"Looking for Clues" | ||||
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Single by Robert Palmer | ||||
from the album Clues | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 31 October 1980 (UK) [1] November 1980 [2] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:15 (single version) 4:51 (album version) | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | Robert Palmer | |||
Producer(s) | Robert Palmer | |||
Robert Palmer singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues" on YouTube |
"Looking for Clues" is a song by English musician Robert Palmer, released in 1980 as the second single from his sixth studio album Clues . [5] Written and produced by Palmer, [1] "Looking for Clues" reached number 33 in the UK Singles Chart, [6] and number 5 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100. [7]
A music video was filmed to promote the single. [8] It was one of the videos to be aired on MTV's first day of broadcasting, on 1 August 1981. [9]
Upon its release as a single, Cash Box selected "Looking for Clues" 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. 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." [10] In a retrospective review of Clues, 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". [5] Ultimate Classic Rock included the song as one of Palmer's top 10 songs in a retrospective look at his career. [11]
7-inch single
7-inch single (UK/Philippines/Netherlands release)
7-inch single (UK alternative release)
7-inch single (US/Canada release)
12-inch single (UK release)
12-inch single (European release)
Chart (1980–81) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [12] [13] | 23 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [14] | 9 |
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [15] | 7 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [16] | 15 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [17] | 17 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [18] | 14 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] | 6 |
UK Singles (OCC) [20] | 33 |
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 [7] | 5 |
West Germany (GfK) [21] | 3 |
Chart (1981) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [12] | 80 |
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" is a hit song by the British rock band the Police, released in September 1980 as the lead single from their third studio album Zenyatta Mondatta. It concerns a teacher who has a sexual relationship with a student, which in turn is discovered.
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Clues is the sixth studio album by Robert Palmer, released in 1980. It has a rockier, new wave edge compared to his previous releases. The album peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 31 in the UK in 1980. The album also peaked at No. 1 in Sweden, No. 3 in France, No. 15 in the Netherlands and No. 42 in Italy. Donald Guarisco of AllMusic described Clues as "one of Robert Palmer's strongest and most consistent albums", despite being somewhat short at 31 minutes.
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