| Clues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1980 | |||
| Recorded | December 1979 – June 1980 | |||
| Studio | Compass Point (Nassau, Bahamas) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:17 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Producer | Robert Palmer | |||
| Robert Palmer chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Billboard | (unrated)[4] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10[5] |
Clues is the sixth studio album by the English singerRobert Palmer, released in 1980. It has a rockier,new wave edge compared to his previous releases.[3] The album peaked at number 59 on theBillboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 31 in the UK in 1980. The album also peaked at No. 1 in Sweden, No. 3 in France, No. 15 in the Netherlands and No. 42 in Italy. Donald Guarisco ofAllMusic describedClues as "one of Robert Palmer's strongest and most consistent albums", despite being somewhat short at 31 minutes.[3]
Palmer, who played percussion onTalking Heads'Remain in Light, had the favour returned when the band's drummerChris Frantz played bass drum on "Looking for Clues" along with Palmer's drummer, Dony Wynn.Andy Fraser, the former bassist ofFree and the author of Palmer's first breakthrough single "Every Kinda People", played bass on the album on two songs. New wave musicianGary Numan co-wrote a song with Palmer (another co-write between the two appearing onMaybe It's Live) and played keyboards on a remake of his own song "I Dream of Wires".[3] This was first issued on CD in 1985 when Island's catalogue was issued underWEA Manufacturing. The WEA pressings are sought-after collector's items.
The video to the first track on the album, "Looking for Clues", aired onMTV'sfirst day of broadcasting on 1 August 1981.
The album was certified gold in Germany by BMieV in 1992.
The lead track, "Looking for Clues" was described by AllMusic as "a clever slice ofnew wave pop that surprises the listener with an unexpectedxylophone solo".[3]
"I Dream of Wires" is a cover of a song from Gary Numan's albumTelekon released the same year.
The cover ofthe Beatles' "Not a Second Time", featured a second verse added by Palmer.
All songs byRobert Palmer except where noted.
Production
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[15] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI)[16] | Gold | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
