Heavy Nova

Background

The name Heavy Nova derives from Palmer's love of both heavy metal and bossa nova rhythms.

The album continued Palmer's popularity with the single "Simply Irresistible", which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States. On the Billboard Hot 100, it was a number-two peak; it was also a number-two hit in Canada and a number-one hit in Australia.

The album peaked at No. 13 in the US, No. 17 in the UK and No. 15 in the Netherlands. The album was certified Platinum by RIAA in November 1988 and Gold by BPI in November 1988. It remains Palmer's second most successful album worldwide, behind his 1985 album Riptide.

Recording

The album was recorded at Logic Studios in Milan, Italy and Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas during 1987.

Track listing

All tracks written by Robert Palmer, except where noted.

Personnel

Robert Palmer – vocals, backing vocals

William Bryant – keyboards

Misha Schneider – keyboards

Jeff Bova – additional keyboards

Richard Gibbs – additional keyboards

Garth Hudson – accordion, additional keyboards

Tom "T-Bone" Wolk – accordion

Eddie Martinez – guitars

Dennis Budimir – additional guitars

John Grey – additional guitars, additional percussion

Frank Blair – bass guitar

Barry "Sun John" Johnson – additional bass guitar

Dony Wynn – drums

Ricky Fataar – additional drums

Dom Um Romão – percussion, additional backing vocals

Robyn Lobe – additional percussion

Chuck Findley – trumpet

Luka Belak – violin

Clare Fischer – strings

Rick Danko – additional backing vocals

B.J. Nelson – additional backing vocals

Production

David Harper – executive producer

Robert Palmer – producer, art direction

Tim Kramer – engineer

Bookie Epsie – assistant engineer

Scott Forman – assistant engineer

Roy Sweeting – assistant engineer

Eric Thorngren – mixing

Richard Cobble – production coordinator

Henry Marquez – design

Terence Donovan – photography

Tony Baglio – management

Pino Pischetola – management