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Looking for Clues

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"Looking for Clues"
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Clues
B-side
  • "What Do You Care"
  • "Good Care of You"
  • "Woke Up Laughing"
Released31 October 1980 (UK)[1]
November 1980[2]
GenreNew wave, pop[3]
Length4:15 (single version)
4:51 (album version)
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer
Producer(s)Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Johnny and Mary"
(1980) 		"Looking for Clues"
(1980) 		"Some Guys Have All the Luck"
(1982)

"Looking for Clues" is a song by English musician Robert Palmer, which was released in 1980 as the second single from his sixth studio album Clues.[3] It was written and produced by Palmer.[1] "Looking for Clues" reached No. 33 in the UK,[4] and No. 5 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.[5]

A music video was filmed to promote the single.[6] It was one of the videos to be aired on MTV's first day of broadcasting, on 1 August 1981.[7]

Critical reception

Upon release, Cash Box selected the single as one of their feature picks in November 1980. They commented: "Palmer's been around awhile, but musically, he continues to shift gears and develop as an artist. On [this] second single from his current LP, he has created an immensely infectious little electronic boogie, half pop, half funk, to support his high, multi-tracked vocals, with a neat vibe break."[8]

In a review of Clues, Audio described the song as "futuristic sounding".[9] In a retrospective review of the album, Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic described the song as "a clever slice of new wave pop that surprises the listener with an unexpected xylophone solo".[3] Ultimate Classic Rock included the song as one of Palmer's Top 10 songs in a retrospective look at his career.[10]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:15
  2. "What Do You Care" - 2:44
7" single (UK/Philippines/Netherlands release)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:15
  2. "Good Care of You" - 2:24
7" single (UK alternative release)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:15
  2. "In Walks Love Again" - 2:48
7" single (US/Canada release)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:08
  2. "Woke Up Laughing" - 3:36
7" single (UK promo)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:08
7" single (US promo)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:08
  2. "Looking for Clues" - 4:08
12" single (UK release)
  1. "Looking for Clues (Long Version)" - 4:51
  2. "Good Care of You" - 2:24
  3. "Style Kills" - 4:16
12" single (European release)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:53
  2. "Johnny and Mary" - 3:59
12" single (US promo)
  1. "Looking for Clues" - 4:52
  2. "Looking for Clues" - 4:52

Chart performance

Chart (1980) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[11] 23
Belgian Singles Chart (V)[12] 9
Canada RPM Top Singles 7
Dutch Singles Chart[13] 17
French Singles Chart 6
German Singles Chart[14] 3
Swedish Singles Chart[15] 14
Swiss Singles Chart[16] 6
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[17] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 105

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues / Good Care Of You - Island - UK - WIP 6651". 45cat. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  2. ^ "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues / Woke Up Laughing - Island - USA - IS49620". 45cat. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  3. ^ a b c Donald A. Guarisco. "Clues - Robert Palmer | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  4. ^ "ROBERT PALMER - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Billboard - Google Books". 1980-12-13. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  6. ^ "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". YouTube. 1985-01-15. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  7. ^ Facebook Twitter email Print Article AA (2016-08-24). "Weirdest Videos MTV Played on Its First Day". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2018-04-04. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Cash Box newspaper - November 22, 1980 - Reviews: singles - page 15
  9. ^ "Audio - Google Books". 1980. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  10. ^ "Top 10 Robert Palmer Songs". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. pp. 228, 236. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^ "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  13. ^ Steffen Hung. "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  14. ^ Steffen Hung. "germancharts.com - Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". Germancharts.de. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  15. ^ Steffen Hung. "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  16. ^ Steffen Hung. "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  17. ^ "ROBERT PALMER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
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