The Power Station (CD & DVD) [Extra tracks]

The Power Station | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0007VRRVC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,213 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Some Like It Hot

2. Murderess

3. Lonely Tonight

4. Communication

5. Get It On (Bang a Gong)

6. Go to Zero

7. Harvest for the World

8. Still in Your Heart

9. Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay

10. The Heat Is On

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Introduction (DVD)

2. Some Like It Hot - video shoot (DVD)

3. Some Like It Hot - video (DVD)

4. On each other and recording # 1 (DVD)

5. Get It On - video (DVD)

6. On each other and recording # 2 (DVD)

7. Communication - video (DVD)

8. Summary/End credits (DVD)

9. Bonus clip: 'Some Like It Hot' from 'Saturday Night Live', February 6, 1985 (DVD)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few side projects have ever proven so disastrous. When Duran Duran bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor formed the Power Station in 1985, it not only toppled their other band's domination over the pop world but cast a dark cocaine and slap-bass cloud over the entire decade that didn't shake off until Miami Vice was cancelled and Nirvana arrived. But that wasn't all. Superstitious types believe that resentful Durannies set a curse on singer Robert Palmer, Chic drummer Tony Thompson and producer Bernard Edwards that eventually sent them all to early graves. Two decades on, all that is swept aside and what remains is the music: Self-indulgent and superficial, yes - and, with just eight songs, in such small portions. But, in retrospect, the Power Station is also unexpectedly forceful and funky, particularly with "Some Like It Hot" and a cover of T. Rex's "Bang A Gong." --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Memory of Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson, & Bernard Edwards, April 30, 2005

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power Station (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

Forget the naysayers, such as the Amazon editorial reviewer, who contemptuously sniff at this album. Diehard fans of this fusion of hard rock, Chic-inspired disco, and new wave will be thrilled with the 20th anniversary reissue of the Power Station's debut CD. Competently remastered with bonus tracks and an extra DVD (featuring music videos and clips of the group in the studio), it has everything a Power Station fan could wish for. If you're among the uninitiated, here's a little background: in 1985, bass player John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran hooked up with Robert Palmer and Chic drummer Tony Thompson for this supergroup effort. The result was a CD that not only bears a harder edge than your typical Duran Duran album, but it was also the record that jump-started Robert Palmer's career. With the hits "Some Like it Hot" and the cover of T-Rex's "Bang a Gong," the Power Station's CD went Top Ten and platinum. More importantly, it gave Andy Taylor, an underrated guitarist, the chance to cut loose in ways he never could when he was in Duran Duran (check out his blazing solo at the end of "Go to Zero"), and many of the tracks feature exceptional drumming by Tony Thompson. But the union turned out to be short-lived. As the band prepared for its first tour, Palmer backed out, forcing the remaining members to hire Michael Des Barres as a replacement singer (Des Barres can be heard on one of the bonus tracks, "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay" from the movie "Commando"). Then, in the mid-Nineties, Palmer, Thompson and Andy Taylor reunited for the flop album "Living in Fear" which ended up being largely ignored. And finally, tragedy struck. Thompson, Palmer, and producer Bernard Edwards all passed away within a span of a decade. Fortunately, the music lives on in this fine reissue, and it comes highly recommended.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's an 80s album, get over it., April 28, 2005

By 

Craig F. Dominey "cdominey" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Power Station (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

Even after all this time, it's hard for people like the Amazon critic above to grudgingly admit they like The Power Station or Duran Duran without throwing out some smart aleck comment about 80s music or production. By that logic, we should discard most everything from the 50s, 60s and 70s that are too easily indentified with their time periods. Sure the 80s were decadent, but I'll take this fun, slick and loud rock/funk record any day over the mope rock (Coldplay et al) and 80s imitators (Killers et al) that the kids listen to today.

Despite what the Amazon critic says, this album was far from a failure for Power Station or Duran. This album was a huge success, spawning three top 40 hits. Duran went on after this in various lineups and had several more hits of their own. As most people know, Duran eventually regrouped and have toured to sold out arenas in 2004-2005.

Curse of The Power Station, indeed.

Well, you can probably guess that I'm in my 30s, and if you're reading this review, odds are that you are too. So any criticism of this album to those of us who always loved it is somewhat meaningless. This album was part of the soundtrack of my youth. I drove around with it blasting in my car. I played it at blowout parties with my friends. I met my first love with it playing somewhere in the background, I'm sure. I even saw them live with Michael Des Barres as the singer, which made perfect sense if you know anything about the history of glam rock.

So, I can't wait to get this in remastered form. Great to have all the videos as well. I'll crank this at home once again, though with a Diet Coke - no cocaine!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Tony Thompson, May 23, 2005

By 

It's Me, "Really" (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power Station (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

Many fans bought the original release for the presence of Duran Duran's John and Andy Taylor. More discovered the talent of singer Robert Palmer and sent his subsequent solo album to multi-platinum success. But for me, this project was all about Chic drummer Tony Thompson and his forceful style. With various Chic Organization projects, Thompson had already proved himself to be a versatile drummer (and the sound of many, many hits). On this album, Thompson is allowed free reign by producer Bernard Edwards (also from Chic) to indulge all of his rock/funk "badness." To this day, this remains my favorite recorded drum sound - just HUGE.