Ticket 2 Ride

I haven’t thought about The Power Station for decades. The band’s self-titled album, released in 1985, was a huge seller, revived the career of singer Robert Palmer, and gave attention to players John Taylor, Andy Taylor, Tony Thompson and producer Bernard Edwards (away from his association with Chic and Nile Rodger).

Thompson had been the drummer in Chic, which produced many hits in the late 1970s-early 1980s, but the disco/dance popularity had cooled and Chic broke up. Andy Taylor and John Taylor (no relation), were an hiatus from the British synth/New Romantic band Duran, Duran. Interestingly, the band had achieved worldwide success and seemed to own MTV at the time, so splitting into two factions, Power Station and Arcadia, seemed an unlikely move at the time. Palmer had an interesting career to that point. Based in the Caribbean, his music frequently had that Island groove and soulful mixture. He was moving into a harder phase, Clues, had an electronic/synth feel to it. Palmer wrote the majority of his own songs, but he was a very good stylizer, turning overs into his great versions. Palmer had gotten airplay with such songs as “Bad Case of Loving You”, “Every Kind of People”, “Best of Both Worlds”, “John and Mary”, “Give Me an Inch”, “Can We Still Be Friends” and “You Are in My System”.

Each of these guys brought a style, an attitude, into Power Station, but I’d hardly call it a band. What they had in the studio was a great blending of talent and creativity, if only for a moment. Bands unify, these individuals did not.

The origin of Power Station

John Taylor was dating model/groupie Bebe Buell at the time, and with help from Edwards, assembled a band for Buell to record a funky version of T. Rex’s classic, “Bang a Gong (Get It On). The Taylors were on break from Duran Duran; after Chic’s disbanding, Thompson, who was playing sessions on albums Edwards & Rodger’s were producing, had time for a steady gig.

John Taylor and Buell broke up, so that project was dead. The Taylors, Thompson and Edwards decided to move ahead with recording, but they didn’t have a lead vocalist. They decided to invite famous singers to each record a different track on the album. That was the plan, but Palmer came in to sing the demo “Communication”, and then asked to give “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” a go, which impressed the others, so Palmer was asked to joined the band. The chemistry was definitely there.

“Some Like it Hot” official video

“Get It On (Bang a Gong)” official video

Duran, Duran was known for that British synth pop, which was quite different from what the Power Station had in mind. Thompson was the John Bonham of funk/dance/rock. Listen to the work he did with Chic, Madonna, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge and Bowie, and you’ll be impressed with the powerful and precision of his percussion. The Taylors seemed very interested in the funky vibes of New York, and taking a harder rock edge into this project.

The 2025 Anniversary album (remasters & remixes)

1. “Some Like It Hot” Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor & John Taylor 5:05
2. “Murderess” Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor & John Taylor 4:17
3. “Lonely Tonight“
   Bernard Edwards, Robert Palmer
   3:58
4. “Communication“
   Derek Bramble, Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor & John Taylor
   3:37
5. “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” Marc Bolan 5:29
6. “Go to Zero“
   Guy Pratt, Robert Palmer
   4:58
7. “Harvest for the World” Isley Brothers 3:37
8. “Still in Your Heart” Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor & John Taylor 3:20

After the album was released

Sadly, the band only play live on Saturday Night Live, before Palmer split to record his own solo album. The band hired Michael Des Barres as lead vocalist to tour behind the album, including a performance at Live Aid.

Palmer recorded Riptide (1985) which was produced by Edwards and enlisted help from other members of the band. The album was a massive success for Palmer, rising to number 8 on the Billboard chart and selling 2 million copies in the U.S. alone.

People don’t really remember the album, but they remember several of the songs and music videos: “Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” (number 2 in the U.S.) “Addicted to Love” (number 1 in the U.S.) and “Hyperactive”.

Each member of Power Station went about their own careers. Palmer continued releasing albums, but his fame never reached what he attained with The Power Station and Riptide.

Andy Taylor has rejoined and departed from Duran, Duran several time since Power Station, pursuing a lengthy solo career, working on a variety of soundtracks, and collaborating with artists like Rod Stewart. In recent years he’s battled prostate cancer.

John Taylor returned to Duran, Duran until 1997, leaving for a solo career. He rejoined in 2001 and remains with the band. He also was a member of the band Neurotic Outsiders.

Tony Thompson played with several bands and lent his drum skills to many albums (Mick Jagger, Adam Ant, Rod Stewart, Duran Duran). He passed away in 2003.

Bernard Edwards continued his producing career, often with Nike Rodgers. He worked with artists such as Diana Ross, Adam Ant, Rod Stewart, Jody Watley, Grayson Hugh, Air Supply, ABC and Duran Duran. Edwards and Rodgers reformed Chic in the early 1990s. After the second Power Station album in 1996, Edwards was in Japan with Rodgers and died following a performance.

Robert Palmer kept producing music that riffed off that mid 1980s period. Heavy Nova (1988) gave us “Simply Irresistible”, much like “Addicted to Love” and was his last big hit. Palmer, ever the suave and stylish crooner (think Bryan Ferry), would veer into jazz, R&B, old standards, and make sure you heard the groove. Usually present were sparkling elements of his Island music background. Palmer weaved in and out musical genres, never losing his innate soulfulness. He died in 2003.

Michael Des Barres went on to front a number of bands and moved into a successful acting career. He is also somewhat famous for being the former husband of Pamela Des Barres, famous groupie and member of Frank Zappa’s girl band, The GTOs.

The Taylors, Thompson, Palmer and Edwards reunited in 1996 to release the album, Living in Fear, was released to mixed success. Maybe it seemed like a good idea, or perhaps it was to boost careers that had cooled off. After the departure of Andy Taylor and later, the death of Edwards, the remaining three members of Power Station toured with bassist Guy Pratt.

The Power Station 40th Anniversary Rerelease

A four disc set to commemorate the first album’s release.

Disc one is the remastered album. It sounds thunderous and clean. I had forgotten how good this album sounds. The only negative is the 1980s echo on the drums. What was stylish is annoying.

Disc two are mixes of album tracks and some instrumental versions. Happily, these tracks lack that gated drum echo. There is even the one lead vocal by Des Barres on “Somewhere Somehow Someone (We Fight For Love).” There are also two tracks from Live Aid.

Discs three and four are unreleased live songs, again with Des Barres, from Philadelphia’s Spectrum 1985. The vocals are buried in the mix and difficult to understand. For hardcore fans only.