Joan Armatrading

Alright

Another album with high critical acclaim that I was looking forward to listening to, but I’d written it off as monotonous by the third track. Not for me.

Filled to the brim with good tunes and some incredibly catchy riffs. Easy to see why this album is included in the list. Glad to have listened to it (numerous times now) and will seek it out again.

Today's album is fantastic folk rock/blues rock/singer-songwriter. Reminds me of upbeat Joni Mitchell or Carole King/Tracy Chapman. I love finding someone completely new who you wouldn't necessarily have ever stumbled upon Normally. I enjoyed this album so much that I listened to more of her stuff afterwards Favourite songs: Join the Boys, People, Water With the Wine, Down to Zero, Like Fire, Love and Affection Least favourite songs: Save Me 5/5

BEAUTIFUL. I should give this more listens in the future. I think it could really, really grow on me.

Another big and great surprise!

Good jazz singer. Great voice. Never got the credit she deserves.

Love and Affection is a brilliant track, stops this from being fine but forgettable. The funk that sneaks in towards the end is a highlight too.

Love and Affection was the definite highlight. I think this album has the sound of a grower. Not sure if one listen is enough

75/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Mellow and melancholic. Not bad, but nothing exceptional.

Well produced and decent songs, but it was just nothing special for me.

Joan is good. A solid listen. Give it your attention.

First time with this album. I knew she had a good voice with the singles I've heard but this is fantastic. Great sound all over

This list needs more of stuff like this.

Pretty good. I'll have to revisit sometime.

I don't know anything about Joan Armatrading or how popular she may have been, but for folk music I had never heard before, I liked this quite a bit. The songs Help Yourself and Tall in the Saddle were absolutely amazing. Others were kind of bland or dated, but there was enough here for me to stay engaged.

Honestly, not bad at all. There weren’t by songs that popped out to me but quite nice nonetheless

You say there's peace in sleep But you dream of love instead Oh, the heartache you'll find

Another surprise

One of the biggest discoveries from this 1001 album project. Joan's harmonies are warm and colorful. The guitar work is fantastic and versatile, making each song unskippable. The production and instrumentation are flawless. Your jaw drops when you realize this album was released in 1976. Can you imagine how it would be to listen to this jewel back in the 70s? I mean, it's Nick Drake's level thing.

This is a really good album. I’ve never really listened to her before. The vocals, the incrementation everything was just really top-notch. I really enjoyed this album.

Rock, Soul, 1976 -> 4

I only really know a couple of these songs. Particularly Water in the Wine, which I added to a compilation CD for my parents when I was a young teen, for some reason thinking it was a song they really liked. Turned out they didn't know it and it was a random call. But then it was stuck on the CD so we had to listen to it loads. Only now listening back I understand that it's about not getting too bevved and having sex with your ex or what not. I remember being a bit confused at the time what that meant, makes sense why it wasn't poignant for my parents. Fun album!

An excellent album, got some belters on it.

Primer acercamiento a Joan Armatrading. Me resultó una escucha divertida, con buena instrumentalización y vocales. A pesar de que el genero cantautor no suele ser lo mío, me gustó mucho la inclusión de grooves en algunas canciones (privando al LP del sonido monótono que suelen acompañar las canciones de este genero). FAVTRAXS: Down To Zero, Help Yourself, Save Me, Tall In The Saddle. LEASTFAV: Ninguno en particular.

alright

2,5

"Joan Armatrading" by Joan Armatrading stands as a testament to the artist's profound talent, showcasing her prowess as a singer-songwriter. Released in 1976, this self-titled album marked Armatrading's third studio release and solidified her reputation as a unique voice in the music industry. Let's delve into a comprehensive review, dissecting the album's various components: lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while considering both its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics: Armatrading's lyrics in this album are characterized by their depth, introspection, and emotional resonance. She masterfully captures the complexities of human relationships, often delving into themes of love, heartache, and self-discovery. Tracks like "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero" are poignant examples of her lyrical prowess, with their evocative imagery and profound insights into the human condition. Armatrading's ability to craft lyrics that are both relatable and thought-provoking is one of the album's major strengths. ### Music: Musically, "Joan Armatrading" is a rich tapestry of folk, rock, and blues influences, showcasing Armatrading's versatility as a musician. Her distinctive voice, characterized by its warmth and soulfulness, serves as the perfect vehicle for conveying the raw emotion embedded within each song. The album features a diverse array of musical arrangements, from the gentle acoustic strumming of "Save Me" to the driving rhythm of "Tall in the Saddle," demonstrating Armatrading's ability to traverse different musical landscapes with ease. ### Production: The production quality of the album is solid, with a clean and crisp sound that allows Armatrading's vocals and instrumentation to shine. Producer Glyn Johns deserves credit for capturing the raw energy and intimacy of Armatrading's performances while maintaining a polished sonic aesthetic. The instrumentation is skillfully arranged, with each instrument serving to complement Armatrading's vocals rather than overshadow them. Overall, the production of the album is a testament to the meticulous attention to detail that went into its creation. ### Themes: Thematically, "Joan Armatrading" explores a wide range of topics, from the complexities of love and relationships to the challenges of self-discovery and personal growth. Armatrading's lyrics delve into the nuances of human emotions, offering listeners a window into her own experiences and insights. There is a sense of vulnerability and authenticity that permeates the album, as Armatrading lays bare her innermost thoughts and feelings for all to see. Themes of resilience, empowerment, and self-acceptance are also prevalent throughout the album, resonating with listeners on a deeply personal level. ### Influence: "Joan Armatrading" has had a significant influence on the singer-songwriter genre, inspiring countless artists with its heartfelt lyrics, soulful vocals, and eclectic musical style. Armatrading's ability to blend folk, rock, and blues influences into a cohesive sonic tapestry has served as a blueprint for generations of musicians seeking to carve out their own unique sound. The album's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal, with tracks like "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero" continuing to resonate with audiences decades after their initial release. ### Pros: 1. **Lyrical Depth:** Armatrading's lyrics are rich in emotion and introspection, offering listeners a window into her innermost thoughts and feelings. 2. **Musical Versatility:** The album's eclectic mix of folk, rock, and blues influences showcases Armatrading's versatility as a musician. 3. **Production Quality:** The album boasts a clean and polished sound, thanks to the skillful production work of Glyn Johns. 4. **Emotional Resonance:** The themes explored in the album, from love and heartache to self-discovery and empowerment, resonate deeply with listeners. ### Cons: 1. **Lack of Diversity in Tempo:** Some may find that the album lacks variety in tempo, with many of the tracks falling into a mid-tempo groove. 2. **Limited Instrumentation:** While the instrumentation is skillfully arranged, some listeners may find themselves wishing for more experimentation and diversity in the musical arrangements. 3. **Occasional Repetition:** There are moments where certain themes and motifs are repeated throughout the album, which may detract from its overall impact for some listeners. In conclusion, "Joan Armatrading" by Joan Armatrading is a masterful showcase of the artist's talent and creativity, featuring poignant lyrics, soulful vocals, and captivating musical arrangements. While the album may have its flaws, its enduring appeal and influence cannot be denied, cementing its status as a classic in the singer-songwriter genre.

Honestly easy listen. Way better that I thought it would be. Empowering lyrics.

At first it didn't grab me, but I warmed up to it. I appreciate the musicianship and sincerity of the songs.

Loved this! What a voice! Beautiful writing. I’m never sure why JA wasn’t a bigger star than she is?

Really good songwriting, which in my mind is one of the most valuable and hardest things to find in music.

Great vocals, I can definitely see this growing on me over time

I've only been familiar with a few things by Joan Armatrading, but this album makes me want to actively seek out more of her work. The mid 1970s were the heyday of singer-songwriters, but her work, notably on this album, stands out for its varied tempos and themes. I hear some Springsteen storytelling and some British singer-songwriter, a la Richard Thompson, on this, but moreso uniquely Joan Armatrading. Definitely worth a close listen.

It's really good. But compared to some amazing albums at 3, this has to be a 2.

loved it so much, never heard of her.

boring

Very good. Unique voice, real good guitar and some good tunes. I wouldn’t turn her off

Thought it was really good. Not sure how much I’ll come back and listen to though. Rating: 3.8

Genuinely incredible

Surprisingly good - funky, when I was expecting sub Joni Mitchell folky stuff. Won't be likely to listen again, but can't fault most of this

Middle of the road, no big standouts but no skips either. Down to Zero was probably my favorite off the album. 5/10 (2.5/5)

She’s got some freakin soul!

Really liked it. Joan came in very strong and the album felt quick. Good singing, composition, and songwriting. It definitely blended a bit at the end. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of her before.

I, too, have learned a valuable lesson about mixing water with my wine next time. Came into this album completely blind and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this artist. I really enjoyed listening to this album and some of the songs were truly jams. I’m curious if more of her work will show up and if it will compare to this album. Either way, I think this one earned the four stars.

I started playing this album around 9am on Friday morning. By 10am I was violently ill. I proceeded to expell everything inside of me utilizing both forms of egress for the next 24 hours. Sunday morning I began to feel like myself again. What I'm trying to say is that I don't remember much of this album. Just the feeling of a tile floor on my face all weekend.

How cool is it to go from not knowing anything about an artist to being somewhat of a fan, all in the span of 41 minutes. I had never even heard of the name Joan Armatrading before, and now I wonder how she slipped through so many people's radars. This record feels like a precursor to the '80s and '90s female singer-songwriter wave. It's nearly every bit just as good. Standouts are Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, Love and Affection, Join the Boys, and People.

Had never heard of her. Cool voice.

Really good, not my usual thing, I enjoyed it.

Fab

Eh, I found it pretty boring😅😅

Has it’s moments

This was very good. Had never heard of her before.

Love her voice

I did enjoy this, though Joan would go on to more commercially viable stuff later but also be a bit more adventurous. Terrific musicians with Hellecaster Jerry Donohue and ex faces and Who drummer Kenney Jones among others appearing. It does show the breadth of UK music in 1976 - Bowie, Queen, Bowie and Quatro don’t really fit here. Neither do the soon to be recorded pistols, clash or pretenders. She’s two to three years ahead of Costello (but then who isn’t?) and even Sting and the police are a bit behind. I’d probably compare her most closely to Kate Bush given both have unique voices and are women following their own vision, not the vision of male producers. I was going to give it three but it’s growing on me. 4.5.

How nice to hear Joan Armatrading - a catchup activity, an artist Ive never had the peasure of sitting down to like this, and I know form decades ago I liked a few of her tracks. Interesting pulsing voice where the uses volume and emphasis in syllables from- a signature of hers used to good effect and to add rythm and beat via her vocals - no sure what its called to do this>>?. so yes, this stands out as different - feels like a transition or blend of Tracy Chapman and Nina Simone. Unique and soulfully soothing. I was hanging out for the star of the show "Love and Affection" is mastery. oh I do love that delicate and powerful magic - nothing jumps around and works that well tonally - worth a listen just for that happy song.

I opened Scratches Record Shop on April 3rd 1982. Three days beforehand, even though we were flat out getting ready for opening day, we went to see Joan Armatrading on her first Australian tour at the Capitol Theatre. I remember a bunch of us hung around the stage door, hoping to see her, which we did, & a gay friend of mine was so thrilled that he got to touch her shoulder as she walked past. And I can put most of this down to this album, which was one of the highlights of 1976/77. For me it was driven by 2JJ pushing the album - I think the title track was the first song from it that I heard - one of the great album openers. Then Love & Affection was released as a single & she was on her way. It’s easily the most played song she’s performed live over the years. All 5 tracks on Side 1 are winners. The flip is not quite as stunning, but it does end with another of her great ones - Tall In The Saddle. Two of the best moments on this record occur in the opening track, when B.J. Cole’s steel guitar comes in & Jerry Donahue’s exquisite guitar solo on the closing track. A great record.

Oh, this is not for me. Love and Affection is a good song, but the rest of this record just makes no impression on me. It pains me to rate this album so low, because black and female artists are woefully under-represented on this list, let alone black female artists, but I not in a mood to give this a pass.

Beautiful acoustic guitar and some surprisingly strong electric riffs as well. Lots of funk and rock influence and subversive lyricism. Favorite tracks: Save Me, Tall in the Saddle

1. douun to zero - 0 2. help yourzelf - 0 3. uuater uuith uuine - 0 4. love and affection - 0 5. zave me - 0 6. join the boyz - 0 7. people - 0 8. lovez you - 0 9. like fire - 1 10. tall in the zaddle - 0

favourite: down to zero, save me least favourite: chill album started amazing then felt it fell off a bit mayb 7/10

A pretty chill folk rock album all things considered. Doesn't particularly standout in any specific aspect aside from solid singing on Joan's part and good guitar playing.

An excellent album. Well written songs and she has a great sound. I’m glad that I finally actually listened to some of her music.

Really enjoyed that. Probably my favorite album I've heard on this list so far that I wasn't already aware of. I'm definitely interested in hearing more of her stuff.

Just plain boring, like all of these folk albums. One extra star because it sounds decent sometimes.

The my-mum-coded albums are coming thick and fast. I enjoyed this a lot.

Hadn't heard of her before, this was pretty good and added to the listen to again someday pile

Nice

Great discovery, great voice rhythm and music. Love it!

This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Really enjoyed her style, sound and swagger in this. Need to find out more about her and why she wasn’t a more popular artist.

Had to listen to this album twice. It's good! It doesnt blow me away, but I enjoyed listening to it.

Never heard of this artist. Really enjoyed the album overall. 4/5

Wel nice, maar zou t denk ik niet opzetten, net te sloom ofzo

I can hear that she's a good singer/songwriter, that's for sure. Not my jam, though.

Production sounds good, but this just isn't my cup of tea.

En su tercer álbum Joan Armatrading deja atrás su inicial estilo folk sesentero para potenciar su sonido folk con elementos de rock, country e incluso algo parecido a música disco. Eso sí, en él sigue destacando la capacidad vocal de Armatrading, súmamente expresiva y encantadora."Down to Zero" y "Love and Affection" son los temas más famosos del disco, pero a mi me gusta especialmente "Join the Boys" y también destacaría "Like Fire".

Really good

4.9 - I’ve always had down to zero on my playlist, but never listened to more. So grateful this was on the list. So much emotion and just a stunning album

Liked this a lot, the whole album was beautiful. 4.7/5

Really liked this

Bloody marvellous - could listen to it all day, every day if I had to.

I feel like I’ve already listened to this album many many times on this generator. It’s not to say it’s a bad album, it’s decent, I just don’t tend to like the multitude of singer/songwriter albums on this list that much.

Love Joan Armatrading, such beautiful songwriting and effortless way she plays her music. Love and Affection is an excellent song.

The songs were not bad yet not really good. And I must admit I hate her voice...

It was interesting. I quite liked it, the instruments were very well played. I think, I have to listen to this again some time. It somehow got to me

Enjoyed this more than I anticipated!

Get a lot of Joni Mitchell vibes…and it fits right in timeline wise with the popularity of singer-songwriters of the 70s. It’s an excellent listen; great arrangements and Joan’s voice sounds wonderful.

This album doesn't really click with me

Pleasant, soulful surprise.

Having never heard of this singer , I rather enjoyed this album. Nice 70’s folk vibe.

aaagghhhh i love it so much. im such a sucker for some orchestral 70s singer-songwriter stuff. the arrangements on this album are so beautiful, the songs are moving, and love and affection is one of my favorites ever i think. joan's voice is so rich and her range is insane, as is her guitar playing. 8.5/10, fav tracks: love and affection, down to zero, someone who loves you

Pretty good

It seems like something I should like... and it's pleasant enough while it's on... but after a few listens I still can't really recall much about any of the songs. Didn't hit home for some reason.

Kinda boring generic 70s folk. Could have been a Joni Mitchell album. Love and affection was the stand out track

Pretty rad.

Good, I got into it some, but totally my thing.

Can't put my finger on what I don't like about this album but yuk.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't want to be listening to it and am glad it's over.

Largely agree with the groups comments. I also liked track 1, but the rest was largely forgettable. Good mellow background music.

pretty good! runs a bit long but overall a good listen!

Love this album. Drags a little by the end but that only knocks one star off. Her voice is great

First time hearing this album really enjoyed

I really liked this album. There were only two songs I didn't really care for ("Water with the Wine" and "Tall in the Saddle"), but the rest reminded me of other folk from that time like a Joan Mitchell or others that I like. The production and mastering also sounds great, making this a very great surprise for me - something I didn't know about before and will return to again.

Very good. Good blend of folk and blues and probably some more genres. Will listen to again.

stört nicht

Not my groove

Not my typical genre but enjoyed most of the album, especially a few songs. Just not sure how often I’m listening to this.

Good music. Reminded me of Tracy Chapman. Enjoyed the listen.

This isn't the album with Drop The Pilot on, just in case you're reading this before listening, we may as well lower expectations right now. However, it's still a really good collection of songs, sung brilliantly by Our Joan. It's a bit same-y, I'd say, but very nice indeed.

Armagive it a 4

I'll confess that my only knowledge of Joan Armatrading's music before this was "Drop the Pilot" and only because of a Mandy Moore cover. I'd definitely put her up there with the other classic singer songwriters of the time—Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, etc. Her storytelling is top notch. The musicianship is top notch as well, with some great guitar solos (like on the closing track). The sound oscillates between folky, almost country acoustic songs, funky blues numbers (with a bit of jazz), and harder bluesy rock. Fans of Joni Mitchell and Led Zeppelin (the album was produced by Glyn Johns) could both find songs to vibe to on this album. There aren't many missteps here, though the random bass vocal guy on "Love and Affection" kind of ruins an otherwise good song. It comes out of nowhere and sounds so out of place. Best tracks: "Down to Zero" "Save Me" "People" "Like Fire" 5/5

There's some real gems in here, good musicianship and a great sounding album

An important soundtrack to my college years. (yeah, I'm that old) She always found a way to make her message melodic.

The music is good and reasonably varied but that’s it …. Don’t like her voice or how she uses it ….

So I had heard of Joan back in the day, but never listened to one of her albums, or even heard one of her songs - so this was all new to me... I found the songs to have quite an original sound, and for the most part - the playing on the album was fairly good... The lyrical content seemed to be pretty pedestrian, and all along the same lines, and there is just something about Joan's voice that sorta turns me off in a way... Kind of like I have to put up with the vocals, just to get through the song, and I just don't want to work that hard when listening to music... Was worried as I was halfway through the album - probably side 1 back during record days, and there wasn't a song that even remotely grabbed me... The last half was better, as I found a bit of goodness in "Join The Boys", "People", "Like Fire", & "Tall In Saddle"... It's not that I thought these were excellent songs, but there were moments in each that I thought were pretty well-done... So I was listening on Tidal, and after the last song on the Joan album, Tidal gave me another track - so it sounded like there was one last track on Joan's album to listen to... After a few minutes into the song I said - wow - this is the best track on the album hands down... When I clicked back to Tidal, the Joan album had indeed finished, and Tidal decided that I should listen to Joni Mitchell's "Harry's House/Centerpiece" track after the Joan album... Got a good laugh out of that... : ) This is definitely better than some of the drab albums that I have found here - which I gave 1's to... If we had some gradation in the star ratings, I'd probably have given this a 1.50 - but I can't, and this is better than a 1 - so I'll give it a 2... At least now I can place the music to the name...

Just found this a bit boring. On some of the more down tempo songs I felt like I might have slipped into a coma

Incredible album. Every song is a banger. Her voice fits perfectly with the bluesy, funky guitar riffs. Can hear some inspiration from Floyd in Tall in the Saddle. Love how the album mixes slow acoustic songs with drippy electric guitar. This album flows seamlessly into itself.

Not memorable for me.

first listen a pleasant affair with various folky styles

p363. 1976. 3.5 stars. Classy mid 70s Brit singer-songwriter with a fabulous voice. All that's missing are standout tracks - if everything was as good as "Love And Affection", it would be 5 stars.

really liked it!

Singer-Songwriter, soul, rock, mid/slow, female, great voice, groove, keys, well arranged, the sax is not my pair of shoes, album starts great but gets weaker over time

Noch nie gehört - keine Besonderheiten erkannt

Joan Armatrading's self titled album is a pretty alright album, The first eight songs all were pretty good but the album did kinda fall apart at the last two songs with some overly loud instruments. The other songs though, were handled pretty well, and while they weren't the most interesting things in the world to listen to. They are still pretty decent and don't feel like a waste of time to listen to. Best Song: Save Me Worst Song: Tall In The Saddle

I haven’t listened to it but I probably like her later stuff better.

Not available in Canada. Didn’t listen.

Not my style. Jazzy, poppy, not great. 2/5

Folk-rock setentero. Está bien. Un 4.

Another equally solid R&B album, this time with some rock and country elements. The album started really strong but dragged towards the end.

Het gaat van heerlijk funky met een vleugje country naar North Sea Jazz act die ontzettend kan genieten van hoe lekker haar eigen scheetjes wel niet ruiken. Van dat laatste krijg ik altijd wat jeuk, maar al met al zeker geen verkeerde plaat. Vooral de eerste paar nummers zijn wel lekker.

Such an incredible voice. There's something timeless about this music too. Faves: Love And Affection, Tall In The Saddle

Damn, how have I never heard of Joan Armatrading before? This is excellent! One of my favorite albums of all time is Linda Perry (of 4 Non Blondes fame)'s solo effort "In Flight" and this album could very well be the blueprint that Perry followed. I set it playing again as soon as the second play through had finished. Fave tracks - more listens definitely required, but for now "Love and Affection", "Save Me" and "Tall in the Saddle"

Surprised I've never heard of her before.Was a decent record though, pleasant to listen to but with enough there to stop it being boring.

Enjoyed this more than expected! Some nice relaxed numbers and some with a surprising amount of groove!

Lovely album

Nothing stood out.

Armatrading's compositions are unique in that they explore folk rock with a distinctly funk edge. Her voice is also absolutely gorgeous which gives the whole thing a calming feel. Some incredible guitar work here and there too. Honestly what an album! Armatrading does such a fantastic job it feels like this is too often overlooked.

it was ok

I’m aware of Joan Armstrong but never actually listened to her music intentionally. Ie only just realised it was her song sang love and affection today. Great album, hard to believe this came out in the 70’s sounds like it could be a modern singer song writer album. The music is rich and varied, featuring Armatrading’s guitar playing and vocals, as well as contributions from other musicians such as Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, and B. J. Cole. The album incorporates elements of folk, rock, blues, and soul, creating a unique and original sound that is both timeless and modern. The album also demonstrates Armatrading’s ability to experiment and innovate, as she uses different instruments and arrangements, such as the saxophone on “Like Fire” and the strings on “Love and Affection”. In conclusion, Joan Armatrading is a classic and masterpiece album that deserves to be in every music lover’s collection. It is a testament to Armatrading’s skill and creativity as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, and a reflection of her personality and spirit as a woman and an artist. Immediately added to my permanent rotation. 5 stars.

some songs are awesome, some are kinda lame

Excited to hear this one!

Love her voice and the vibe of the album

Fine. Nothing particularly exciting on here. Not awful either though

Sometimes good sometimes bad

Melodic and chilled. Reminded me of Tracy Chapman!

Only one song I recognised, the rest weren't so good.

This was great

Interesting.

Tracy Chapman wannabe but that's not a bad thing.

After a solid first track I really wanted this to be eligible for higher rating, but the following tracks don’t really stand out. It’s a decent listen, and the production is quite good. But alas…

Was completely unfamiliar with this one, which is what’s fun about this whole thing. When the album started, I had pretty high hopes. But I just couldn’t get into it. Nothing wrong with this, but just isn’t for me.

2.75 / 5

After the first song I thought this was going to be the first "holy shit who is this???" surprise album. Turns out it didn't reach that level, but I still liked it. Dug when the electric guitar comes in on the first track and the grooves on the last. Not sure this gets to a 4* album (it's close), but I could def see myself digging into her catalogue. 3.5/5

Listen at 9/02/2024

No, nothing for me. Music is ok, but I did not find it interesing at all.

Blind album and artist creatively fun in a way where it's just something different in some ways that scratch the itch but lacking in my preference of style especially her vocal style.

Great instrumentals all the way through and many songs had a lot of soul. Great listen from front to back

Ehh not a big fan of this one. Some of the songs were boring with very little emotion behind them. Favorite songs were Join the Boys and Tall In The Saddle.

I had never listened to Frank Ocean before, I really liked this album. I can definitely hear the Stevie Wonder influence, and

Existing somewhere between folk and funk, this album is emotional, rhythmically appealing, and powerful. While I have never heard of Joan Armatrading before, I must believe that her career has had tremendous impact on musicians, women, and people of color.

Second draft for this review: Great voice with some decent (if aged) instrumentals. Wish we had gotten more tracks like those in the back half, a more uptempo vocal-centered LP is a welcome addition to a typically sluggish canon First draft for this review: Joan Arms Trading

Fantastic soul/blues sound, and amazing guitar work.

Amazed I'd never heard her music. This was really enjoyable and refreshing. Second listen was even more enjoyable. Loved the mellow vibe.

It was alright, there were some cool moments, nothing I could say was objectively bad really. Just overall didn't connect with me.

4.5

LOVE

I first heard about Joan Armatrading when Tracy Chapman's debut album was released. Many critics referred to Chapman as "the next Joan Armatrading" and I can definitely see that comparison. But I love them both separately.

I liked this quite a bit. Her voice isn't the greatest, but it works well with her music, and she is very heartfelt in her delivery. It's was bluesy and soulful, but with a modern feel (for 1976). I'm surprised that I've not heard of her before.

She has a lovely, sultry voice. Passionate vocals and instrumentals, the songs and melodies sounded very personable, if that makes sense. 3.3

Yep. This album hits.

Kind of a nothing-sandwich. This kept me awake, but just barely. Technically sound but I wanted so much more from this.

didnt really catch my attention

joan is great i love her loose form and the funk touches in this - 4.5

this sounded glorious through my new airpods

Id be nice if i could appreciate good music

I've never heard of Joan Armatrading, and I am really enjoying this. Her voice is great, and the songs range from sweet and folky to bluesy to downright funky. Tracy Chapman is a clear stylistic descendent, but there's a lot to chew on here even though the production is very clean and pop-minded.

Buena grabación pero no sintonizo demasiado.

Not for me.

I think this was my first listen to her. Didn’t love the whole album, but overall a good listen.

Elegante. 4/5.

Way better than expected. Can hear a lot of these songwriting grooves and motifs moving forward even into the pop of the 90s. Really good clarity on recording as well for the era.

Loved it! I saw her for the first time at the Memphis Auditorium Hall in 1977 and thought then, how fast can I get my mitts on this album! Down to Zero is one of my all time favorites.

Great vocals on a pretty forgettable record.

Shades of Nina Simone. Everyone gives uber producer Glyn Johns a bit too much credit for this one, which shouldn't affect the rating. It doesn't.

Enjoyable enough. Its a good album by a talented artist surrounded by great musicians. Joan Armitrading has a voice that’s just nice to listen to. But every time I hear her I feel like she’s … good. Capable. Versatile. Yet there’s never a moment that makes me get excited about her. I’d have no problem listening again if the record was playing but there’s just nothing all that compelling here.

Solid seventies singer-songwriter stuff!

I am very much a fan of the Joan Armatrading Greatest Hits album that I have, but this album introduced me to a number of new tunes. A big fan of everything that I heard on this album too! So glad to see her on this list!!!

Incredible. A rich and timeless sound. Want to listen on vinyl in front of a crackling fire. Amazing.

Wow I feel like I’ve had a lot of great albums to listen to lately and was sure that streak was due to end. NOT TODAY, SATAN. This is an exquisite album. The arrangements are spot on, backing vocals come in just when needed in the most perfect ways, and the songcraft exceptional. A moving, lovely experience that feels so personal how can I be anything but a huge fan?

I feel almost bad for this take but this album is boring. I can't explain why but nothing here jumps out to me because it's just a soup of boring. Comfortable boring, but boring nonetheless. I'd be interested to hear her with a more spare backing; a solo coffee house set type of thing. Best song: Somebody Who Loves You

Nicee

Did Tracy Chaplan and Amy whinehouse make a baby ?

YES. Unexpected gem right here. I love you, Joan.

entre folk y rock retro. aburridito.

Inventive, beautiful, and poetic. There's so much energy and soul in these tracks, it's incredible front to back.

2.5/5

Another album that just isn’t special or memorable in anyway

Great song writing, great musicianship. Couldn't wait for it to be over. Literally counting the songs that I was subjecting myself to. I would have torn my hair out if I had heard any more. A lot of songs where she sang about giving all her power away to men. That was weird. One song where she sings about calmly accepting date rape. "I got no strength to make him stop" "I guess it's too late, but I'll know next time"

A mix of mostly inoffensive background music, although don't get me started on track 3, Love and Affection. Would I go out of my way to listen to Joan Armatrading again, no, no i wouldn't. 1.5 stars

Soulful, powerful, magnificent. This understated album blew me away.

Some of the background music is piercing

Wow - I had never heard Joan before. What a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed every track, albeit the material was a little dark for my liking. Rich, complex, and smart instrumental construction complimented by thoughtful lyrics. Listed genres were folk rock and pop, but I heard tinges of funk, disco, and even country. At times Joan's deep voice reminded me of Tracy Chapman. My favorite tracks were Join the Boys, Save me, and Down to Zero. Shocked that she has put out 20 albums with one as recently as 2021 and she is not more in the mainstream with her talent and high quality arrangements.

Never listened to Joan before. Really enjoyed - folk, roots, a bit of rock. Definitely see how she's influenced many current musicians!

Mellow tones. Calming at times, moving into positive energy.

Smooth easy listening. Not anything I would select on my own.

I had never heard of her before this. It was good, but not something I would go back to.

Lots of cool acoustic guitar grooves. Really enjoyed the feel of this album. Band was locked in, great instrumentation. Like the strings throughout. Would have never guessed this is from 1976, sounds more modern and has an alt-pop-rock vibe. Like the blend of pop/funk/blues. Loved the baritone backing vocals and the sax on "Love and Affection". Enjoyed the various layers playing off each other on "Like Fire".

First artist on this list I had no idea who they are. Had some pretty cool songs, good guitar work, and good singing. The recording and mixing is really well done too.

Love this album if for no other reason in that it reminds me of the mid 70's. Her voice is appealing (to me) and her drummer plays *exactly* what I would have played if I were recording with her. No song really sticks out as a highlight but there were no songs that I didn't enjoy. Glad to have listened to this one, for sure.

Beautiful. Slow. Too melodic for me

Not my thing.

I've always associated Joan with singer-songwriter, which is not my favorite, but this is rockier than I expected. I am glad to have heard this album, if for no other reason than that I know people who will enjoy it.

soft spot for Joan Armatrading cos mum likes her. Comforting, familiar and playful, never rests on being predictable.

Joan Armatrading, a trailblazing artist, who broke barriers as the first UK based black woman to leave an indelible mark on the music scenes of both the UK and the US with her original compositions. Her influence resonates in the works of Beth Orton, Suzanne Vega, Ani DiFranco, and Tracy Chapman, forging the way forward for female singer songwriters. With a voice that effortlessly blends smoky bluesy tones, Armatrading has become a legend in her own right. Glyn Johns, renowned for producing iconic acts like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, lauds her work, declaring Joan Armatrading as the best album he ever participated in. This accolade from a music production legend is a testament to the exceptional quality of Armatrading's artistry. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 5 STAND OUT TRACK - Like Fire

Talented but my enjoyment level was low. I've heard better songs from her that don't feature here. Not my bag.

Was quite nice listening but I can’t say anything really jumped out at me

Could not get into this one. Enjoyed a bit but did not finish if.

If you like Fleetwood Mac, I dare you not to like this album It’s elegant, it’s sweet, and it shreds. HL: “Down to Zero”, “Help Yourself”, “Love and Affection”, “Like Fire”, “Somebody Who Loves You” January 12, 2024

(3.5) Solid album overall. Wasn’t really super blown away by the songwriting but I do enjoy some singer/songwriter folk material. There weren’t any tracks in particular that really caught me on a first listen, but I enjoyed the album overall and will likely revisit in the future.

I’m gonna classify this style of music as “Kumbaya Funk”. Alot of juicy bass lines topped with mostly boring acoustic guitar. That last song “Tall in the Saddle” was pretty sick tho. Why wasn’t the whole fucking album like that? I guess we’ll never know.

Wasn't bad, songs felt like movie plot transition songs. Character reflection/development.

Suddenly, I am my mother.

8.1.24 Album 3 and first song i knew. Ist fine i guess better then that stupid natinonal. if every song was love and affection 5/5. gg

Amazing lead off track. Good follow up Love her voice. Love the sound - soulful, folky and layered. Insane guitar work. Like fire. Musically superior album

Was never on my radar, but it's always good to hear something new.

A pretty good singer-songwriter album.

Love Joan Armatrading. A perfect folk album.

Based on the description, I wanted to like this, but it was only ok. I may dig into the catalogue a bit though.

Sounds like an unpaid act at a coffee shop. Made it 4 songs in. Rounding up from 1.7

3.8,

2.0 I thought it sounded like a female Elton John mixed with a male Joni Mitchell and I couldn't really get past that.

She has a beautiful voice that seems to have influenced many other artists. I hadn’t heard of her before this.

some songs are hit or miss, but the musical production is excellent. the inclusion of the electric guitar sections really elevate the music. some songs have extended slow portions which lose some of the power in the singing

Overall I enjoyed this Not for every day but in the mood

What a voice. First song is unbelievable. Love how this sounds. One of my favorite new discoveries, excited to go back to this. 4/5

Such a great mid 70s acoustic pop album. Worth a listen!

It's like someone singing in the shower with a guitar

Good debut

New-to-me artist. A little funk, a little blues, a bit of Joni Mitchell mixed with Tracy Chapman. Really glad I got to listen to this.

Really enjoyable album. Joan's music is like a stepping stone between the doo-wop and blues of the 50s and 60s and the folksiness of Tracey Chapman. Emotional, pure, melodic. Very much appreciated.

one more time with feeling!

Smooth listening

poor

What a treat! Great poppy singer songwriter work from the late 70s. Real standouts include Joan's very distinct voice, a really snappy rhythm section, and nice big production. It manages to dodge too much 70sness and still feels nicely fresh and catchy.

A nice sound and a great voice, though the singer-songwriter genre still hasn't grown into something I love. Not bad by any means, just not for me.

This was alright decent to listen to while working

Pretty chill and reasonably entertaining. 3/5

Nicht mehr mein Fall

Soulful album. It was alright

Incredible album. How have I not heard about this before!? Fantastic guitar playing and some insane grooves sprinkled throughout the album. Notable tracks: Join The Boys People Like fire

Amazing, one of my faves

Great smooth jamz. I was carried away. Never heard of her before and I can dig it. I felt like a lot of the time she was holding back the full power of her voice in service to these understated (but evocative!) lyrics and at first I was bummed about that, like I wanted be like ARMATRADING! BELT THAT SHIT! because if I had those pipes I’d be belting everything everywhere but then I realized that this is her third album and obvi she knew what she was capable of so her softshoeing shit is this really impressive choice. She felt in control of herself and her music here. Listened to it in the rain from downtown Philadelphia back to Conshohocken, kids and Erin asleep around me, traffic creeping, so many stiffs working a couple days between Christmas and New Years, dark dark at 5:30 PM. I saw a fluffy white dog, paws black to the elbow and eyes a little wild, trotting the wrong way down the shoulder of interstate 76. Joan’s guitar was like that dog. I won’t listen tot his album all the time but I’m saving it in the library.

To keep it short and sweet, this a jam. Beautiful singing 4/5

Nice background music, but doesn't grab the attention like some other albums. One big hit, but it doesn't really stand out among the rest - maybe it just caught the ear of the right person (dj, label boss, plugger) at the right time.

Great folk rock that is elevated by the soulful singing. Standouts are lead off “Down to Zero” and the emotional “Love and Affection”.

Folksy soul with jazzy RnB harmonies and arrangements supporting a powerful vocal performance. The singing displays an incredible range - most comfortable in a warm and intimate low-mid range, she drops down into some smokey lows and raises up for alto flashes. It's light and easy going, singing in service of the song not to feature virtuosity. To start, the songs are driven by an acoustic guitar in a classic singer-songwriter mode but fleshed out with strings, horns, piano and some restrained electric guitar along with simple bass parts and swinging drums plus he odd solo from a pretty lap steel, or a smooth jazz sax. Songs are generally slow and atmospheric, wintery Sunday morning fare. In the middle the pace picks up for some funkier tracks like Join the Boys, People, and Tall in the Saddle that combine a bit of Funkadelic fuzz with the artificial sweetner of Stevie Wonder pop. It ends with some hot twangy blues on Like Fire and Saggle that have a rampant bass and astral slide guitar and a bit of country flair. The production is crisp and clear, a full sound but still roomy with lots of space between the instruments. I'd never heard this before but wow. Favorites: Down to Zero, Join the Boys, People, Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle

Surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did.

Proto-Tracy Chapman, it's a bit in one ear and out the other, the big single 'Love and Affection' is a nice tune though and there is a bit of variety to the songs. Will say that the album cover does go pretty hard

New artist for me!

Meh

Decent enough. Joan’s voice is really a pleasant listen and the songs feel well written. Just a little too “not my type of music” for me to love though. 5/10

Great vocalist! Water With the Wine and Love and Affection both seemed familiar. Last few songs on the album my interest kind of faded until the tempo picked up during Tall In The Saddle.

What a find! Wow!!

It’s really a 3 star album but I was open to persuasion.

joan armatrading

Intersting and fine

Nice, a superficially easy and pleasant listen with a bit more depth on closer inspection

I enjoyed this kind of gentle funk with soulful lyrics. Nice.

Well, this was quite pleasant. 3.5

Easy listen. Found it very relaxing.

Very enjoyable.

I need to listen to this more.

A wonderful hidden gem I'd never otherwise have heard. Soulful, interesting instrumentation, folksy, bluesy, funky, r&b and everything in between. The dynamic range of the album in general along with the raw vocals make me miss the days of non-overproduced albums where everything needs to be "Fixed" to a fault. There's charm in warbly vocals that you just don't get today. Standout tracks: Down to Zero, Water With the Wine, Love and Affection

Unexpectedly great

Black folk music. It’s basically proto Tracy Chapman.

Very cool artist I’d never heard of.

immensely enjoyable!

Ihan jotenki pätevää, mut joku oli et ei suuremmin sytyttäny. Siis niinku periaatteessa hyvää ja sillai.

I hadn't listened to this before and was really pleasantly surprised. Some excellent songs, she's a really talented vocalist and musician and I've saved the album to my phone for future. Knocking on a 4.5.

Lovely blend of folk, blues, soul, and rock throughout this. The sound itself is wonderfully clean throughout, especially for something this old. Another gem I hadn't come across before this.

Album 9/1001: Picture perfect example of a solid and congruent piece of music. Each song plays well into the other, the voice of the singer and music composition solid. Feeling of finishing a long seasonal job 10/10

Hmmm interesting, know the hit single from this and have heard her do a great relaxed and warn set at Glastonbury but never really listened to her before. Very different. Kind of intriguing must listen again.

I really have no idea what to make of this album. The weirdest thing about it is that I've never heard of it, which is unusual for the rock albums that show up on this list (and I'm guessing that has a lot to do with the gender and race of Ms Armatrading). The album has a lot of range, with lots of elements of folk, blues, funk, and other related genres. Both music and lyrics are soulful, and she has a great voice with a lot of strength behind it 4/5

meh, okay. talented artist. some of the songs were good, but not my favorite album.

I love this discovery. What a neat album. So full of soul and musicianship. A singer/songwriter who can actually write; what a rare treat! I didn't expect much, so maybe I'm currently over-hyping it, but I enjoyed almost all of these songs and found myself bopping along. Fav tracks: Join The Boys, Help Yourself, Save Me

Folk

There's a fairly wide variety of styles covered here, it'd be really hard for me to categorize this album. They're all done well and blended seamlessly. The levels here bum me out a little, it's as though every other instrument is given precedence over her voice, so in the more intense sections it tends to fade to the back. That said, really enjoyable, would love to listen again (or to more from her).

Soulful, drums are incredible, really liked it

great album. i loved the ebb and flow and pacing of it. her voice is fantastic. glad to have learned of this one.

Enjoyable throughout

I loved her style of singing and her smooth, low voice! Plus a lot of her songs were really fun to listen to. Her career started to take off when she was in a touring production of Hair in the late 60s and you can lowkey tell that that style of music was an inspiration (which imo is a good thing.)

this one rly hit for me today. 3.5

I'm really glad I discovered this. I'm pretty sure I recognize Down to Zero and maybe Love and Affection but didn't know who they were. I'm gonna give it a five just because (in addition to being good) it's the first album I was unfamiliar with at all and am glad I found. I actually listened to it twice then the album To the Limit

01) Down to Zero - 8,5 02) Help Yourself - 8,0 03) Water with the Wine - 7,5 04) Love and Affection - 8,5 05) Save Me - 8,0 06) Join the Boys - 7,0 07) People - 7,5 08) Somebody Who Loves You - 8,5 09) Like Fire - 7,5 10) Tall in the Saddle - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,80 (78/100) "Drop the pilot, try my balloon Drop the monkey, smell my perfume" That's all I knew about Joan Armatrading before listening to this album :-) This is very pleasant listening. Track #1 is my favourite, followed by #4 & #8.

BL: this one is a complete blind listen, never heard of Joan Armatrading and can’t really gage anything about this apart from it’ll involve guitar. AL: this absolutely blew me away. The lyricism, the guitar. The blends of genre. Wow. Absolutely stellar, and some tracks will definitely be making their way into my rotation. FT: “down to zero”, “love and affection”, “join the boys”, “people”, 5/5

Pretty nice guitar work

Incredible richness of voice. Beautiful arrangements. Really fantastic.

Favorite Tracks: Down To Zero Join The Boys Somebody Who Loves You Felt like back half of the record saved this for me. There was a lull from tracks 2-5.

Loved this from start to finish. Had never heard of Joan before, but will definitely be listening to more.