Pressure Drop (album)

Pressure Drop is the second solo album by the English singer Robert Palmer, released in 1975. Palmer is backed by Little Feat and other musicians. The title track is a cover version of the reggae hit by Toots and the Maytals. However, many other songs on the album use "New Orleans funk... along with smooth, dated disco ballads smothered in strings". Continuing his association with Little Feat started by his cover of "Sailing Shoes" on his 1974 debut album Sneaking Sally Through the Alley, Feat was used as backing band on several cuts, most notably Lowell George's slide guitar on "Here With You Tonight". George also contributed the tune "Trouble" on which Feat pianist Bill Payne plays the intro. David Jeffries' review says that the album is considered "too blue-eyed and polished for fans of Palmer's more gutsy moments" but concludes that "Pressure Drop has grown into the great overlooked album in Palmer's discography". In June 2009, the album was ranked as No. 20 on Mojo's list of the 50 best records released by Island. The album peaked at No. 136 in the US.
Songs "Give Me an Inch" and "Which of Us Is the Fool" were issued as singles; a music video was produced for the latter. According to former bandmate Pete Gage, the song "Here with You Tonight" was written towards the end of Palmer's time in Vinegar Joe.

Track listing

All songs by Robert Palmer except where noted.

"Give Me an Inch" – 3:17
"Work to Make It Work" – 4:27
"Back in My Arms" – 3:30
"River Boat" – 3:44
"Pressure Drop" – 5:26
"Here with You Tonight" – 4:57
"Trouble" – 2:25
"Fine Time" – 5:43
"Which of Us Is the Fool" – 3:25

Featured on the 2013 CD reissue by Edsel are acoustic demos of "Willin'" and "Hope We Never Wake". Palmer rerecorded "Work to Make It Work" for his final studio album featuring original compositions, 1999's Rhythm & Blues. In 2012, the song was featured in the action-adventure video game Sleeping Dogs.

Personnel

Robert Palmer – vocals, percussion
Lowell George – guitar, backing vocals
Bill Payne – keyboards
Paul Barrère – guitar, backing vocals
Richie Hayward – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Kenny Gradney – bass guitar
James Jamerson – bass guitar
Sam Clayton – backing vocals
Ed Greene – drums, percussion
Jean Roussel – clavinet, keyboards, Hammond organ B3
Gordon DeWitty – clavinet
Gene Page – strings
The Muscle Shoals Horns – horns
Mel Collins – saxophone, flute
Mongezi Feza – trumpet, flageolet
Ray Allen – trombone
Vicki Brown – backing vocals
Fran Tate – backing vocals
David Snell – harp
Joe Brown – banjo
Steve York – harmonica
Martin Frye – tuba

Technical

Steve Smith – production
Phill Brown – engineering
Graham Hughes – cover concept, design, photography
Carinthia West – front and back cover model

Paul Barrère, Lowell George, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward, Bill Payne and Sam Clayton were members of Little Feat at the time. Fran Tate sang backup vocals on some Little Feat records, extending the Little Feat connection.