Looking for Clues

"Looking for Clues" is a song by English musician Robert Palmer, released in 1980 as the second single from his sixth studio album Clues.[3] Written and produced by Palmer,[1] "Looking for Clues" reached number 33 in the UK Singles Chart,[4] and number 5 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.[5]

"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]
Genre
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)

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 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."[8] 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".[3] Ultimate Classic Rock included the song as one of Palmer's top 10 songs in a retrospective look at his career.[9]

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:15
  2. "What Do You Care" – 2:44

7-inch single (UK/Philippines/Netherlands release)

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:15
  2. "Good Care of You" – 2:24

7-inch single (UK alternative release)

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:15
  2. "In Walks Love Again" – 2:48

7-inch single (US/Canada release)

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:08
  2. "Woke Up Laughing" – 3:36

12-inch single (UK release)

  1. "Looking for Clues (Long Version)" - 4:51
  2. "Good Care of You" – 2:24
  3. "Style Kills" – 4:16

12-inch single (European release)

  1. "Looking for Clues" – 4:53
  2. "Johnny and Mary" – 3:59

Personnel

Charts

Weekly Charts
Chart (1980–81) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10][11] 23
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 9
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 17
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 33
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100[5] 5
West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 3

Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for "Looking for Clues"
Chart (1981) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 80

References
  1. "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. 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. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 50. Billboard Publications, Inc. 13 December 1980. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. "Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues". YouTube. 1985-01-15. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  7. Chaz Kangas (2016-08-24). "Weirdest Videos MTV Played on Its First Day". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  8. Cash Box newspaper - November 22, 1980 - Reviews: singles - page 15
  9. "Top 10 Robert Palmer Songs". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  10. "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. 4 January 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2022 – via Imgur.
  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" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0293." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robert Palmer" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. "Robert Palmer – Looking for Clues" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  16. "Robert Palmer – Looking for Clues". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  17. "Robert Palmer – Looking for Clues". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  18. "Robert Palmer: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Robert Palmer – Looking for Clues" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
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