Sneakin Sally Through the Alley

Robert Palmer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000001FU3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,612 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > R&B > Soul > Blue-Eyed Soul
  • #34 in Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues
  • #66 in Music > Music Deals > 3 CDs for $25, Plus FREE Super Saver Shipping

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 11-JUL-1990

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different strokes for different folks....., November 20, 2000

By 

J Ciampa (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sneakin Sally Through the Alley (Audio CD)

I was actually amazed that this album was actually bashed in some of the reviews I read. I guess that it's a good example of how music hits people in different ways. I have never written a review on any of amazons CDs, but I though this one deserves a quick one.

To me, this is one of the best albums that I own. Interestingly enough, I am not a Robert Palmer fan, but his voice on this album I think is incredible, and very far from the "addicted to love" era. I am often amazed that it is actually him behind the vocals. Every tune has something different going on in it. Safe to say, if you are a Meters or a Little Feat fan, you will love this album. George (matters) Porter's bass lines (as always) keep a groove that is very rarely re-produced.

I think it is an excellent album to own.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 careers, February 4, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sneakin Sally Through the Alley (Audio CD)

Someone once wrote that you can think of Robert Palmer having 2 careers. One started with this album; the second started with "Addicted to Love" and the slickly produced videos. In the early days he was greatly influenced by Little Feat; in fact, several members played on his 1st several albums. So, if you like the later Robert Palmer, there's a good chance you won't like his early stuff. Personally, I like ALL of his stuff.

And THIS album has the most dramatic Little Feat influence. That's why I love it.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sick funk, February 17, 2006

By 

John Jackson (los angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sneakin Sally Through the Alley (Audio CD)

A friend of mine played this album for me a couple years ago without telling me who it was. "How funky is that?" he'd ask. "That's awesome" I'd respond. My jaw nearly dropped when I found out this was Robert Palmer. I had only known his cheesy 80's MTV stuff and had no idea the guy could wail like that.

This album is an absolute must-own for anyone who loves funk. Lowell George and the Meters give this album so much groove, it's positively sick.

Sailin Shoes->HeyJulia->Sally is probably the coolest three-song segue I've ever heard in a studio setting. The harmonies on Julie are hauntingly discordant (and super-cool) and Sally is just a pure funk jam. Great keys work.

Step Outside is a great mellow breather.

The next few songs are pretty cheesy, especially Blackmail and How Much Fun.

Then the album ends with a 9 minute all out jam. That drumbeat that Zigaboo lays down when the song finally kicks in, is one that I often point to as the "funkiest drumbeat ever." People rave about so many other drummers when they talk about funk, but to me Zigaboo is THE man when it comes to pocket drumming.

This album shows such a great chemistry that one can't help wonder about what would have happened if they had toured and done more albums. Dare I say this woulda been a SUPERGROUP. It could have been better than Little Feat, better than the Meters (well that's a stretch) but DEFINITELY better than "Addicted to Love" and "Power Station."

If you like obscure funk like this, check out the Pointer Sisters "Blue Thumb Sessions". Not a great album per se (lotsa garbage), but there's a couple tracks where Herbie & the Headhunters are the backing band that absolutely smoke. Mad funk. If only they'd stuck with that sound in lieu of the "Neutron Dance."

RIP Robert Palmer. At least he had ONE great album, and this is it.