"Communication" by Power Station

Song#:  2454
Date:  09/07/1985
Debut:  65
Peak:  34
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This supergroup featuring Robert Palmer on vocals scored two Top 10's from their self-titled debut album, which also made the Top 10 and went gold. To try and keep things flowing, this third single was issued out from the LP. The track was able to crack the Pop Top 40, but that was all it could do. It would be the band's last single to reach any US chart. With Palmer's career back on track thanks to his work with Power Station, he decided to capitalize on the moment and take off for a solo career. The remaining trio tried to soldier on with a new singer (see below), but they decided to end the band later in '85. The original quartet including Palmer did reform in 1996 to record a new album, however bassist John Taylor had to drop out for personal reasons prior to entering the studio. The band's producer Bernard Edwards stepped in for him, but then Edwards died not long after the recording sessions. The album, titled Living in Fear, was issued in the fall of '96 and was dedicated to Edwards.

ReduxReview:  Bernard Edwards' production basically keeps this song afloat, but barely. Take that a way and there's not much to grab on to here. It's just a groove with a verse and a chorus that aren't all that different from each other. It all kind of bleeds together with nothing standing out to grab your attention. Compare this to "Some Like It Hot," which was hooky as hell, and you'll hear the difference between a hit and one that isn't. I'm even amazed it reached the Top 40.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  When Palmer left the band, the other members decided to continue on as Power Station and set out to hire a new lead singer. They decided to bring on board singer/actor Michael Des Barres. Des Barres' former band, Chequered Past, had opened up for Duran Duran on some of their tour spots and so Duran/Power Station members John Taylor and Andy Taylor were familiar with Des Barres. With Des Barres in place, the band toured and also played at Live Aid. Des Barres had some Hollywood connections and that led to them appearing on an episode of the hit TV show Miami Vice. They were also hired to contribute a song to the soundtrack for the film Commando, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. But by the end of '85, Power Station members started to do other projects and they finally just let the band fold. Des Barres would record his second solo studio album in '86 titled Somebody Up There Likes Me, but it didn't get anywhere. He had better luck acting and appeared in many TV shows including recurring roles on MacGuyver and Melrose Place. One of his more memorable roles was when he played Leon's boyfriend Steven in the hit TV show Roseanne.

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