Play That Rock'n'Roll: The Power Station (Retrospective)
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- The 21st episode of Play That Rock'n'Roll is a look back at a mostly overshadowed '80s super-group made up of members from Duran Duran and Chic, plus Robert Palmer. The Power Station is best known for their two 1985 blockbuster hits, "Get It On (Bang a Gong) and "Some Like It Hot".
Tony Thompson was the definition of groove and pocket playing..Any song he played on,was like Midas touching rocks to turn them to gold..Dianna Ross,"Upside Down" or "I'm coming Out"...Anything off of "Like A Virgin"...On and On..He is/was the epitome of "Power Pocket" drumming...RIP Tony...Heaven has an awesome rhythm section with you and Bernard Edwards..
FUN FACT: Tony Thompson had this HUGE drum sound, particularly on "Some Like It Hot", but what most people don't know is that Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer) actually came in the studio when the song was mostly done and played the toms during the chorus parts. So, it literally is the mix of these two drummers that gave it it's unique groove.
yeah. Roger tells the story of how they flew him to NYC to be on the album, put him up in an amazing crazy expensive hotel for a week while the band goofed around and did other stuff. I think Rog only spent maybe 2 hours in the studio, did his part and went home.But that's rock and roll in the '80's.
Percussion... Taylor played percussion.
@@michaelengle9062 Arcadia was even MORE wasteful... they blew over a million dollars, mostly on studio time, luxury hotels, and expensive wine. Too funny.
Roger Taylor is such an overlooked drummer.
Robert Palmer, Two Duran's and Tony Thompson was a helluva combination.
Andy was always a rocker at heart and Robert could go anywhere musically.
Tony and John made a fine rhythm section.
A true supergroup.
Tony's drum sound shaped a generation of amazing snare sounds.
Easily one of the best Albums of the 80's. Those drums man. Not a bad song on the album.
Agreed...it's an incredible album. Tony Thompson is an absolute monster and died too soon.
@@michaelraber7452 Roger Taylor also play drums on the first Powerstation album
@@michaelraber7452 I love Tony's playing on Bowie's 1983 Serious Moonlight Tour...check out the excellent soundboard recording of the Montreal concert.
@@stephenbrown7545 He played with SO many artists. People hear him playing on the radio on almost a daily basis and don't even know it.
@@michaelraber7452 Right...like rod stewart's album especially forever young..i know his drumming when i hear itm
The first Power Station album is one of my favorites. I'm always going back to listen to it. It's got such a cool drum sound. Very unique.
Tony Thompsons'
drumming is what made The Powerstation.
Awesome.
Watching that snippet of John playing bass with Bernard filled me with joy. Thank you for giving Power Station some love!!!
Sure but it shows that the slap style short solo seems to have been played by Bernard not by J. Taylor 😳
@@paco68it yeah, the bass on “Bang A Gong” is fairly buried in the studio mix. JT learned it sufficiently to kill it live, though.
In his book, Nile Rodgers states how Tony came with HUGE sound and they scaled it down which was hard for Tony because he like the big rock sound. I think Power Station must have been a great outlet (no pun) to unleash that big rock sound. Duran Duran, Arcadia, Chic all had great musicians and vocalists.
Couldn't agree more! And thanks for the info about Nile's book! I read Andy's and John's books, but I didn't get to that one.
As a Bass player I can tell anyone this Mr John Taylor's playing is simply amazing. I always get the same crap from people oh he was so pop I say oh no no no take a close listen to what that Cat is doing and it is very impressive and under rated.
If anyone listened to "Rio", then they would know you are correct.
Duran Duran are extremely talented no reason whatever they touched turned into gold. Their fame wasn't a fluke.
I have to agree. Love the rhythm section of Duran Duran.
Pop? I see nothing wrong with good pop music as long as it's produced well. I even like about 10% of it, just like any other genre. If these were friends of mine, I would ask them this: How can pop + balls-out technical precision anchored by a hard funk groove with creepy vocals on the top be anything but even better?
Bernie Edwards taught him
Duran Duran are extremely talented no reason whatever they touched turned into gold. Their fame wasn't a fluke.
Tony Thompson was one of the most powerful drummers of the 70's and 80's. Died way too young at 49. Fucking cancer..... Great review of a really good album!!
Thanks much!
Agreed - Tony was an incredible drummer! I loved that he was open to the secret to his signature sound: hit the drums really hard.
As a drummer in HS in the 80's (this album came out when I was a senior) Tony Thompson was the drummer I most wanted to be like... a powerful, big hitter with awesome feel. Loved this man! My all time favorite drummer. RIP, brother.
Didn’t he drum on the song like a virgin?
I just realized I saw the power station in concert LOL. With Palmer.
As a drummer who was 15 when this album came out I was always fascinated with Tony Thompson and it was only many years later that I learned how much he had actually influenced a lot of music in that era. Its a shame that not much exists about him in video, interviews, or even photos. I've always wanted to see more of him and his playing style. The producers however are to be credited for the iconic drum sound via gated reverb that is prominent on a lot of tracks from this era. Also unfortunate is Tony's early passing just as the gospel chop / linear fill movement was becoming a big thing. It would have been interesting to see how he would have adapted his drumming style to modern times. PS -- Excellent micro-documentary! Very well done.
Totally agree. Tony was incredible. I'm the same age as you and his playing really influenced me.
Check out Tony's playing on Bowie's 1983 Serious Moonlight Tour...specifically the excellent soundboard recording of the Montreal Concert....incredibly powerful and talented drummer.
Andy Taylor's guitar solo on Communication at 1:57 is WOW!. Then they built up to the bridge with some nice moody synth that Bernard throws in. Holy cow, that's when you're really cruising on all cylinders. You can hear how tight Tony is on the drums. He's relentless. Just right on the money all the way through. Literally like a drum machine-level precision.
I'm so glad that I found this video because I loved the power station. Andy Taylor laid some serious riffs and really made this album work.
The real Power Station 2nd album was Riptide by Robert Palmar. 2 tracks in particular. 'Flesh Wound' *INCREDIBLE TRACK* and "Hyperactive'.
ruclips.net/video/VjCu-RvXR88/видео.html
Tony's playing on Flesh Wound...incredible!
I have to agree with that considering Bernard, John, Tony and Andy.. even some of the back up singers were all a part of that album. It could qualify as an extension of The Power Station. Some songs have that same feel and sound
@@RageTVHTX What did John play on on Riptide? I only knew of Andy, Tony, and Bernard.
Buddy, you are grossly underestimating the success of Robert Palmer - his had more hit singles than just one!!
Not if we're talking chart success (in the US). Apart from "Bad Case..." reaching # 14 in '79, there was only "Every Kinda People" reaching # 16 a year earlier. None of his other singles in the 70's & 80's even reached the Top 40 until that monster "Addicted..." came along in '86 and helped his next singles also do much better.
I love Robert but no, there were only 2 hits prior to his Power Station side project.
@@spinalcrackerbox Maybe you forgetting Simply Irresistible and I didn't mean to turn you on...both top 10 hits in U.S.
Also Mercy Mercy me
The Power Station was the moment when metalheads worldwide picked their jaws off the floor when they found out just how badass John and (especially) Andy Taylor were as legit musicians; the Duran guys weren’t just Tiger Beat pinup boys, they were solid musicians to be taken seriously.
Nobody locked the groove down like Bernard Edwards! I wouldn’t even count that as an opinion because Bernard had this out of this world talent! He played with such soul and emotion and he alone was a true power station!
Very good video, my man. As I am a huge fan of Duran Duran, Robert Palmer and Chic. You laid out all the facts as accurately as it happened and the true reasons for the rise and fall of this once great megaband.
Except for the heavy anti-Duran bias which is typical of alot of men in Anglo Saxon nations. Real musicians only ever hold Duran in the highest regard with none of this 'they're pansy' BS.
@@ColtraneTaylor you're absolutely correct. Duran Duran is my favorite band as I was able to distinguish even as a child how great they were musically.
@@CarlosGarcia-yg9je Cool. Like you, I'm also a fan of Robert Palmer and Chic. And Roxy Music! My channel is half a tribute to Roxy.
Great analysis of this overlooked side project. Didn't know why Palmer left until watching your vid; interesting.
RIP Palmer, Edwards, and Thompson!
The drummer made these songs. Best drummer I’ve ever heard. Tight
Another great cover that Power Station did was “Harvest for the World”
IIRC, John sang with Robert on that track.
best song on the album
Yes, great song, great cover, great group.
@@kevinnelson66 I have had this album on vinyl since it came out. I only recently realized that Andy and Robert sang co-lead on “Harvest..” not John. 😉
@@kevinnelson66it was actually Andy that sang lead on "Harvest For The World".
Andy Taylor has such a distinctive guitar sound, really dig this album as well as his solo stuff. Great retrospective, thanks for making this!
"You can never go wrong with a good suit."
-Robert Palmer
Love Robert Palmer and The Powerstation. Lonely Tonight is my favorite track off album.
Mine Too!
Bernard Edwards never gotten the justice due for his production of the album.
Same as in Chic Nile Rodgers got most of the attention even though Bernard co wrote and co produced all their material along with those wicked bass riffs
Bernard also played the slap pop funk bass solo on “Some Like It Hot” uncredited. If you watch the Making of Power Station documentary on RUclips it shows Bernard playing the slap part and John playing the picked part afterwards.
12:38 "producer Bernard Edwards"... come on, he played bass on Living in Fear when John Taylor withdrew!
It's less consistent but still enjoyable, and Andy Taylor goes nuts on guitar.
@@skierpage
Notoriety !
Those bass runs was awesome that song should have gotten more attention too.
you left out that the fact that the solo album which Robert left to go make, Riptide, was basically Power Station without John Taylor, since all three, Tony Thompson, Andy Taylor, and Bernard Edwards played on it.
That Addicted to Love video and song were just incredible. I remember thinking how unique and slick it was.
That was John Taylors project….Robert Palmer quoted on American Bandstand “thats John’s baby”. John Taylor and his incredible line up.
How many taylor's are there in dd?
@@rahan9886 There were three with the original 5 but now they are down to 2. John and Roger
Awesome retrospective. My favorite band of the era. Literally wore that cassette out
The imagery ,over the top drums , the Taylors finally cut loose and the suave Palmer.
I never bought his claim that he brought the power station sound to the band
Bernard Edwards did that. Shame he only did SNL with them. Great times.
Couldn't agree more! I wish Palmer had been more willing to tour. Thanks for the comment!
One of my favorite 80s albums that I still listen to all the time. I'm a drummer, and love Tony's sound on this record and love all the percussion effects. The whole band is killing it. Andy's solos are great. Wish they followed up sooner. Imagine, Addicted To Love being a Power Station song. That band would have been a giant band instead of a one off side band.
Yes! I really liked Murderess as well. I would have never heard of it but as my mother was recording the songs to cassette tape, so forgot to skip the song so we had Get It On (Bang a Gong), Murderess, & Some Like It Hot all in a row.
Those are their three best songs right there!
"Lonely tonight" is also a nice track on the album, imho
Very good album. Still holds up to this day. All wonderful musicians.
I would have loved to see Harvest For The World as the fourth single, that song had strong potential
I agree. Awesome song that simultaneously grooves, swings & rocks hard.
Robert Palmer, God rest his soul, was already an acclaimed vocalist and songwriter. You so underrated him. They were lucky to get him. This was the ultimate supergroup.
I think that without Bernard, Tony and Andy, Robert would never have discovered his award-winning sound. John's responsible for putting the supergroup together. He molded the clay that was Robert into a hitmaker through his networking efforts. All kudos go to John for putting it all together. I think Robert had just got too big for his boots by that point to say he influenced their sound. I just don't get that. He added a lot but it was a mutual thing.
One of my favorites of the decade. When I started collecting vinyl again, this was one of the first albums I bought. A very clean promo-copy. 😊
"Johnny and Mary" is IMHO the best song of Robert Palmer. Not so main stream - but deep.
I just got this album on vinyl and it’s so awesome! Even a kid born in 2001 can appreciate it
The first Power Station album is finest drum album of all time.
One of the best singers ever and one the most underrated bands ever!
I remember getting that album when it came out. I listened to it so much I ruined the tape, and eventually got the CD many years later. Every song on that album was brilliant. The closing song, 'Harvest For the World' is such great track.
To my surprise i just looked at the current line up for the band and the current members show
Micheal des barres vocals
andy taylor guitars
steve ferrone drums
Pino palladino bass
and that means another reunion.
Thank you for making this video it was fantastic and really appreciated brilliant!
Thanks very much! Please take a look around my channel. I have made a lot of videos like this one!
Every cut on the album,kicks ass.
I suddenly started looking back DURAN DURAN’s history. And I realised John is a great bass player.Your inquiry is really useful for me. Thank you！
For me biggest studio drummer of all time, Tony Thompson was murderer of drums :)
C'mon, man! Commando's "We Fight for Love" is a great song. Therein, Tony's simple, yet brilliant, fills still list among my favorite!
wow you hit the nail on the head EXCATLY. I personally think Robert Palmer does not get enough credit amd the Power Station is wayyyyyyy ahead of its time they ROCK
Great sound at the right time
The birth of M.t.v. gave us great music videos!
What an amazing drum sound their first album had! Roger Taylor (of DD) visits The Power Station recording house to explore ways to expand the sonics of his drum sound, comes up with something for the single "The Wild Boys," then consults with Tony Thompson to refine the sound for the Power Station record. And then, he perfects it for "A View to a Kill" soundtrack single. 2 bands, one unforgettable sound.
Fantastic album, just want to crank it right up when i play it.
Their bang a gong version is super catchy and very irritating not knowing the lyrics , until i finally found this song, and i realize i was a fan of Robert Palmer as well, since the 80's ... i knew his voice sounded familiar. After that, i learned this was a superband, and the song is a cover, and the worst notice, Robert past away.
In this video i learned so much more, tnx for the upload!
One of my favourite album, from the first track to the last
Cheers for this vid and your insight, I've got the LP and Get It On(Bang a Gong) is an awesome track cristal clear and LOVELY crancked up.
Tony Thompson's drums sounded ridiculous on this record. IMO ,the best sounding drums on any 80s album.
Every Kind Of People?great song with back-up music provided by Little Feet...
Great breakdown. Back here again after 2 years. The Power Station remains one of my favorite albums from any decade. Lonely Tonight is my favorite track as it shows Roberts's true talent of showing his vocal emotion intonation for love, romance, and passion.
...The "Powerstation" Album, STILL to this day, is just...N-U-T-S!! ....Bangin' Drums, Fat Bass, searing Guitars, and Roberts' scuzzy vocals...THE ultimate 'Rock-Dance' Album!! ...every track..FIRE!! ...unlike Simon Le Bon-Bon's bad Live-Aid note!! (10:40) ...ha-HAAAA!!
I gotta admit that the "Living In Fear" album is pretty.....meh. You're right in that it lacks power. I've listened to it and it sounds like some guys going through the motions. What really struck me was that Tony Thompson's drums lacked the bombastic power and sound that the first record had. Its as if he was told to not play loudly at all.
For me, that first album, with the massive, booming drums, the hard guitars and Palmer's aggressive crooning, is what made it so great.
Couldn't agree more! That second record is a complete letdown.
I picked up the "Living In Fear" CD a few years after it came out (I had no idea they did a second album until I stumbled across it in the BMG mail order cd service -- remember them??). I was so excited to get it and then I popped it in and couldn't believe it was the same band. I think they were afraid to make anything that sounded too danceable or "hair rock" in the post-grunge era, even though those are the elements that made the original album stand out to me.
Living in Fear has its moments. This video doesn't make it clear that producer Bernard Edwards stepped in to play bass after John Taylor withdrew 😞. The double time run on the intro to "Notoriety" is a really cool touch, "Scared" and "Life Forces" are interesting. But "Let's Get it On" is a bad remake of the Marvin Gaye classic. Andy Taylor goes nuts on guitar on several songs.
I was heartbroken when Duran Duran seemed to ignore Power Station's sound and chose to sound more like Arcadia, when the band regrouped.
It's really Nick Rhodes baby so that's to be expected.
@@MashmanMusic I know. Nick is my fave Fab Fiver, but I've always loved Powerstation far more than Arcadia.
"Communication" was awesome!
Still Robert Palmer gone to soon, what a vídeo, thank you, I love them all, and please people, Andy Taylor, might leave Duran Duran, is in his treatment, we all know, but hope IS in my ❤
That was the last album. Start to finish, all bangers. You had to listen to the whole thing, end to end.
My favorite album.
My first concert. I agree on the SNL outfits. I sobbed my head off when I saw John in a "dress". Lol
These guys gave me gas when I was babysitting in the 80’s ✨
I have had a crazy taste in bands over the last 40 years that mixed several genres. But after that 40 years I found out what the connect was. CHIC. the genius of the Bernard Edwards / Nile Rogers of whom took Tony Thompson under their wing with Chic.
The Power Station ROCKS!
Miami Vice was HUGE influence at the time, on both the TV and music industries. It's NO surprise there is a connection there.
Love the Power Station 🤘
Sparked and burnt out.
Two very choice word's you choose, in describing this ssupergroup.
Fantastic album.
Even though they were only on the scene for a short while, their first album still stand's the test of the time today.
Still sound's fresh too.
Love it !!!
They could have toured together...doing the Robert Palmer and PS tracks
You have a fantastic video here!!
Thanks much!
This album was Fan F'n Tastic
Paul young,would have been a great fill in.don,t think so?then you haven’t listened to I,m gonna tear your playhouse down.the song jams with extra sauce on it.
Good point, although that is largely due to Pino Palladino's amazing bass work on that track.
this retrospect was great. thanks.
Andy taylor and all group amazing. Bernard edwards is a amazing bassist producer robert palmer rip
The Power Station announces their tour, my friends and I purchase our tickets (we were huge Duran Duran fans, but liked The Power Station too). Shortly after we bought our tickets they announced that Michael Des Barres would be replacing Palmer. Bummer. It was still a good show - we had 8th row seats and I believe OMD opened. I blame my tinnitus on that show.
Well, it's Bernard Edwards's bass solo. You show it right there. But hey, John is great. And Robert was turning into a standards vocalist like Cliff Richard. Power Station made HIM a pop star. Dude, your quotes stay up for a few seconds. Let me read it!! This is well done, good job.
I'd heard that Don Johnson sang with The Power Station for a brief time before they brought in Michael. Andy worked with Don on his 1986 Heartbeat album which was actually pretty good.
It was a great year for pop. The remake of Bang a Gong is nothing like the T Rex yet somehow seems to pay homage to it. The T Rex is tongue in cheek funk. PS is fist in mouth rock. Thank you to whoever made Andy Taylor's distortion pedal.
Tony played on almost all those albums
What a wonderful Super Group. Awesome, underrated album.
Too bad Palmer didn't go on tour with the band and didn't get a chance to make a second album with the original lineup.
AWESOME JOB MAN !!! YOU ROCK !!
This video has a major flaw where it says avoid the Power Station album for all the other individual albums of all the artists. The Power Station Is a MONSTER Album. A Tremendous musical and sonically Masterpiece. The songs, the singing, the production the drums, bass, guitars all TOP Shelf. Maybe it didn't hit the public, But, The real Music Pros were Totally Blown Away and Very Jealous. Truly Stunning Work.
The video doesn't say that!?
Living in fear lyrics more relevant than ever.
I just noticed The Power Station drums are powerful like the legendary drum sound on KISS' Creatures Of The Night album.
Always dug the coolness of The Power Station! Unforgettable performances.
One of my alltime fave albums of the 80's. So damn good.
Woo would have loved Paul Young in the Power Station with John Taylor 😍😍
Fight for love is their best song, and its on the credit scene of one of the best action flicks ever!! COMMANDO
I always remember palmer for 1980's Johnny And Mary and Murderess is the secret jewel of power station
Robert Palmer, representing dapper mofos everywhere. Without compromising.
Andy and Tony defined that sound.
Good stuff man I will check out more of your work 🤘😎
Well - I just can't get it what he says about Robert Palmer ('just scored one minor hit with 'Bad Case of Loving You'): What about 'Johnny and Mary'? 'Best of Both Worlds'?
Surprised you didn’t mention Robert Palmer’s “Clues” single Also. “Addicted to Love” was a a hit in 86 not 85.
Also Andy Taylor played that great guitar solo on “Addicted to Love”
The whole Clues album is great!
I disagree about John and Andy's outfits. I think they were very cool and rockn`roll.
The problem with the second album was the lack of funk. That combination of driving rock from Tony, and the funk of the bass line from John Taylor. Those boys just caught lighting in a bottle, that's all (and coke. lots of cocaine)
Yeah, I agree. The second album really misses John Taylor's influence. Robert Palmer said in the behind the scenes footage for the first album that John was the 'the ideas man' and 'the instigator'. Bernard is legendary but the project as a whole needed John's input.
It’s one of the drawbacks of being talented...you get a lot of opportunities and it’s hard to know which ones to say No to