Don't Explain is the tenth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Robert Palmer, released by EMI on 5 November 1990. During the course of its 18 tracks, Palmer displays rock, R&B, jazz and reggae influences. Several classic songs are covered, as well. The album peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 88 in the US.
In the UK the album was certified Gold by the BPI in November 1990.
Contents
Reception
Reviewed at the time of release, NME described Palmer as "just a playboy dilettante dabbling in populist genres clumsily. His true heart lies in...who knows. Just as we arrive to soak up his ever-changing mood, Bob the eternal tourist is off somewhere else."
Track listing
Note:
The liner notes for the first US pressing (EMI/Capitol – CDP-7-93935-2) attribute the final song to Ned Washington and Burton Lane. While they co-wrote a song by that name, the one on Palmer's album is the Clare & Gorney composition made popular by Billie Holiday.
Personnel
Robert Palmer – vocals, backing vocals, guitars, drums
Brent Bourgeois – keyboards, backing vocals (2, 3)
Alan Mansfield – keyboards, drums
William Bryant – acoustic piano, bass guitar
Dennis Budimir – guitars
Alan Darby – guitars
Eddie Martinez – guitars
Saverio Porciello – guitars
Steve Stevens – guitars
Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar
Frank Blair – bass guitar
Guy Pratt – bass guitar
Dony Wynn – drums, percussion
Cyro Baptista – percussion
Pino Pischetola – percussion
Claudio Pascoli – saxophone
Chuck Findley – flugelhorn, trumpet
Demo Morselli – trumpet
Luka Belak – violin
Clare Fischer – clarinet, string and horn arrangements, conductor
Gerald Vinci – concertmaster
B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (2–4)
Production
David Harper – executive producer
Robert Palmer – producer (1–6, 9, 10, 17), co-producer (7, 8, 11, 13)
Teo Macero – producer (7, 8, 11–16, 18)
Arne Frager – engineer
Pino Pischetola – engineer
Mike Fraser – mixing (1, 5)
Eric "ET" Thorngren – mixing (2–4, 6–18)
Richard Cobble – production coordination
Henry Marquez – art direction, design
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders – photography
David King – stylist