Robert Palmer: Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley (1974)

Robert Palmer gets funky with the aid of the Meters, Lowell George and Bernard Purdie.

I've played this so much these last weeks, i had to feature it here. The album was recorded at two sessions with two different groups that can only qualify as dreambands. Half of the album was taped in New Orleans with the Meters plus guitar (and arrangements?) from Lowell George. The other half was done in New York with a bunch of studio-pros the calibre of Bernarnd Purdie, Cornell Dupree and ex-James Brown bassman Bernard Odom.

The New Orleans tracks are pretty much in the funky rock (or rocking funk?) style of such Little Feat albums as "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" and "The Last Record Album". Which is why i assume that George had a hand in the arrangements.

Sailing Shoes is originally found on Little Feat's second album. The Feat's own recording of this barely coded ode to cocaine is a kind of strange blues. This version with it's close knit guitar and clavinet has all the tight funkyness the Meters were known for. Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley, one of two Allen Toussaint compositions, is similar in feel. The two tracks are connected by Hey Julia, which, according to producer Steve Smith, had the first use of a drum machine on record (i'm pretty sure that's wrong, but anyhow).

The invitation to party, How Much Fun, and Toussaint's dark From A Whisper To A Scream are the other tracks featuring the Meters and Lowell George. "Whisper..." was recorded by several artists, most stirringly probably by Esther Phillips, but Palmer rises to the occasion.

Of the New York tracks, Blackmail is a solid rocker, but seems the least interesting track to me. Get Outside is a great athmospheric piece, as is Through It All There's You. Even if the later's overlong running time gives the impression that Palmer didn't have enough material to fill the album.  

Palmer would feature the whole of Little Feat on his next album, "Pressude Drop", which makes it another must-have for Feat fans. He would never repeat the irresistible funkyness of "Sneakin'...", though.

Robert Palmer: Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley
Island Records (UK) ILPS 9294, 1974

A1 Sailing Shoes (Lowell George) 2:44
A2 Hey Julia 2:24
A3 Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley  (A. Toussaint) 4:21
A4 Get Outside 4:32
A5 Blackmail (Robert Palmer/Lowell George) 2:32

B1 How Much Fun 3:02
B2 From A Whisper To A Scream (A. Toussaint) 3:32
B3 Through It All There's You 12:17

All tracks written by Robert Palmer, except as noted.

Personnel:
On A1,3, B1,2
Lowell George (g) Steve York (hmc on A3)
The Meters: Leo Nocentelli (g) George Porter Jr (b) Art Neville (p, clav) Joseph “Zig-aboo” Modéliste (d)
Recorded at Sea Saint Studios, New Orleans

On A2:
Steve York (b) Steve Smith (g) Robert Palmer, Vicki Brown (bg voc) drum machine programmed by Robert Palmer & Steve Smith
Recorded at Island Rehearsal Rooms, London & a church near Midhurst, West Sussex

On A4,5, B3:
Cornell Dupree (g) Bernard Purdie (d) Richard Tee (p) Bernard Odom (b) Lowell George (g on A4) Steve Winwood (fender rhodes on A5)
Recorded at Media Sound Studios, New York City

Engineered and Mixed by Phill Brown at Island Studio #2 in Basing Street London
Produced by Steve Smith