Ridin' High: Official Press Kit Presentation

The idea behind Robert Palmer's latest album, Ridin' High, began around nine years ago. Palmer had struck a working relationship with Kit McClure's 16-piece, all girl big band in New York, intrigued by a shared interest in the emotive blue note music of the '40s and '50s - the same pop music of its day that the singer remembered hearing at home, growing up in Malta.

Although Palmer and McClure's very irresistible group, Some Like It Hot, outfit worked up a several songs for a possible album that never materialized, they had a ball premiering a few numbers unannounced during one of his shows at Radio City Music Hall. Ease forward a while and the Ridin' High itch would not stop. Palmer had started a fruitful relationship witht the noted string arranger Clare Fisher that resulted in several tunes on his Heavy Nova album moving away from the rugged physicality of R&B or rock. Remember She Makes My Day and It Could Happen To You ?

Robert Palmer performing with Kit McClure's all girl big band in New York (1986)

Palmer's initial hesitancy now gone, he started the even more ambitious Don't Explain project, working once again with Clare Fisher, and now joined by Teo Macero - of whom the term 'legendary' is well-earned since he played sax in his father's Speakeasy in the mid-50's and then became house producer at CBS, working with Miles Davis, Count Basie, Tony Bennett. "Teo's just the hippest guy I know," says Palmer.

Palmer also recalls fur flying in the studio whenever Macero's laid-back-but-stubborn modus operandi clashed with Fisher's strict discipline. No matter, the creative chemistry was there; the team was in place.

Having found that he was comfortable with the different vocal techniques that were essential to matching performance and interpretation, Palmer delved into a set of songs from such mighty craftsmen as Sammy Cahn, Frank Loesser, Billie Holiday, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter - from whom the title track comes.

"The songs were chosen for lyric content and the sentiments and emotions involved," said Palmer, "whereas rock singing involves the physical act of singing from the base of the spine and projecting at volume, these are more mantra in effect. The beat exists within you. It's another challenge altogether for the vocalist and fiendishly difficult."

Robert Palmer performing on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 1992

Ridin' High is no nostalgic caprice, no "what shall I do next" whim. Palmer's usual research and breadth of reference can best be illustrated by looking at the take on Baby It's Cold Outside - sung here as a duet with Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips fame. Before Carnie sprang to mind, Palmer sweated over the "call and response conversation," and with the song's subtle time switching, playing both the male and female roles (...)

(EMI Records - 1992)