The moniker of ‘Supergroup’ is thrown around very casually, but perhaps no other fits the bill quite as well as The Power Station.
A project that took shape in 1984, it developed after Duran Duran’s 1983 massively successful third album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, when the band decided to take a hiatus following some intense world touring. Leaving the members open to explore other creative avenues, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor formed Arcadia (which explores more of Duran Duran’s atmospheric side), while John Taylor and Andy Taylor opted to dive into more Rock-based songs where they teamed with powerhouse Vocalist Robert Palmer and Chic Drummer Tony Thompson.
A very compelling marriage of different, talented musicians, you have to consider that through 1984, Duran Duran had already sold well over 11.5 million albums and were one of the biggest Pop bands in the world. This is while you had the unique voice of Robert Palmer, who achieved moderate success in the late ‘70s and early 80s with songs like 1977’s “Every Kinda People” and 1979’s “Can We Still Be Friends,” but was on the cusp of superstardom in with his eighth album Riptide from late 1985 (featuring hits like “Addicted to Love”). Joining all of this was Tony Thompson, a highly regarded drummer who was not only a big part of Chi but also played with David Bowie, Madonna, Diana Ross, and Sister Sledge.
Altogether legitimately living up to the title of ‘supergroup,’ much like others who had the label slapped on them, just because you have the names, it doesn’t mean you have the music. Well, The Power Station proved they not only had the names but also the songs, because their sound was simply electrifying. A mix of Pop, Dance, and Hard Rock, they caught the entire music world by storm with their debut single “Some Like It Hot,” which rocketed to number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A song that really gets your blood flowing and can appeal to a broad audience with its intense attack, it was impossible to deny Andy Taylor’s guitar work, John Taylor’s steady bass, Tony Thompson’s bombastic drums, and Robert Palmer’s demanding lead vocals.
A song that still sticks out over forty years later, it was a gateway into more excitement that The Power Station’s 1985 debut album had in story. Released on March 25, 1985 (just weeks after “Some Like It Hot” hit radio stations), the album benefited from the eclectic input of its members, which, as stated, explored Hard Rock, Dance Pop, and even Soul/R&B textures. Captured magically in the studio by Chic’s Bernard Edwards (who also produced Palmer’s Riptide), this was an album that relentlessly hit you with waves of energy from start to finish. Also featuring two more well-received, highly charted singles in a cover of T. Rex’s “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” and “Communication,” the album reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum within four months of its release.
Truly remarkable: the wrinkle in the story came when Robert Palmer declined to go on tour in support of the debut with the rest of The Power Station (opting to work on his album Riptide), which led to the recruitment of Michael Des Barres as their touring vocalist. Something that could have stalled The Power Station’s momentum, the good news is the band reformed a decade later with Robert Palmer back on vocals, Andy Taylor, and Tony Thompson, while Bernard Edwards took over on bass as they released their 1996 Heavy Rock-leaning second album, Living in Fear. A lovely bookend to their story, to this day, no one can overlook how spectular The Power Station’s 1985 debut album is, and that is why it comes with excitement to find its re-release in 2026.
Hands down, the most complete re-release of the album to date, it was offered as either a 2LP gatefold vinyl (with a remaster of the original album, single remixes, and the Live Aid Recording) or an epic 4CD Set containing a 12-page booklet with new interviews with John and Andy Taylor, plus more. Set for release on January 23, 2026, through Rhino, it is all put together to celebrate the recent 40th anniversary of the album in an exceptional manner.
Looking at both releases more closely, the 2LP set is pressed to black vinyl and sounds stunning in the brand-new remastered version, while the single remixes and the Live Aid recordings (with Michael Des Barres on vocals) add something special to it all. All housed in a lovely gatefold sleeve with the original artwork, it is very well put together. Meanwhile, the 4CD set is in a clamshell packaging and continues as a remastered edition of the album on disc one, the single remixes, raw instrumentals from the original recording sessions and the Live Aid performance on disc two, while disc three and four feature previously unreleased songs from The Power Station’s live set at The Spectrum in Philadephia from August 21, 1985.
Altogether, there are two spectular options for fans. However, also let it be known: if you only know “Some Like It Hot” but little else about The Power Station, this is also your chance to open yourself up to this really outstanding album. That is why Cryptic Rock highly recommended either the 2LP or the 4CD sets, giving them 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment