Adventures in Tropical Music: 1977-1997 　　Woke Up Laughing is an album of remixes, re-recordings and otherwise creative approaches to Robert Palmer's music recorded over the years that reflected his love of world music. Subtitled Adventures in Tropical Music: 1977-1997, he produced the new versions himself. Suggested to Palmer by Gerald Seligman, the Executive Producer and creator of EMI Hemisphere, Palmer rejected the idea of a simple compilation, preferring a rethink and a fresh approach. Subtitled "Adventures in Tropical Music: 1977-1997," Woke Up Laughing is a surprisingly listenable recycling of the smooth hitmaker's more worldly tracks. A lengthy sleeve interview details the diverse musical sources--ranging from Brazilian samba and lilting Nigerian juju to hot Cuban son and Caribbean soca--that inspired tunes excavated largely from B-sides, film scores, and alternate tracks. There's not a whole lot new here, but this one-time Caribbean resident at least seems to be in touch with his slick facility in a way that pop's other great white international borrowers--Paul Simon and David Byrne--would never cop to. The rhythms and vocal harmonies are so intricately constructed, you could almost imagine Palmer has something of substance to say. He doesn't. But glibness, at least in this case, is its own reward. (Richard Gehr)