It’s hard to imagine a life without a soundtrack. Music is an everlasting and evolving art whose importance goes without saying. The first album featured in this new weekly column is a personal favorite, “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley.” Robert Allen Palmer, 54, was an English singer and songwriter that was born Jan. 19, 1949 in Batley, U.K. and died Sept. 26, 2003 in Paris, France.

He was known for his powerful soul and voice, his stylistic explorations, combining soul, funk, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and blues; all of which are on full display within this album. At 35 minutes and...