Life in Detail

"Life in Detail"
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Pretty Woman (soundtrack)
Released1990
Length4:07
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer, Allen Powell
Producer(s)Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer singles chronology
""Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" (re-issue)"
(1989)
"Life in Detail"
(1990)
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
(1990)

"Life in Detail" is a song by the English vocalist Robert Palmer, which was released in 1990 as a promotional single from the soundtrack of the American romantic comedy film Pretty Woman.[1] The song was written by Palmer and Allen Powell, and produced by Palmer.[2] It reached No. 7 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks,[3] and No. 34 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart.[4]

"Life in Detail" had been written exclusively for the film.[5] Powell had previously been the drummer in Vinegar Joe, which Palmer fronted, in the early 1970s. Following the band's split, Palmer and Powell continued their friendship and would write a number of songs together which Palmer recorded.[6][7] According to Manchester Evening News, "Life in Detail" allowed him to buy a 40-foot sail boat to live on, which he had moored at Sausalito, California.[8]

Critical reception

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Upon release, the Nanaimo Daily News described the song as a "thumping jumper".[5] The Clarion-Ledger noted: "The driving "Life in Detail" is only slightly less irresistible than Palmer's previous chartbusters".[9] Paul Sinclair of Super Deluxe Edition described the song as a "relative obscurity from the soundtrack of the film Pretty Woman".[10]

Track listing

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CD single (promo only)

  1. "Life in Detail" – 4:07

Chart performance

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Canadian Top Singles (RPM)[4] 34
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[11] 14
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[3] 7

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Pretty Woman [Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  2. ^ "Robert Palmer – Life In Detail (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  3. ^ a b "Robert Palmer Life In Detail Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Item: 952 – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  5. ^ a b Nanaimo Daily News – April 27, 1990 – page 36
  6. ^ Alan Powell. "Alan Powell | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  7. ^ "Music in Middleton". Middletonia.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  8. ^ Manchester Evening News. "Music Town – part eleven". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  9. ^ The Clarion-Ledger – April 5, 1990 – page 61
  10. ^ "Robert Palmer / Collected 3CD set". superdeluxeedition. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  11. ^ "Robert Palmer Life In Detail Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2018.