looking For Clues" from "Live From The Apollo". His performance was weak and the recording quality is flat and thin. Just a waste where there should have had the originals. Just because it's an anthology does mean every album has to represented especially when the Apollo album is so bad.Some tracks are just lame like "Want You More". On the other hand, it would be a shame to just have "The Very Best Of" album becuase there's so much good stuff that's not on that one that is on "Anthology" like "Man Smart, Woman Smarter", "Pride", "Some Guys Have All The Luck", and more. It's a quality anthology but also misses its potential.

This 2 CD collection is comprised almost soley of Robert Palmer singles dating from the early days of his solo career through the late 90's. There is bonus material from a recently released live album (originally recorded during the 1988 Heavy Nova Tour) and an upcoming blues album due released in 2003. Many of the older tracks are featured in "remixed" versions ala Palmer's 1992 Addictions Vol 2 album (where he "remixed, remastered, and remade" several older songs he felt had been inadequately performed when first recorded). The album as a whole has a definate US market appeal as singles released and successful in the UK are not included in favor of US only releases (like 1988's "Early In The Morning"). The album does present the edited single forms of songs like "Mercy, Mercy Me/I Want You" and "You're Amazing" available for the first time on CD. The liner notes have extensive US chart history information for many of the songs. The album doesn't pay enough attention to Palmer's critically acclaimed output from the mid to late 90's and many die hard fans will be dissapointed about the remixes on some of the older tunes. Overall, this is a solid collection representing his work, the best on the market aside from the two separately released Addictions Best Of albums. All the big hits are here too like "Addicted To Love", "Bad Case Of Loving You", "Some Like It Hot", etc.

If you think "Addicted to Love" is really what Robert Palmer's music is about, then get this CD set and you'll enjoy it. But if you listened to and loved his music pre-Riptide -- pre-CD era -- then do what I did after I bought and listened to this monstrosity: find all the older 'album' titles used (cheap!!) on Amazon and snatch them up quick!

Hearing the early track "remixes" nearly brought me to tears. Someone in the studio must have accidentally hit the "concert hall" environmental filter for the vocal tracks on "Give Me An Inch". It has a horrible echo effect added which you can hear in the sample download. The remixed "Sneaking Sally..." is plain idiotic. The first three songs on that album make up a trilogy, more or less one long track. It doesn't flow at all now because the remixed song is so jarringly different. At least they should have maimed the first two cuts as well for consistency's sake. "You're Gonna Get What's Coming" and "Can We Still Be Friends" with its added lounge band drum machine made my physically ill.

Inexplicably -- and thankfully!! - they left the few tracks from "Some People..." untainted. On this collection, though, they sound really out of place! Surely, they could have found a way to incorporate a disco synth into "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" had they really tried. Yeah, THAT would have sounded good.

C'mon, Marketplace vendors -- ship my discs quick!! I need to hear those old, wonderful songs in their original glory!!

The Best Of Both Worlds album is a 42 song, 2 CD retrospective of Robert Palmer's career, starting with his debut as a solo artist in the mid 70's and stretching into the late 90's. Lots of memorable cuts from Palmer's more critically accalimed 70's output, including soulful scorchers like "Sailin Shoes" and "Sneaking Sally Through The Alley" as well as hit singles "Every Kinda People" and "Bad Case Of Loving You". Where the collection gets weak is the second CD, comprised almost solely of radio hits from the 80's. Memorable album cuts from this decade are nonexistent along with most of Palmer's recordings post 1990. Sadly, Palmer's 1990's output is relegated to three songs. On the plus side, excellent liner notes with biography and chart info are interesting and this set is the first one featuring the US radio edits for the hit singles "Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You" and "Early In The Morning".
Probably the best collection on the market to date, but still omits a lot of quality work.

So I had to spend [money] to realize that I really just need to own all his albums released through 1980 plus "Pride" from 1983. I already own "Double Fun," so six more to go!

The remixes on this CD are criminal. Some of my most beloved songs like "Give Me an Inch," "You Are In My System," and "Looking for Clues" are sullied by really awful production. And who thought it was a good idea to end the Sailin' Shoes/Julia/Sally trilogy with that live version? Really hurts my ears.

I really don't understand why this album features remixes instead of originals -- perhaps it fulfilled some record contract obligation of "new" material?

Although this is a pretty impressive collection, it is lacking. Having 'Power Station' songs on here is a big, big plus. Although the new release of 'Power Station's' collection is very good, it is nice to have it on here because of Palmer's voice. Also, the track with UB40. Kudos to those tracks present here.
However, not being a big fan of live recordings (they always seem to be lacking also) I wish his hits, like 'riptide' & 'looking for clues' would have been the studio versions.
'You are in my system' & 'Addicted to Love' remixes are good, but the originals really should have been on here as well as the remixed versions.
But any of the tracks from 'Ridin High' or 'Don't Explain' could have been here too. It seems those two wonderful song collections have been ignored. 'Hard Head', 'Witchcraft', 'Aeorplane', 'Housework', 'Goody Goody','Light Years','Your Mother Should Have Told You','Dreams To Remember', 'You're My Thrill', 'Baby It's Cold Outside', and 'Don't Explain' are all fantastic recordings and deserve some recognition. The tracks that are representative of those two cd's are the commercially successful tracks. Maybe that's what an anthology is all about.... I would have thought it was to showcase the talent of the individual.
'Sweet Lies' is a nice suprise on here, as well as 'Spanish Moon', unexpected nicities. 'Wham Bam Boogie','Honey' and/or 'Love Takes Time' would have had a place here too... but alas, in the missing also.
I guess someone as enduring and versatile as Robert Palmer deserves more than just a flashy collection labeled 'Anthology'. One would think he deserves a 'Showcase' collection to show off his non-commercial talent as well as his commercial talent.
The packaging is very nice, I like the inner flip-disc holder method as opposed to others. The booklet and liner notes are very well done... but again missing something.
I would highly recommend including this cd in your collection IF, and only if, you already have 'Addictions' both volumes 1 & 2, 'Ridin High', 'Honey', and 'Don't Explain'. Then, indeed only then would you have a true representation of this fine entertainer that would span ALL of his career.

This is an excellent and diverse collection encompassing Palmer's entire career (with the exception of "Drive," the blues album he released just before his death in 2003). Those who know him only from his later hits may be surprised-as I admit I was-that Palmer had been recording for over a decade before Power Station, "Addicted to Love," and "Simply Irresistible." All those biggees are here, as well as early hits like "Every Kinda People" and "Bad Case of Lovin' You," but the best part for me was discovering lesser known gems like "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)," "Some Guys Have All the Luck" (bears almost no resemblance whatsoever to the Rod Stewart version), "Know By Now," and his fantastic covers of the Gap Band's "Early in the Morning" and Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)." An underappreciated artist whose range of material was far broader than his American successes would suggest. For any fan of rock, pop, blues, R&B/soul, and even a little techno, this is absolutely worth buying.

If you've just got to have some Robert Palmer music, this is it! This is a 2-CD career spanning collection with 42 songs; it has something for everyone.

Disc 1 includes Palmer's early mid-seventies funky rock n' soul songs like Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (an AOR radio staple in it's time). Also here is the popular Give Me an Inch and the big hit Bad Case of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor). Some Guys Have All the Luck, a hit for Rod Stewart, makes an appearance. These days when Rod performs the song in concert, he pays tribute to Palmer by showing film clips of his late friend on the big screen over the stage.

Disc 2 includes Power Station's Some Like It Hot, and Palmer's MTV mega hits Addicted To Love and Simply Irresistible. If you're not convinced Palmer can sing, take a listen to his cover of The Gap Band's Early In The Morning. Case closed. This disc also includes his excellent cover of Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)/I Want You medley.

Looking over the track list to this album, you may not recognize some of the titles, but listening to this anthology will trigger memories, and you'll soon realize how many of these songs dominated radio playlists from 1974-2001. Robert Palmer Best of Both Worlds: Anthology 1974-2001 will definitely satisfy your craving for the man and his music.

This collection is good .
From the stand point your not going to get any better
than this, even though this is Islands 50yr anniversay
I would think they might come out with better anthology?
But since Robert, is no alonger alive.
Don't bet on it. It would be nice; if Island would reissue
all robert's cds ?

If you really want to get into robert palmers
music. I would suggest just buying most of cd's
which are quite affordable.
Except say 3-4 of them three can be found?
on well known auction site and sister site U.K fleabay
& half.com .