Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” hit #1

Addicted to Love Robert Palmer

Writer(s): Robert Palmer (see lyrics here) Released: January 1986 First Charted: February 8, 1986 Peak: 11 BB, 12 CB, 12 GR, 11 RR, 12 AR, 1 CO, 5 UK, 4 CN, 12 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.4 UK, 1.4 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 119.90 video, 161.09 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Rock singer/songwriter Robert Palmer was born in England in 1949. After working with several bands, he went solo in 1974. In the United States, he found top-20 success on the Billboard Hot 100 with 1978’s “Every Kinda People” and 1979’s “Bad Case of Loving You” efore a brief stint with the Power Station in 1985 gave him a pair of top-10 hits with “Some Like It Hot” and “Bang a Gong.” The Power Station was produced by Bernard Edwards, a former member of Chic (“Le Freak,” “Good Times”) and producer for major disco hits such as Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and Diana Ross’s “Upside Down.” Palmer had never heard of him before FB but after working with him in the Power Station he asked Edwards to produce his next solo album, 1985’s Riptide. The album gave Palmer his greatest commercial success with the #1 hit “Addicted to Love.” Palmer said, “There was a lot of concern throughout the media about various substances…It strikes me that it’s not the substance…It’s the addictive personality that’s the problem…It doesn’t matter what’s around, you’re gonna get hooked on it…I just thought it was a facetious kind of thing, being addicted to love.” FB “Addicted to Love” is “funky and bluesy but very modern in its production – massive gated drums and a thunderous, if simple, hook line.” TC It gained a lot of attention for its video which featured Palmer dressed in a suit and backed by “an all girl band in little black dresses and classic cocktail styling.” TC It became “one of the most famous video clips ever made.” TC The song was originally recorded as a duet with Chaka Khan. However, Palmer explained that, “Her people said ti was a conflict of interest. She’d have three singles out at the same time.” FB Her vocals were erased from the master. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Robert Palmer FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 634. TC Toby Creswell (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Page 70. TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 223. First posted 2/20/2024.