Sunday 17 March 2024

MERCY MERCY ME / I WANT YOU by ROBERT PALMER

 Was originally a Marvin Gaye classic from the What's Going On album. In December 1990, Robert Palmer combined the song in a medley with Gaye's 1976 hit "I Want You". Palmer's single reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 

I am always of the opinion that covering songs by the likes of people like Marvin (and for that matter The Beatles), is a pointless episode as the original could never be improved upon. That is except for this cover which is absolutely sublime (and maybe Barry White's version of “Just the Way You Are”). 


The song itself was written by Gaye as a requiem to Earth being in total disarray and on the verge of environmental destruction. Covered by numerous people over the years including Michael McDonald whose version is totally acceptable, but nothing comes close to Robert Palmer's attempt.




Yorkshire man Palmer, known for his sartorial elegance and his biggest hit Addicted to Love, had a powerful soulful voice and won many Grammy and MTV awards. He died of a heart attack in 2003, in his early 50s.


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