"Looking for Clues" is a song by English musician Robert Palmer, released in 1980 as the second single from his sixth studio album '' Clues''. Written and produced by Palmer, "Looking for Clues" reached number 33 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, and number 5 on the US ''

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. A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was one of the videos to be aired on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

's first day of broadcasting, on 1 August 1981.

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, ''

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'' 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

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, half pop, half

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

, to support his high, multi-tracked vocals, with a neat vibe break." In a retrospective review of ''Clues'', Donald A. Guarisco of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

described the song as "a clever slice of new wave pop that surprises the listener with an unexpected xylophone solo". ''

Ultimate Classic Rock Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wit ...

'' included the song as one of Palmer's top 10 songs in a retrospective look at his career.

Track listings

7-inch single #"Looking for Clues" – 4:15 #"What Do You Care" – 2:44 7-inch single (UK/Philippines/Netherlands release) #"Looking for Clues" – 4:15 #"Good Care of You" – 2:24 7-inch single (UK alternative release) #"Looking for Clues" – 4:15 #"In Walks Love Again" – 2:48 7-inch single (US/Canada release) #"Looking for Clues" – 4:08 #"Woke Up Laughing" – 3:36 12-inch single (UK release) #"Looking for Clues (Long Version)" - 4:51 #"Good Care of You" – 2:24 #"Style Kills" – 4:16 12-inch single (European release) #"Looking for Clues" – 4:53 #"Johnny and Mary" – 3:59

Personnel

* Robert Palmer – vocals, bass, percussion, producer *

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– keyboards * Kenny Mazur – guitar * Dony Wynn – drums *

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– bass drum *

Alex Sadkin Alex Sadkin (April 9, 1949July 25, 1987) was an American record producer, engineer, mixer and mastering engineer. Sadkin grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida across the street from Bennett Elementary School, and played saxophone in Sunrise Junio ...

– engineer, mixing * David Harper – executive producer *

Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' ''Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Biography Ted ...

– mastering

Charts

Weekly Charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 1980 songs 1980 singles Island Records singles Robert Palmer (singer) songs Songs written by Robert Palmer (singer) British new wave songs