Robert Palmer's 'Addicted to Love', Originally Intended as a Duet, Became a Classic No. 1 Hit

Robert Palmer's timeless rock track "Addicted to Love" was an overnight chart success, but many fans may not know that the single was intended to sound very different.

Released as the third single from Palmer's 1986 studio album Riptide, "Addicted to Love" quickly became the singer's most ubiquitous hit after topping the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the charts for several weeks.

The track sold over 500,000 copies in the United States and received a gold certification not long after its release, catapulting the already-famous Palmer to a whole new level of popularity. The single was backed by an iconic music video that gathered plenty of airtime on MTV, pushing the song even higher up the charts.

While it's hard to imagine such an iconic anthem as "Addicted to Love" sounding any different today, the song was originally conceived as a duet with Chaka Khan, but ultimately didn't happen due to licensing disputes.

Palmer and Khan had agreed to work on a track together before "Addicted to Love" was finished, but her record company would not allow Khan to work with Palmer's label, Island Records. Since neither artist could afford to sever ties with their company over the track, Palmer had to record "Addicted to Love" without her.

That being said, "Addicted to Love" still wasn't a solo effort. Palmer employed some of the biggest talents in rock music to contribute to the single, including legendary session guitarist Eddie Martinez, Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, and Chic drummer Tony Thompson.

Palmer, Taylor, and Thompson would continue to work together in a more formal capacity in The Power Station, a rock supergroup that landed hits such as "Some Like It Hot" and "Get It On."

"Addicted to Love" became a commercial success even without Chaka Khan's star power driving it up the charts; it peaked at No. 1 in the United States and Australia, and made it to No. 4 in Canada and No. 5 in the United Kingdom.

While the song quickly became Palmer's signature track and remains his most well-known single today, the musician continued to land several hits throughout his career and cemented himself as one of the more underrated heroes of '80s rock.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 7:02 AM.