1988 Cleveland Concert Review

If you didn't catch up with Robert Palmer until Addicted To Love, you might be surprised to know that the Yorkshire-born, one-time graphic designer released his first album Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley featuring Little Feat's Bill Payne and the late Lowell George a full 14 years ago and was considered more a white soul and R&B singer than a rock and roll star.

Known for his impeccably stylish tailored suits which only accentuate his remarkably good looks, Palmer thrust himself into the top of the pop world a few years back with Addicted To Love and I Didn't Mean To Turn You On. Both songs earned considerable attention with hot videos featuring a voluptuous, mannequin-like, all-female backup band.

Palmer's current single, Simply Irresistible, carries that sound and successful video style one song further. I guess you can't blame him for staying with a money-maker.

The nice thing about seeing Robert Palmer in concert is getting to experience a more true representation of his talent. Palmer embodies a musical versatility you can find not only in his past with songs like Pride, Every Kinda People, Clues and You Are In My System which he performed Monday night but also in the selections from the current LP Heavy Nova, all but one of which he performed that night.

He displayed his wide-ranging vocal talents, comfortably switching from gently crooning a Peggy Lee song, It Could Happen To You (conjuring upimages of a young Frank Sinatra), to blasting out a tough, grinding new Palmer-composed rocker, More Than Ever.

He was at once gentle, sweet and romantic with She Makes My Day (a tune that could rival Billy Joel's She Always A Woman To Me as a hit love song), then impish and seductive with Addicted To Love, I Didn't Mean To Turn You On and Simply Irresistible.

He then bounced into a Soweto beat with the delightful and lighthearted Change His Ways, during which Palmer did some admirable yodelling, a talent Palmer thinks maybe a result of his moving to Switzerland (where he lives with his wife and two children).

Robert Palmer while performing in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 8, 1988

It's not surprising that Palmer is a rather restrained performer. How excited can he get in a double-breasted suit and necktie on a 80-degree night. At the same time, he gave us his all. He apparently enjoyed himself on stage and managed to draw the audience into the show with its carefully designed cadences and rhythms.

While his voice varied in tone, it was consistently clear and strong, even though the toughness of the rock songs often masked its beauty which could be heard in the slower, more melodic selections.

Palmer was joined by an excellent six-member backup band with particularly noteworthy guitarist Eddie Martinez who performed on both the Riptide and current album.

Also outstanding was backup vocalist B.J. Nelson. Nelson had a strong presence on a majority of the songs and even soloed on Walk Beside Me while Palmer left the stage to remove his suit coat. Nelson's voice was a nice complement to Palmer's. 

The only drawback was that much of the time it was as if we had come to hear a singing duo instead of Robert Palmer. His voice is far too impressive to be sharing the spotlight to such an extent. Having more of a chance to hear his voice unassisted would have been appealing.

Palmer and his troupe performed for over an hour, and then returned for a three-song encore that finally got the entire audience on its feet. 

Throughout the show, Palmer offered a few comments other than a "thank you" here and there. He did, however, especially enjoy the effect of a barge passing up the river as he sang "my heart is tossed on a sea of emotion" from the melodic Riptide. He joked that they had paid the ship to pass by at just the right moment.

Opening act Steel Pulse did their best to get the evening off on the right foot, although the audience was largely inattentive. This very polished, heavily-synthesized British reggae band offered a number of swaying selections from their current album, State Of Emergency, including the title track, plus Angel and Reaching Out For You. They ended their short set with Let Freedom Ring, which they dedicated to Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King's recorded words could be heard over the speakers as the band left the stage.

The Nautica Stage on the waterfront of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio (1980s)

Stacey Sanner (The Cleveland Scene - August 1988)