Reviews (page 4 of 12)
took me a few listens to really appreciate it. really a kind of album you need to listen peacefully and with patience
Genuinely enjoyed this album!
This was the first female album I got! It was great tk listen to something new, and unique.
Very good. Some of the scatty sections lose me. Great instrumentation. Why haven’t I heard of her?
i like how calm she is honestly idk :p
These are good songs, nicely sung, with good lyrics and all placed in a cool musical setting. The lyrics reveal a strong woman who’s not afraid to express her vulnerability. “I’m not in love, but I’m open to persuasion” is a fabulous opening line to a great song, Love and Affection. I also enjoyed Help Yourself. Musically it’s all nice but it’s best when the band channels Superstition-style Stevie Wonder.
I thought this album was very strong. It had great sounds and vocals throughout to make for a pretty good folk record. I definitely have some songs I will be replaying from this album.
Album 3 Top 3 favorites off the album: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Save Me What a voice! Loving this as a different sound from the last couple albums. Reminds me of Tracy Chapman, loving the guitar. Each track has a different sound while still maintaining the warmth and soulful qualities! I was a little surprised to enjoy the lyrics as much as I did (more on that below). It's not exactly my go-to flavor, but I'm actually a lot less of a hater than I pretend I am. TLDR: I love love. I feel like I talk a lot about me in these reviews, so much so that it feels like another diary. If you're reading this, that means you're bored or you actually give a crap about what I say. Cheers to both! That said: I. Adored. This. Album. I loved it. I tend to scoff at love songs because obviously I'm above mushy, public declarations/discussions of affection. Deep, deep in the depths of my disillusioned, overly pessimistic heart, though, I love love. This album reminded me that I love love. The way Armatrading writes about it, the ups and downs, lost and found, it's something pretty special.
This is good stuff.
This is why I started this whole thing, to find hidden gems like this. A stunning record from someone I’ve never heard of
Incredibly and criminally underrated record. Joan's guitar playing is extraordinary and the production is stellar.
Super cool, the funkier songs were my favorite. If it was more of that it'd be a 5.
Would give this a solid 3.5, but I'm rounding up since I think it's better than a 3
She has a very unique voice, that seems to use quite well. She can sound quite mannish at times. You get some folksy bluesy funk music on here. Her voice to me sounds like a cross between Melissa Etheridge & Cher in the best ways possible. I hear the Tracy Chapman comps but it's a bit on the nose. It's got a bit of a twang too. Pleasant surprise.4
Nice Mellow music. Reminds me of the 70’s folk rock.
This was an interesting find! I really liked it. Great interesting harmonies and rhythms. High 4
Never heard of Armatrading, but this was really nice. Strong singer-songwriter stuff that embraced the sound of the latter '70s with some poppier/funkier strings and instrumentation and production. Has earned another listen for sure.
would not be on my regular rotation but this is a really nice one Will I listen to again: 31%
🥇down to zero 🥈love and affection 🥉water with the wine HM: people, somebody who loves you, like fire
I liked it.
Starts really well. A 4 or 5 based on the beginning.
I wasn’t very optimistic on seeing this album come up, but I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this. Definitely grew on me from a second listen. 4/5
More like Joan Imanottrading this for another album. A Tracy Chapman, fast car, kind of vibe that my younger self would have slightly enjoyed has only grown on me in my elder years. The spotify auto play that started after was also somewhat enjoyable. 7 lightning McQueens out of 10 lizard wizards
pretty good
Había escuchado otros discos de esta mujer y no recordaba nada notable. Este disco está lleno de melodías magníficas ye ha sorprendido mucho.
Pretty sure I have the same Ovation guitar she has on that album cover. She mixes in a pop feel to some general folksy-ness. A very good representation of the genre. Several songs could have made the playlist, but I'll go with hir hit, "Love and Affection". Heck, I'll toss "People" on there too for that funky element she put on that track.
Good album. I would have been hard pressed to place what decade this album was from. I think she was ahead of her time on a lot of this. There's a timelessness about it. Also, the album is varied in style, yet holds together as a cohesive whole.
Wonderful vocals
The music complements pool pretty good. 4/5
“Love and Affection” is the track that first made me fall for JA’s beautiful folk-rock stylings. The rest of the album does not stand as prominently with me, and is not my favorite album by her, but it holds up as a very enjoyable listen that I hope to return to often.
Мені альбом скоріше на 3.5. У Жоан чудовий голос, теплий звук на альбомі, непогані аранжування. Проте, не можу сказати, що сильно за щось зачепився, коли разок альбом прогнав. І бібліотеку захотілось додати, то можна ставити.
Lovely and compelling album
Always heard the name, enjoyed it! Like Fire is dope and that solo in Tall in the Saddle!
Joan must be one of those “if you know, you know” artists and I’m embarrassed to admit that I had absolutely no idea before today. It’s possible that I’ve heard Joan Armatrading's name in passing, but I can’t say I recall hearing her spoken about in a meaningful way and that feels wrong. She’s been nominated for Grammy Awards in 1980, 1983, and 2007, and that doesn’t feel like enough recognition. She’s also still making music, which is incredible. I keep having to remind myself that this came out in 1976 because it feels like it could have come out in the late 80s or early 90s. Knowing this was at least 10-15 years earlier, and she just went ahead and kept evolving right on through the 70s, 80s, 90s, until today... it kinda blows my mind. Listening through the rest of her catalog only bolsters my opinion of her work. There's folk, there's funk, there's country, there are all the things (including new wave in the 80s!). I have a sense that Joan quietly influenced so many of the singer-songwriters who came after her and I’d highly recommend hearing this record at least once (and then maybe check out some others)! “Down To Zero” “Love And Affection” “Join The Boys” "Like Fire" “Tall In The Saddle” PS- if anyone knows where I can get a t-shirt with this album cover on it, please let me know. I'm a Large.
Great album.
I liked it. Haven’t heard any of it before but the songs are well produced and sound surprisingly modern
Crazy how I've never heard this artist before. 1001 throws up a diamond in the rough. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
Perfect album to have playing in the background at home. Calming and wonderful. Like a lullaby.
Better than I thought it would be at the start.
Good
Really enjoyed this!
I dig it.
Very chil, jazzy and vibey
I was busy today and couldn’t give this one the attention I feel it probably deserves. Rating it 4 because it feels like one that will grow on me a lot after a single half assed listen.
Soulful, uplifting, beautiful
First impressions are very promising
Pretty enjoyable album. It's got similar pop/folk rock/singer songwriter vibes to a lot of other albums on this list, but the instrumentation is a lot more rich and interesting. There are some bits of funk, jazz and rock across the track list too. Water with the Wine was the standout track to me, but Down to Zero and People are great too.
Going into these albums blindly I'm quick to try to think of an artist that I'm reminded of while listening. I couldn't think of anyone right away. Britney Howard came to mind early on just because of the album cover... but towards the end of the album I came up with Fiona Apple. Even though I knew it was from 1976... this really does feel like 70's. It's jazz and folk and even has an electric guitar solo akin to David Gilmour. I was hoping that Joan played all of the instruments (like Lenny Kravitz) but on this album she plays only acoustic guitar. Her backing band is excellent. I need to do a deeper dive.
Beautiful. She’s so cool.
Amazing album, diverse, lyrical, standout vocals.
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. Just some good vibing R&B. The way Joan's voice works with the instrumentation is sublime.
Joan Armatrading rocks--both the person and the album. This is a soulful, buoyant album with lots of feels and great instrumentation. Top tracks: "Love and Affection," "Tall in the Saddle," "Down to Zero," "Like Fire"
Beautiful voice. "Down to zero" is a masterpiece! I compared Joan a lot with Tracy Chapman, the manner of playing and singing is similar, but the mood is different! Joan's songs on the album are light, gentle, positive! I also liked track People - so funky!
Really funky. I liked this. Love her voice. Would listen again.
She's got such a good voice and it really grooves, this album. The only song I don't really dig is the one that's a bit disco sounding, is it around Join the Boys or People? But this is good stuff.
Honestly, it was a pretty great album! I'd say about. 85% of it is absolutely genius. The only reason why it's not a five is because I feel that some of the songs on it were not grabbing my attention as much, but the musicianship is phenomenal. Her songwriting is incredible and honestly it's mixed very well. Probably a return
So great. Fell in love on first listen.
I had never even heard of Joan Armatrading before today. The strongest first impression I got was that this woman knows how to write a song. Every track on this record is catchy and easy to listen to while still being a confessional of an awkward woman who just can't seem to fall in love (at least not for long, but she still had fun) and kind of doesn't like people. She's like if Carol King and Bill Withers had a lightly misanthropic love child. Nothing on this album blew me away musically, but I was bobbing my head throughout most of my listens, and I was impressed with the consistency of the writing and arrangements. It helps that this album was also produced well. It's space and airyness lent it to a nice experience on both hi-fi and headphones (even though a couple of moments of strong stereo were a little jarring with the latter). Overall, this one won't change lives, but it was still super nice. Listen to it closely or put it in the background; either way it won't disappoint. Four stars.
Really enjoyed this one. Beautiful voice
Her voice is very unique and very soulful. Down to Zero and Love and Affection are my favorites. Definitely at least four stars
Good album here. You can hear that it’s from the 70s but it also has a lot more blues than you’d expect from something at this time. Not something I’d probably listen to a lot but still a good one
You know it's good when the album loops back around and you're excited to hear the first song again.
Solid 70s folk. Reminds me of Bob Seger. Great sounding instruments. Most of the album will slip by as a pleasant blur. The second to last song marks a fascinating and worthy guitar composition worth the price of admission. This is good. It didn't change my life but it did make me wonder why I haven't heard her music before. 3.5/5 -> 4/5
Never heard of this artist before but really really enjoyed the album
Sweet, mellow, sensual warm voice, solid
3.5 This one really grew on me as it went on. Rare case of the latter half sounding better than the first. She sounds like a cross between Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman yet better than the sum of their parts. Not normally my thing but I quite enjoyed that.
Découverte très sympa, une voix féminine chill avec par moment une vibe un peu Véronique Sanson (Water with the Wine notamment), très cool
Je ne connaissais pas du tout ! Voix cool. Un savoureux mélange entre Tracy Chapman et Janis Joplin par moment. J’ai même eu l’impression d’entendre Véronique Samson par moment dans sa façon d’utiliser sa voix ! C’était sympa comme album, un côté un peu pop country, un peu blues, un peu jazz..
Plutôt sympa, bonne découverte ! Par contre je vois pas du tout la vibe Véronique Sanson. 4/5
Mellow, laid back, jazz tinged, easy listening for a wet Wednesday. Once saw her give out a trophy at Glorious Goodwood. Who'd have thunk it?
Wow, I can’t believe I’ve never heard Joan Armatrading before. This is a bit bluesy, a bit funky, a bit jazzy, and very soulful singing. Thoroughly enjoyed this!
Pretty good! Made me want to explore more of her work.
I’d never heard of Joan. This was great. 4/5 Highlights: Down To Zero Help Yourself Water With The Wine Love And Affection Join The Boys Tall In The Saddle
Alright, feels like tracy chapman pre tracy chapman, 7/10
Tykjer det er mykje frå 1970-talet eg aldri ville gjette var frå 70-talet, men kanskje 90-talet heller.
That voice, great record especially the first 3 tracks
Quite liked this album but I would also fire someone if they were playing guitar in the office. Also it’s a tad samey Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song - love and affection Least fav - help yourself.
Couple of songs I'd heard (and liked) before but most of this album was new to me. Manages to be varied while staying consistently good and she's got an incredible voice! Favourite song: Down to Zero (also really liked Water With The Wine and People) Least: Save me
7.5 Bien; mejor en sus momentos mas soul/funk, pero sin llegar a emocionar.
This is someone I'd never heard of, but it was above expectation. Good variety, interesting instrumentals and lyrics.
Surprisingly good!
Super przyjemniacki album, aż zaczęła mi nóżka latać do kilku piosenek. Dodaję do ulubionych!
My partner loved it
Dang! I was familiar with "Love and Affection" and even saw her SNL performance back in the day. I'm really digging this much more than I expected. One of the community radio shows I follow (The Time Machine on WDBX) plays her occasionally but more of the mellow tunes as opposed to the bangers. That DJ is doing Joan a disservice. Love the breadth of styles and feel.
This does not sound out of the 70s. This music is 15 years ahead of its time. And it’s really good too.
Beautiful voice, kickass guitar, incredible lyrics. Close to perfect.
Não ouvi com muita atenção. Gostei da Tall In The Saddle. Dou 4 estrelas, porque não consigo dar 3,5, que seria a minha avaliação (tendo em conta outras avaliações até agora)
I'd forgotten how much I like Joan Armatrading. Thank you 1001 albums generator for bringing her back into my life.
3.5
fabulous album
Really liked this! Tall in the saddle the boys
Delightful. Cannot believe this is from the mid-70s this sounds so fresh.
This felt Fleetwood-lite with a little more funk. I'll be coming back to this album
Great. Classic! Have it -- love it. Such a great 70s era singer songwriter album. Great listen throughout.
A couple recognizable hits in here. Kind of fusion of folk with more funky backtracks on some tracks.
Varied, yet cohesive. Good songs. Well produced.
I did have a big review written up but I lost it. I swear. Loved Love and affection and Save me 7/10
This is the kind of album that I hope for from this project. A great album from an artist I'm unfamiliar with. A great intersection of folk, pop, soul and country. Extremely groovy, poetic and full of energy with an amazing vocal range to boot. No real criticisms but it fell just short of a 5 for me. Highlights: Water with the Wine, Save Me, Tall in the Saddle
Obv love and affection is one of the best songs ever made, had never listened to the whole album and liked it a lot! She is so great and her voice is so beautiful. Songs ruled too
Joan Armatrading is a great unknown to me and I think for most people.
A strong album - Armatrading writes very evocative and arresting melodies. I'm not that familiar with her work but seems like she had found her voice as an artist at this point - it's a very confident set of songs. Not every track quite chimed with me, especially in the second half, but definitely a good 4*
Really enjoyed this. Great female singer-songwriter. Sounds a lot like Tracy Chapman.
This was a pretty good pop rock album. The songs are light and fun, and the vocals are good. The instrument playing, while not virtuosic, serves its purpose well.
bem bom na real!!!
não é minha pira, mas é bem legal até!! parece realmente bem influente pras mulheres do folk/rock da década de 90 né.
This album was a pleasant surprise. I had never heard of Joan Armatrading before, and I'm still not quite sure how she made it into the 1001 albums you must hear, but this was overall an enjoyable listen. My favorite tracks leaned into the more bluesy stuff rather than the softer stuff, but it was all pretty solid. Favorite songs: Join the Boys, Save Me, Like Fire
This was great, she’s an amazing singer, I really enjoyed all the songs!
Lots of great songs here. Armatrading's voice is top notch - a unique blend of folk and blues impulses delivered very cleanly. The arrangements are all well put together, and a lot of the album really grooves. For all the positives, I don't find it the most memorable record; Armatrading's style seems to largely eschew hooks for a more storyfull approach, which is not quite my preference. Some of the quieter/slower moments also lack the vitality the rest of the record. Still, an incredibly joyful and enjoyable listen - definitely worth revisiting.
Joan has a great, strong voice. Her voice makes me sometimes think of Janis Joplin, sometimes Tracey Chapman, sometimes Brittany Howard. At times this album sounds like it’s from the mid 90’s not the mid 70’s. Favorite songs include Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Love and Affection, Save Me. All of the songs are enjoyable and the album is a good straight through listen. The second half of the album is definitely more 70’s grounded with a lot of funk styling.
I had never heard of Joan Armatrading before getting this album, and I really enjoyed her music. Always enjoy discovering new good music on this challenge, as it makes getting all the trash worth it. lol
This album was really awesome. Awesome songwriting and she has a great voice. Sounds inspired by Joni Mitchell a little bit with the singing style. Really great guitar parts and keyboard parts. Tall in the Saddle is definitely my favorite on the album. that song was incredible. I could definitely see myself returning to this quite a bit. I love the cozy vibes. Were there a few songs that dragged a bit, sure. But the better songs make up for it and then some. The lyrics were great too
3.5
loved almost all song
no habia escuchado un album de folk rock tan facil de escuchar, estuve vibing desde que empezo, los riffs y solos le agregan muchísimo y la voz de ella me parecio espectacular. Ademas de que la intro y el outro son buenisimas, haciendo el album muy redondo
¿PERO BUENO ESTA SEÑORA? La absoluta cabra. Se agradece que la mayoría de instrumentales tiren más a folk que a algo 100% blues porque así compensan que Juana ES el blues. Los mejores momentos son cuando deja la voz dando saltos encima de la melodía. En las lentas no brilla tanto, pero se sigue dando el diálogo perfecto entre voz y cuerdas, que suelen rendirse ante ella en forma de respuestas a los ritmos que su voz propone, get em Juana. Favs: Water With The Wine, Join The Boys
A great singer songwriter album that has tons of variety
Really enjoyed It!
Felt a little apprehensive at the beginning, but by the end, completely entertained.
Learned about Armatrading from an old, old friend. Literally life-changing times, catapulting me into the first phases of real adulthood.
Never heard of her, really blown away by this album.
Absolutely stunning songwriting underpinned by Kenney Jones' perfect drumming. A great band for a great songwriter.
My mum has always loved Joan Armatrading, and I am beginning to understand why. This album showcases some incredible songwriting and musicianship. My rule is an album only gets five stars if I immediately want to go out and buy a physical copy. This one hasn't quite done that yet, but I suspect it will grow on me in time. 4+1/2 then.
Great album. So many different style fusions.
her voice is sooo amazing, especially her lower register. some great versatility on this album. will be re-listening to this
that was kinda crazy good. all of the songs were really interesting structurally—almost all of them went in directions that i couldn’t really predict which i found quite engaging in contrast to the overall smoothness of her sound. her voice is so gorgeous and a bit nostalgic to me cos my mommy loves her :’) fav tracks: help yourself; like fire; somebody who loves you
I really enjoyed this one. I like how lush and full all the songs sounded. I think there are certain parts of her vocal range that I don't love because the vibrato style skews a bit bleating (not sure if there's a more technical term for that style) but most of the time I didn't mind it so much. The chord progressions in a lot of the songs have that sort of heartbreaking, emotional cadence to them that I always love when I hear it. It's particularly noticeable in "Down To Zero", which kind of reminded me of George Harrison (in addition to its slide guitar). I thought the funk influences were also kind of unexpected but still went with the overall tone of the album because of the way they were incorporated ("Join The Boys", "People"). It's just a really good mix of genres that blend together so well and sound beautiful. Fav tracks: Down To Zero; Love And Affection; Tall In The Saddle
Joan Armatrading's self-titled 1976 album is a landmark of the singer-songwriter genre. It's a raw, emotionally resonant record that masterfully blends folk, pop, and blues. The standout song, "Love and Affection", is a testament to her style: intimate, heartfelt lyrics delivered with a powerful, soulful voice, a singular talent and a crucial pioneer who has *the* range. Her work directly paved the way for artists like Tracy Chapman. Armatrading's success as an independent Black female artist who wrote and performed her own acoustic-driven material created a powerful blueprint. The influence is clear in Chapman's music, from its focus on honest, narrative lyrics to its blend of genres and its overall sense of stripped-down authenticity.
Never heard of her. She’s the OG Tracy Chapman. Ahead of her time. Poppy, in a good way.
me gusta esto, súper dinámico, musica entretenida
Actually really good, hadn't heard of her before but it was a great album. Lovely voice, some Jeff Buckley notes in there too. Very innovative for 1976!
For me, this album always reminds me of my time at university in the late 1970s, especially "Love and Affection" which was always good for a slow dance at the end of the evening and its memories still sends a shiver down my spine. The sort of Singer-Songwriter album that they don't seem to makes so much these days. A great voice and a great album.
fun while it lasted
highlights are help yourself, water with the wine, love and affection, join the boys, people, tall in the saddle. guitar solo in like fire very good. like most folk albums, it begs a few re-listens for max appreciation. i'm looking forward to getting to know this one better.
A warm and soulful blend of folk, rock, and pop, carried by Joan Armatrading’s expressive voice and sharp songwriting. Intimate yet powerful, it’s the record that firmly established her as a singular talent of the 70s.
Great voice (pre Tracy Chapman), great musicians, great songs. Still somehow something was missing?
Just some good folk, nothing much else to say. Solid 4 Stars.
I really enjoyed this one. Sounded more like 80s-90s than 70s.
Beautiful vocals and arrangements, sounds very ahead of its time in terms of singer songwriter from the 70s. Good stuff.
7/10
Amazing guitar work.
Love the sound and orchestration. Not a big fan of her voice. Ok, I was wrong. The album turned dynamic After Love and Affection.
Pretty solid album here. I think I’ve only ever heard one or two of these before. I’d listen again.
Never listened to her before but quite enjoyed this.
Class.
I wasn't sure at first, but it turned into a pretty chill, easy listening album.
Day 9 Was only vaguely aware of Joan Armatrading, really enjoyed this album and will be checking out other albums. A solid 8/10 for me Highlights Down to zero Save me Like fire
The way the first song started, I needed to pick up my jaw from the floor. I was not expecting the guitar and the mix to be so incredibly well put together. And the voice has so much soul which carried out throughout the album. There’s definitely flaws within the album, but this was a terrific discovery
Album No. 0014 on my list. I had never even heared the Name Joan Armatrading before. This album was something completely new to me, and it was great! I really enjoyed listening to this. Armatrading has a great voice, there are some decent lyrics on this and the music feels like an interesting combination of folk, jazz, soul, and what not. Cool songs, I liked “Down to Zero”, “Water with the Wine”, and “Save Me” in particular. The album’s biggest hit (“Love and Affection”) however did not appeal all that much to me. To summarize: good album, cool music, some great songs - 4/5 stars!
really interesting and groovy. i didnt pay much attention to the lyrics tho
What a wonderful new listen for me.
Joan Armatrading is one of those singer songwriters who has always flown under the radar. Someone who I wouldn’t have (and didn’t) give the time of day to as a teenager when this album was released, but now I can appreciate good songs played and sung well. I doubt I’ll seek out any more of her stuff but my view of her has changed.
Loved this album. I see how she definitely influenced a lot of people that came after her. I get big Tracy Chapman vibes for sure. Great vocals, overall great feel. Excellent album and I'll listen again.
Yet another new to me artist, I have never heard of her. Let GO! Who is the male singer on Track 4? This album is nice. Definitely puts you into a certain time and place. Her voice is magnificent. Lots of different genres represented here too, the album doesn't get bogged down by repetition. 3.5/5
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a Joan Armatrading album before - I really enjoyed this. I’m familiar with Love and Affection but it really struck me while listening just what an odd song it is - a really unusual arrangement. Wonderful stuff, I enjoyed the whole album - Tall in the Saddle also really stood out. I’m going to dig out more by her.
I don't have too much to say about this except that it's well-written, well-sang, and well-played singer-songwriter fare. I'm surprised I never heard of her before, but this album has me interested in hearing more.
listened to half, very listenable and even pleasant. Cool harmonies, would listen to some again
I've loved Joan Armatrading for quite some time, and was particularly seduced by Love and Affection in my 20s when I used to try to mimic her smooth, rich voice singing about such emotions, and always being conscious of her aching need for love. I hadn't heard some of the songs, but enjoyed the news ones with the older familiar ones. Highly recommended.
Great vocals and instrumentals. Wild I’ve never heard of her before
Her voice is sooo strong. This was fantastic. I have never heard of Joan Armatrading before and she ate here. This was so much fun. Had folk and rock vibes. This is like a 4.25 Liked Songs: "Down To Zero" , "Water With The Wine" , "Love And Affection" , "Join The Boys" , "People" , "Somebody Who Loves You" , "Like Fire" , "Tall In The Saddle"
Me gustó mucho su voz, no la conocía pero la verdad me pareció muy bueno.
Stunning and relaxing, good!
A pleasant surprise. Jazz, soul…wow! What a voice!
Very lovely to listen too great for background or more intimate settings
Joan Armatrading: Joan Armatrading: Joan Armatrading. This album is really damn good actually, better than I expected. It starts with a good, but typical souls sound, but by the end of the album there are a lot of really cool instrument and piano uses, and the drumming and vocals are excellent throughout. This was a very pleasant surprise honestly and I am really glad I listened to it. 9/10
Finding unfamiliar artists (well, serious artists who aren't obvious farces like Lightning Bolt and Napalm Death) is what makes enduring this challenge's weeks of garbage worth the effort. I really enjoyed this despite it not quite reaching greatness for me. I found Joan's voice and vibe to be very approachable, but the musical arrangements were somewhat wispy and weak. It felt like she was bigger and better than these songs were able to support. Perhaps the poor production was just a product of the times? Shame. With stronger musical accompaniment, I think Joan could have shone much more brightly. Overall, I'd say this was good, and I'm glad I got to listen to it (a few times. in fact).
Joan Armatrading is one of those really cool British people I wish I knew more about! My parents had a compilation CD (Track Record) but it's nice to hear a full album of earlier stuff. She's cited Astral Weeks as an influence and I can hear that on stuff like 'Love And Affection' and 'Somebody Who Loves You'. (I think it's reductive to only compare her to female singer/songwriters.) The highlight for me was the last song, 'Tall In The Saddle', which was a good synthesis of the different folk and rock sounds on the album.
I'm only a little aware of Joan Armatrading's music, and the stuff I'm aware of doesn't sound like this, but I still really loved this. "Love and Affection" and "Somebody Who Loves You" knocked me out! Going to be playing those on repeat for a while.
Lovely album
Great album - no weak tracks here
Very good voice. My favorite was love and affection. I loved the instrumental also.
A little poppy. Like the rythum. Kenny Jones on drums. Glen Johns produced. Listened to 4 or 5 tracks.
Another surprise, 70s rock and soul found a way to work together. Never heard of Joan, and that's a pity.
# Album Name: Joan Armatrading # Artist: Joan Armatrading # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Lovely voice, lovely vibe. Some good tunes on the album. That piano solo in Join the boys is great. Overall an enjoyable listen. Ill come back to this one. # Top Tunes: Down to zero / help yourself / love and affection / Join the boys # Would I listen to it again? Yes
I do love a bit of chill folk rock, this was nice. Like most albums I’d have to listen many times to get really into it.
There is a quiet, brilliant energy captured in this album, one that Tracy Chapman undoubtedly took some amount of inspiration from. Maybe a bit too mellow in the beginning, as the back half definitely feels more lively - the standout track being "Like Fire"
I admittedly had not heard of Joan. I loved it and searched out more albums!
I loved this. I think my Dad would have loved this - I wonder if he had heard of her. It sounds like so many female vocalists I grew up listening to in the 90s were inspired by Joan. I couldn’t stop hearing Tracy Chapman in her voice. It was beautiful and powerful.
Bra! Låtarna, röst och karisma. Starkt album! Betydligt bättre än när snubbarna gör samma sak. Ibland blir det musikaliska lite väl 70-funkigt. Vill lyssna igen: Ja! Bästa spår: d- somebody who loves you / dw- love and affection Betyg: d- 7 av 10 (4 av 5) Dw- 9 av 10 (4 av 5)
This was thoroughly pleasant sunny vibes.
I was completely unaware of Joan Armatrading before today, and I have to say I am disappointed in that - after listening to just this album I know she should be far more revered and talk about. This album is well written, she has a wonderful voice. She is Tracy Chapman looong before Tracy Chapman. I accidently had my Spotify on shuffle so the tone and vibe of the album seemed off and a bit choatic to me but then I realized it was my fauly and the producer's doing. Overall this was a really good album, one that most definitely belongs on this list and I am happy to have stumbled upon a new artist that I will absolutely be listening to for years to come. 8.2/10 121/1001
Really good stuff. This maybe the first one I'm happy to have discovered from this scatter-shot list. I like her voice and funky chops.
4.2
Very enjoyable listen this morning.
Tasteful soul pop vocals
There are more than a few hidden gems in this challenge. Joan Armatrading has been a particularly surprising one. If I'd seen this in a record store, I'm sure I'd have immediately dismissed it. Even listening to it the first time, I was tempted to dismiss it as good but not worthy of being on the list. Maybe it's kind of interesting as a being a successful record from a Black woman singer-songwriter. That's definitely not nothing but is it enough to get on this list? Does it survive the test of time? I keep thinking of a review that said this is the kind of album you only put on once in a while but keep coming back to. And I can see that. There is something special about it. There are so many diverse elements here, including folk and jazz and blend perfectly with the singer-songwriter style that leads the sound. Multiple listens reveal more each time. For my rating system, I should possibly give this 3 stars but I want to be generous here because I think it may be one yo explore more in the future.
First time listening to her. 4 stars.
I love it !
En general esta bien, pero de verdad solo me ha gustado 1 cancion
AMAZING voice
This is the list at its best, pointing users to artists who are underappreciated or unique or – as in JA's case – both. Whole thing works, warm and thoughtful, easy to listen to, plus obvious depth and soulfulness. "Water with Wine" and "Help Yourself" and “Somebody Who Loves You” are highlights, though opener and closer are also strong. Didn't know Fairport Convention backed here, but makes sense. Easy 4.
What a great listen. Very much reminded me of Cher and Joni Mitchell even at times.
Those bass voice call and response are so good
Really loved her voice. 4/5
This was quite good!
Like being wrapped in a blanket lots of love
I loved, loved, loved this album. Hearing it for the first time was a joy but I also slightly grieved theJoan shaped hole that I realise has been empty until now - this is definitely an album I’ll be listening to again …and again … blending folk, jazz, funk, blues and rock so seamlessly - much is down to the production too… I can’t write it better than Dave Hepworth in his review for The New Musical Express in 1976 “… the poetry of this album is not the flat print of the lyric sheet but lies rather in the animate pulse of pure music where voice, words, tune and instruments are utterly inseparable” 4.5 👏
Joan Armatrading burst right out of the gate and settles into an effective groove on this self-titled record that, as hard to believe given the title, is not a debut album even if it feels as though it is. Once listened to, it gives the credence that Joan walked so that fellow singer-songwriters such as Tracy Chapman could run. May this be replayable. Favorites: Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Love and Affection, Join the Boys, People, Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle.
This was an absolute joy, and of the albums I've dived into so far, probably the one I'm most likely to want to put on again immediately after the fact. Wonderful folk-soul relatively simple in its arrangements, but this is a shining beacon of strident positivity and wholesomeness. Love the funky bass lines and mischievous piano populated throughout the album, and Joan Armatrading commands such a presence vocally with a real swagger and pomp. There is also bountiful variety in simplicity here as to consistently retain my attention. Can't think of any significant criticisms for this one, it's gone onto my vinyl wishlist.
Good album, a mix of country with some more funk honestly. Water with the Wine took me by surprise because not paying close attention I thought it might have been a cry for help in an unwanted close relationship. It read more of a bad one night stand from the alcohol versus some sort of full on predation, but it does shine a light on the line and how easily it can be crossed
Unexpectedly cool record. Cool amalgamation of Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman and Elton John. And somehow it just works!
An album that surprised me - when i drew it i groaned and thought it’d be a punish. How wrong i was. I must echo other comments that she’s like an early Tracy Chapman. Great listenability on this one, opens with a banger and the subsequent music is excellent
wow. This is exactly what I've been looking for. This is an extremely subjective rating, but 4/5. It's just my kind of sound, and I enjoyed almost all the songs (can't give it a perfect 5 though) - if I could, I'd give it 4.5.
Nice, but something didn’t quite grab me
i really liked it
reconocí la voz de esta artista con la primera canción y eso creo ya que es un mérito. algunos tracks del álbum tienen un sonido muy particular teniendo en cuenta el género del que pertenece y es bastante disfrutable. ha consolidado la teoría de que la mejor manera de escuchar álbumes es mientras juegas al fifa tranquilisimo
Wonderful songs, almost a 5/5
Stands up really well.
I liked this! It was pretty good singer-songwriter stuff. Would Recommend. 9/10
Album starts out with perfect song for driving down Highway 1 or starting a roadtrip out west. "walk-with-your-feet-on-the-ground"!
Very nice
4/5
It’s just cool isn’t it? Love & Affection clearly the standout here but there’s actually some other really strong tracks. Down to Zero, Join the Boys, Somebody Who Loves You all really good. Tall in the Saddle a great closer!
First album where I’ve not recognised the name of the artist. Also the first album where I’ve saved a track to my library. Down to Zero is such a tune.
I had never heard of her, but am pleasantly surprised. She reminds me of Tracy Chapman a bit. I think the album requires more listenings so I’ll round it upwards to a 4.
Never heard of this artist or album before. Feels like a mix of a few genres, very nice voice, very poetic writing. Feel like I need to listen to it again. Very smooth easy going album. Favorites: tall in the saddle, join the boys, people Rank: 6.5/10
This was a really nice surprise from an artist I was not at all familiar with. There were a few songs I wasn't keen on but excellent overall, with a unique blues/folk rock mix, right up my alley. Unusual for a 3rd album to be self-titled though.
This was a fun album. Good voice. A bit jaunty. Would listen again.
Incredible voice. As a whole, the album is a bit sleepy. Love and Affection is a standout.
What a wonderful discovery.
Very enjoyable
A grower. Listened to it twice. Great focus and solid songwriting. Second side in my opinion much better than first side. 3.75 stars
not my cup of tea, but the lyrics, voice, and overall feeling were S tier
This album flows from song to song really well. Soulful but also a little funky. Definitely worth your time.
Havent heard of her before, but I'm left with the feeling that I want to hear more.
I’ve never heard of Joan Armatrading before, but based on what some of the top reviews for this album say, I think there’s a good change that I’ll enjoy this album. There’s only one way to find out! This album by Joan Armatrading was a very pleasant surprise. The vocals were full of emotion, the musical arrangements were beautiful, and the songwriting was top-notch. This was a very enjoyable album to listen to, and I liked that the lyrical content of the songs covered a wide range of emotions and topics. “Love and Affection” was probably my favorite song on the album. The guitar playing was outstanding, and that deep backing vocal really caught me by surprise. This song had a great vibe, and I loved how its sound developed and evolved over its runtime. The saxophone and strings were great too, and this was just a fantastic song in every way. I really enjoyed “Down to Zero” as well. The beautiful guitar, piano, and vocals captured my attention really well, which is always so refreshing in a leadoff track on an album. The steel guitar that came in later on the song was great too. “Help Yourself” had some really great lyrics of female empowerment, and even though a lot of this album reminded me of the music of female singer-songwriters in the nineties, this song felt the most ahead of its time on the album. “Join the Boys” and “People” had some funky vibes that I really liked, and Joan’s vocal style on the former was really unique, and it was cool to hear her branch out with some rougher vocals. When this album grabbed my attention, it grabbed it fully, but there were some moments where I wasn’t as in to it. The songs that I didn’t like weren’t bad, but they just weren’t interesting, and they didn’t capture me the way the other songs did. It wasn’t enough to diminish my enjoyment that much, but it was enough to keep this from being a five star album for me.
I liked this record. Joan is one my sisters favorite.
Very decent seventies country-rock tinged singer songwriter record. Joan’s voice is very strong, phrasing is great, emotional conveyance assured.
What a beautiful album. I have heard of Joan Armatrading and do know some of her songs but have never listened to a full album before until today. I will definitely be listening again and also to more of her albums. And good on her, she is still making music and putting out albums over 50 years after her first one.
Right nice
A good album and an album that I would expect to be on the list. The first few songs are especially memorable. Unfortunately falls into the same kinda sound that was common for the era. Nice to hear some genuine lyrics though
started off a little weak but it gets better. some solid songs too
Good!
Good folk album is wasn't aware of
Loved it, a nice dozey sleepy Saturday morning listen
Liked it but was just hoping for Tracy Chapman based on the reviews
Beautiful
Nice surprise find!
Just found that I own six Joan Armatrading albums, all on cassette, bought in a job lot; but not this one, despite "Love and Affection" being the song I know best and most associate with the singer. The album is a pleasant listen. Joan's voice is deep, rich and resonant, and the production, by Glyn Johns, and the playing - her own acoustic guitar, some excellent electric guitar from Jerry Donahue, and an ensemble featuring Kenney Jones, Dave Mattacks and others - are sympathetic and supportive. The songs are mainly folk rock, with jazz flourishes and accents, mellow in that warm, rounded 1970s way. It is a fine piece of work I should probably dig out those cassettes and give the rest a listen.
A wholly unique and hypnotic voice, it's unfortunate that Armatrading isn't more well known today than she was in her time. The songs on this self-titled record aren't necessarily "radio-friendly"; Her melodies aren't exactly ear worms, but the production is impeccable and the writing is honest and heartfelt. This has been a nice little find as part of this 1001 project.
Good vibes! Nice instrumentals and vocal work. It wasn't super compelling, but was still enjoyable overall. 'Tall in the Saddle' was my fave.
Long time fan of Ms. Armatrading. I don't recall why we were listening to The Key in 1983 - "I Love It When You Call Me Names" and "Drop the Pilot" were probably getting airplay on the college radio station. My best friend and I went to see her at a small theater in Crown Point, Indiana, maybe at a casino, I'm not sure. I've enjoyed her approach for many years and this release has two standouts for me - 'Down to Zero' and 'Love and Affection' grab me every time. Always an enjoyable listen for me.
First album of the generator I’ve never heard of before. Strong opening song which I love in any album. Tone of her melodies matches the tone of the music behind it beautifully. Great mix of singer/songwriter, traditional rock, and some Grateful Dead sounding jams.
Didn’t think I’d like this but I loved it
She had such a fast car she took it back to 1976
Pleasant
👍
So pleased to see this here. Love & Affection is a gay anthem. Willow (not on this album) is my favourite song of hers but this is a gorgeous album
Never listened to this before, but it's really lovely!
Enjoyable listen.
Gorgeous album. And a lot of fun too. Some Joni Mitchell vibes
Really enjoyable. Good mix of different tempos, melodies, styles. Some surprises along the way.
Beautiful stuff from a very underrated artist, wonderful easy listening for a sunny morning with J
A funky carol king
I enjoyed it. nothing crazy, but such a breath of fresh air after the last albums.
Wow, it's Joan! I think I only know L&A from this album. Seems like a chill and nice time. Love and Affection > People > Somebody Who Loves You > Like Fire > Help Yourself > Water with the Wine > Save Me > Down to Zero > Tall In The Saddle > Join The Boys Yeah this is really good. Love and Affection is incredible with some other great tracks in the lineup. Nice and breezy while interesting and dense enough musically that I can imagine I'd get more and more out of it with each subsequent listen. Great sound. Perfectly happy calling this a high 4, nudging towards a low 5.
I know nothing about Joan but I thoroughly enjoyed this album. The lyrics are expressive and the music was a fun mix of rock and jazz with some acoustic flair. Favorite songs are “People”, “Down to Zero”, and “Water with Wine”.
The thing I am looking most forward to with this project is discovering artists, albums that I have never heard of and Joan Armatrading is definitely one of those artists. The opening track hooked me and I was instantly transported back to the music of that time. I enjoy the acoustic mixed with funk. Joan has great tone combined with the inflection she does on some of the words. Favorites are Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, People, and Tall in the Saddle.
joan's cool
Good folk
I'd heard Joan Armatrading's name before, but I'd never listened to any of her music. I might listen to the album again. I liked it.
I would listen to this again.
Another artist and album I have never heard of. This one is grabbing me right from the beginning. The soulfulness and expression in her voice is amazing. “Love and affection” is an amazing song. Just keeps getting better “join the boys” is a greave funk groove. This album flew by. Great music, great album!!!
I’ve not heard anything like it. Except for Joni Mitchell. Joan>Joni
Sleeper album! Who ever heard of this lady?! Loved listening to this. She's got a Tracy Chapman vibe, whom I don't personally enjoy. But it sure worked here! Nice album.
Really good album. Unique singing and lyrical style. However very good sound and message in most songs.
What a find, love it
Vibey
funky folk pop? you know what hell yeah this is cool af. really enjoyed this
Bastante guapote, entre el folk, el blues, canciones pegadizas y buena producción.
Красиво и мелодично. Первые 5 треков хороши, отсылают к Джон Митчелл. Save me очень лирична, Love and Affection бодра как июнь. Норм.
An unexpected breath of jazzy-funky-folky fresh air.
Enjoyed it very much, relaxing tones, good lyrics and melodies, and great instrumentation -Down To Zero -Water with The Wine -Somebody Who Loves You -Like Fire
Good album but nothing that’s really grabbing me. Maybe that’s not fair. It’s a great album. Really relaxing.
Joan Armatrading came entirely out off left field for me. I so totally underestimated what she was about and spent the entirety of the record dumbfounded by her.
Help Yourself and listen to this album.
Wow. Wise and thoughtful. Rock/folk/jazz/blues. I never knew…
Beautiful, soulful voice that doesn't stray too far from her wheelhouse. Very much an artist who knows what she's good at, and hammers that over and over again. Absolutely love "Water with the Wine", the drum line is perfect. The horns in Love and Affection are amazing, and the one song that I've heard prior to this listen. Join the Boys has an outrageously good instrumentation with the piano riffs, and is a fantastic protest song – Are you in, are you out? – is addicting. People is the same in terms of instrumentation, piano is insane + this one has electric guitar pieces. Found myself a little bored towards the last three songs of the album, but overall a pretty good listen.
I had never heard of Joan Armstrong before this (maybe that's embarrassing to admit but whatever) so I went in completely blind. This was a lovely album. Her voice is sultry but warm and the music doesn't distract from it but it is so complimentary of her voice. I am so glad this project introduced me to this album, I will definitely listen to it on my own.
This whole record felt like typical '70s singer-songwriter stuff, but with some fun twists that kept it fresh enough. The production was far better than I would've expected, and the songs are fun. That said, it didn't really leave much of an impression on me. I finished listening and didn't have any sort of desire to go back to it. Overall, it's a fun record with some unique takes on this style of folk, but it doesn't stand out much. 7.5/10
Lovely! (25 known/51 new)
I truly enjoyed this album. I like her sound, I like the vibe. Very fun. Will add some songs to my playlists.
Full disclosure: this album is one of my partner's favourites, and yet I've never really sat down and listened to it start to finish. So this was always going to be an interesting one for me. I enjoyed it very much, though: the guitar work is excellent, and Armatrading's voice is lovely. If I have anything negative to say it's that, for me, the lyrics didn't always quite live up to the music; but that's nit-picking really, I just wonder what that gorgeous soulful delivery and funky guitar would sound like underpinning lyrics like, say, Joni Mitchell's. Have added a few of the best tracks to my playlists, which no doubt will please my other half; and will definitely revisit this, which will probably please him more (I think it's maybe an autumn-evening, something-hearty-for-dinner, glass-of-red-wine type album, and has perhaps suffered a little from my getting it on a beautiful spring morning). Overall, one of my better discoveries so far.
It was nice
Great album!
Albumi #174, 13.03.2025 Brittiläisen Joan Armatradingin omaa nimeään kantanut kolmas studioalbumi ilmestyi vuonna 1976 ja se oli artistin enimmäinen varsinainen kaupallinen menestys. Hieno folk rock / pop albumi.
Na endlich mal eine positive Überraschung in dieser Liste. Die Künstlerin kannte ich nicht. Was sicher daran liegt, dass ihre Songs nicht so recht radiotauglich sind. So ein richtiger No.1 Hitknaller hätte wohl geholfen.
This is a beautiful well produced album that dips towards the end. It also contains the astounding Love and Affection. My instinct is a 3 but I feel that it's way better than the 3s I've given. 4
Enjoyed this one, mood was old school acoustic then added some flair with some funky lines.
This album was a nice surprise. Had never heard of Joan Armatrading before. Will be adding this to my downloads. Really liked Down to Zero, Like Fire and Tall In The Saddle.
How the hell have I not heard of Joan?! Extremely puzzled by this. Great sound, songwriting and production. According to wiki Glyn John’s said this was the best album he’s been a part of… sounds like he had a few drinks maybe, but still interesting. Glad to have Armatrading in my musical universe now.
Really smooth and pleasant music - pretty obvious progenitor of Tracy Chapman and the lady from 4 non blondes (not just because of superficial racial and sexual orientation similarities). Just different and tuneful enough to not sound like an adult contemporary blues. Nice Sunday afternoon music, had a great time listening to this while the sun slanted in through the kitchen windows and I made my family enchiladas.
My buddies and I went through a massive Tracy Chapman kick in 2016 - slugging Bud Lights and blasting songs like Telling Stories, Bang Bang Bang, Crossroads - we said we were "Chappin' our balls off". Probably something very Boston-white-boys-with-a-Superfly-poster-in-the-living-room about that whole thing, but I promise it wasn't ironic - that Greatest Hits album is still one of my favorites. I had heard Joan Armatrading's name, but never dug in. This doesn't hit quite as hard as Tracy, but some really nice guitar work and songwriting - obviously "Join the Boys" really makes me want to load up the beer bong.
I listened to this multiple times. The first track grabbed me right away and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t love the rest of the album QUITE as much but it was still great.
Very nice, good new discovery, will deffo come back to this. Love and affection the standout but no lulls or lows really.
Lovely, emotional, liked the Sax.
Quite nice as an album, even if hard to get into. I like the voice range, the way it switches up here and there. However, I do wish it was something else, rather than what feels like gloomy singing into night.
Never heard of this woman before, but I must say I quite liked this album. I was first tempted to draw lines between her and Tracy Chapman, and while there are some similarities I also think they differ quite a lot. Joan almost feel more like Joni Mitchell at times, weirdly enough, but is also her own completely. This still managed to stand out despite the amount of 70s and 80s albums we've had, which is quite a feat. One of the most powerful things on this record is Joan's voice. I think she sounds incredible! She does more calm songs like 'Somebody Who Loves You' very well, but also manages to deliver some energy in 'Help Yourself' Another strong thing with this album is that almost all songs are quite good. There is no real complete miss. There is a good mix with some more funky and uptempo ones, then there are a few more calm ones mixed in nicely as well. Must say that this is what's fun with this list: That you sometimes stumble upon things that are great that you never heard of. Weak 4!
Groovy and emotional at times both are great. Singing is also amazing, a very particular style which works and is very versatile. Favourite songs: down to zero, help yourself, water with the wine, people, tall in the saddle. Overall around 8/10
Good songwriting. Loved the blend of genres. Felt fresh for early 70s. Joni Mitchell but more rock and funk. Very cool. Must listen #80.
Relaxing, managed to listen twice walking to class :)