Robert Palmer – Some Guys Have All the Luck
A slick, soulful spin on envy and elegance from pop’s suavest crooner
Released in 1982 as a studio track on his live/studio hybrid album Maybe It’s Live, Robert Palmer’s version of “Some Guys Have All the Luck” delivered smooth frustration with his signature British poise. While originally recorded by The Persuaders as a raw R&B lament in 1973, Palmer’s take gave the song a new wave makeover — stylish, restrained, and just a little bit bitter.
The Song’s Second Life — With a Twist
Though presented as a cover, Palmer’s version significantly reworked the original. He kept only the chorus and rewrote much of the melody and verse structure. In fact, Palmer later admitted he’d heard the song years before, forgot the source, and thought he’d written something new — a subconscious homage turned unintentional reinvention.
Musically, his version trades the original’s grit for icy synths, dry sequencers, and a mid-tempo, new wave groove. The instrumentation feels taut and urbane, all clean lines and designer cool. It’s heartbreak rendered in chrome.
Lyrics with a Smirk
“Some guys have all the luck / Some guys have all the pain…” — the lyric still cuts, but under Palmer’s touch, it becomes less of a lament and more of a deadpan observation. He doesn’t cry into the mic — he raises an eyebrow and downs a drink.
Where The Persuaders pleaded and Rod Stewart (later, in 1984) roared, Palmer simply shrugs with elegance. He’s not crushed by heartbreak — he’s mildly annoyed it’s found him again.
Chart Performance and Art Pop Aura
In the UK, the song reached No. 16 on the Singles Chart in early 1982. Though it didn’t chart in the U.S., it left a stylish impression, later appearing on Palmer’s Addictions: Volume 1 compilation and cementing its place among his cult favorites.
The music video — a surreal blend of masked figures, living statues, and chic party oddities — was a little too offbeat for MTV rotation, but perfectly matched the track’s moody art-pop aura.
Rod vs. Robert: A Tale of Two Heartaches
Two years later, Rod Stewart recorded his own version — using the original structure and lyrics — and turned it into a worldwide Top 10 hit. His reading was brasher, more anthemic, and undeniably catchy.
But Palmer’s take? Cooler, sleeker, and far more emotionally enigmatic. It’s for the heartbroken who’ve learned to iron their shirts, fix their hair, and keep their distance. You can dance to Rod’s version — you sip scotch to Palmer’s.
“Some Guys Have All the Luck” shows Palmer in his element: turning vulnerability into velvet, disappointment into detachment. It’s the sound of losing in love — but winning in taste. A heartbreak anthem for those too dignified to shout, too stylish to sulk.