Some Like It Hot (song)
"Some Like It Hot" is a song recorded by the Power Station. It was the first single released from the group's 1985 eponymous debut album. Released by Parlophone Records in 1985, the song features loud, prominent drum beats from Tony Thompson and lead vocals from Robert Palmer. It was the band's biggest hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number four in Canada and Australia. The video featured model Caroline Cossey (also known as Tula).[2]
"Some Like It Hot" | ||||
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Single by the Power Station | ||||
from the album The Power Station | ||||
B-side | "The Heat Is On" | |||
Released | 4 March 1985 | |||
Genre | Funk rock[1] | |||
Length | 5:05 (LP version) 3:43 (7" Version) | |||
Label | Parlophone – R 6091 Capitol - B 5444 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Robert Palmer | |||
Producer(s) | Bernard Edwards | |||
The Power Station singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Some Like It Hot" on YouTube |
Background
"What we really wanted to do was put this drummer out there in a way that we felt he deserved, so that song particularly was sort of designed to really showcase Tony," said bassist John Taylor. "I flew to Nassau in the Bahamas, which was where Robert Palmer lived at the time, and played him the demo that Andy and I had written and said, 'We’ve got this idea that we’re calling "Some Like It Hot."' And he just looked at me and said, 'And some sweat when the heat is on.' I was, like, 'Yes! That’ll do…'"[3]
The Power Station were living a lavish, drug-fueled lifestyle during the recording of the album, which made focusing difficult.[4] "I had to be, like, strapped to the desk if I was gonna get a bass line finished, because I was just all over the place," John Taylor said.
The song was used in the film National Lampoon's European Vacation.
Track listing
- 7" Parlophone / R 6091 (UK)
- "Some Like It Hot" – 3:45
- "The Heat Is On" – 3:20
- 12" Parlophone / 12 R 6091 (UK)
- "Some Like It Hot and the Heat Is On" – 6:36
- "Some Like It Hot" – 3:45
- "The Heat Is On" – 3:20
- also released as a 12" picture disc (12RP 6091)
- 7" Capitol / B 5444 (US)
- "Some Like It Hot" – 3:45
- "The Heat Is On" – 3:20
- 12" Capitol / V 8631 (US)
- "Some Like It Hot and the Heat Is On" – 6:36
- "Some Like It Hot" – (7") - 3:45
- "The Heat Is On" – 3:20
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 4 |
Year-end charts
Year-end chart (1985) | Rank |
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US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6] | 79 |
References
- DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly, eds. (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely New Reviews : Every Essential Album, Every Essential Artist (3rd ed.). Random House. p. 552. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
- Busey, Kelli (2015-07-16). "Caroline Tula Cossey, 007, Playboy model and Trans advocate". Planet Transgender. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- "Duran Duran bassist John Taylor on some of the band's most famous songs". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- "Coke & Wet: The Power Station Versus Arcadia". The Quietus. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.