Reviews (page 6 of 12)
Very good, easy to listen. Laid back. Can see myself listening to it more
Although I have heard the occasional song, I have never listened to a Joan Armatrading album start to finish. I loved it! Really great guitar playing and sound. Made me want to pick up my guitar. Loved - tall in the saddle Edit - what a great album for a lazy Saturday morning lay in bed!
Een album met wel leuke muziek. Ik vond het leuk om naar te luisteren. 3.8/5
enjoyed listening to this one!
This album is packed with personality and subtle soul. From start to finish Joan's voice is both commanding and gentle. The music is country tinged but undoubtably mixed with some funky soul an even blues arrangements. I think this is one of those albums that demands repeat listening to fully engage in every second of excellence.
Down to Zero // Love and Affection // Save Me // Somebody Who Loves You // Tall In The Saddle //
Não faço ideia do que esperar desse álbum, vamos lá... As duas primeiras eu adorei, já tava achando que seria outro álbum 5 estrelas, curti pra carai, muito gostosinhas de ouvir, relaxantes. Aí a 3 ainda era boa, mas já começou a perder um pouco o brilho. Na 4 e 5 achei que deu uma desandada braba. Apesar da 4 ser aparentemente a de mais sucesso do álbum, não curti não. Nada nelas me prendeu. Tava pensando nas próximas já. Aí vem esse início sensacional da 6, Join The Boys. Os instrumentos entrando um por vez, cada um no seu tempo, e conversando perfeitamente com todos os outros. Ninguém passando por cima de ninguém, dá pra ouvir perfeitamente todas as linhas. Por mais que cada um esteja fazendo algo diferente, está cada um no seu lugar. Baita música, a melhorinha do álbum, sem dúvidas. Aqui minhas esperanças voltaram. A 7 é dáora, tem um ritmo envolvente, baixo bem marcado, groovezinho daóra, solo de teclado show. Na 8, o álbum voltou a me perder um pouco. Não achei ruim, mas também não achei bom, muito pelo contrário. Esse álbum tá sambando entre 3 e 4 estrelas. Tá na mão das últimas duas músicas. A 9 tankou a responsa, achei bonita, começou com um violão foda, segurou legal. Vibe bem gostosinha. Aí veio a 10 e bambeou de volta no início mas recuperou depois. Demorou um pouco mas me ganhou. Álbum conquistou suas suadas 4 estrelas.
I'm sorry to say I've never heard of Joan prior to this listen, but I'm glad I've since corrected that! This is a lovely record by a phenomenal crafter of songs. I've seen her compared to Joni Mitchell a lot, but this reminded me more of Tracy Chapman (I hope that's not racist). Straightforward, well-written songs that get right to the heart of it. In fact, she's a lot more reminiscent of 90's female singer-songwriters than to those of the 70's. This is one that I will be returning to in the future, and while I'm giving it a cautious 4 for now, I could see this as the type of album that would easily rise to a 5 with a few more listens.
Really good selection this time around. Had a lot of different influences which can together nicely on this one of a kind record
Good album
10/20/23. I have not heard of Joan but glad I stumbled upon her! Really good guitar work. Starts off with a classic country vibe before varying into blues and funk. May keep this around to learn some guitar licks!
Pretty chill album to listen to. Get high and clean
Let's make it short: beautiful voice, nice instrumentation, good sometimes even great lyrics, wonderful delivery at all aspects. This is a beautiful album with a nice blend of pop, soul, folk and singer-songwriter and I think one of the most underrated albums of all time. I mean it isn't even a "recommended" on RYM. What? This album is a banger! favourites: Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, Love and Affection, Join the Boys, Like Fire least favs: Help Yourself, People Rating: strong 7
Must admit I was not really in the mood yesterday and didn’t listen properly. It was good though
Very nice
Never heard of her before, but wow, what a gem! This is why I'm on this site.
1976. Pretty good!
Lovley
its a great album to listen to when your relaxed yet its still a pretty energetic album
LIKED : Down to Zero, Help Yourself
Need to give another listen but pleasantly surprised by this one.
Just a really nice piece of music from a really talented singer/ songwriter
Groovy
Beautiful music.
7/7 influence
really nice album . im adding to my list of speaker listening.
The bass singer on Love and Affection was killer in a very entertaining way. I have no idea who this singer is but she gets my respect. Took these songs and really made an elevated performance from each. I was pretty into this.
Nice 70's folk rock
Pleasantly surprised enjoyed listening to this album. Good songs and singing on this and an easy listen.
Really good. I enjoyed very much
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Down to zero, Water with the wine
If I didn't detest steel guitar, this would likely be a five star album. So approachable, beautifully simple and straightforward. Powerful voice, relatable topics, great album.
4-
My first time listening to Joan Armastrading, and what a voice! Will definitely get back to this - especially 'Tall In The Saddle'.
I first stumbled upon the name of Joan Armatrading when I visited St Kitts and Antigua and looked up local musicians. I never actually gave her a serious shot though. Look at me now, huh? What a fool I was.
luv it<3
Loved this a lot.
Amazing voice. A great discovery for me.
Better than I expected
Excellent voice! She’s like a mix of Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman, and her music is funky with that big band feel, slightly soulful, kinda like DMB, but actually good. I really want to listen to this again.
Was unfamiliar. Pretty good. Not my typical deal..
Great voice, kinda of R&B leaning classic rock
This is really good! Never heard of her. Great recordings, really well produced! Love her vocal style too. Seems like a gem. Surprised I didn't know about this at all. Great opening track! Join the Boys is funky! I get a little bit of a John Martyn feel on this... but funkier. This woman rocks! 4/5
I don’t think this is quite a 5 star album for me, as a few songs were kind of weak, but I have been humming the rest of the album on repeat since listening. This will definitely be part of my regular rotation.
JA is another of those ‘Jools Holland legends’ that I’ve probably seen wheeled out at a Hootenanny or two, and subsequently have a base level of respect for, but ultimately never felt inclined to seek out the music she made during her prime. So I’m glad that not only did I hear this, but that I gave it a second and third listen too as it really grew on me in that time. Some of the funkier tracks aren’t fully to my taste but the songwriting is good, the vocals are good, and it’s just a pretty strong, enjoyable collection of songs all in all. 3.5 / 4
Gorgeous voice, very soulful.
Third studio album released in 1976. It's so groovy, funky and tight. The instrumentation varies throughout but always leaving vocals at the top of mix. Overall it just sounds like a huge amazing jam session.
Good overall album. Very Joni Mitchell-ish.
This was nice. Seems foundational for women in rock in the 79's and 80's. Her name has never come up for me.
I enjoyed it, added a couple songs to my playlist. I had never heard of this artist before but enjoyed the 70s vibe.
I’m so torn on this. After track one I was thinking, “oh wow, this’ll be a five!” Later I was down to a four, and ended thinking three. I love the voice and instrumentation and creativity. Just think ultimately I like it in small doses.
Superb vocal performance. Not all the songs are my style but she’s seriously impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of her. Join the Boys has some delicious stank, and I’m pretty sure Vulfpeck copied from it, at least unintentionally, for Dean Town.
I love the unusual voice and the overall different, otherworldly feel. Some of the songs are in a pretty boring singer-songwriter style, though.
Genre: Folk rock, pop Standouts: Down to Zero, Other goodies: Help Yourself, 3rd Listen: (3, 3.5) Rating:
This is a really good album, which must have been groundbreaking at the time.
In a world where autotune makes a lot of women singers sound almost exactly the same, Joan Armatrading's voice sounds refreshingly different. I really enjoyed the soulfulness of the songs, how low some of the notes were she sang. Very emotional and really laid it all out there. Even though some of the songs did sound a little dated, I still enjoyed them. Definitely someone I would want to hear again.
i mean excellent guitarist no question. just the vocals i didn’t love
The album really grew on me as it went on, excellent instrumentals
Found myself listening to this a few times. Her voice grabbed me. Only being familiar with Drop the Pilot off a later album I was expecting similar. Instead I got a soulful groove. I need to listen to more of Joan Armatrading's work
listened
10 seconds in and I already like it. A cool mix of R&B/folk/classic rock. I think Lucy would like this. Good ending. 8/10
Great voice. Not completely my thing but clearly a talented person.
fun, swinging good vibes
Never heard of this artist, but thoroughly enjoyed this album which weaved between rollicking rock and soulful R&B/funk pretty effortlessly. Love and Affection is a jam that sounds so familiar, but so unique. A lot of innovative song structures and singing.
This sounded unbelievably fresh and modern.
Soulful and lovely
This really caught me off guard, and in a good way.
Oye, esta sí que fue una sorpresa. me ha gustado mucho.
I do have a soft spot for Joan, but regardless, this is still great
Folk pop with some sick blues licks interspersed. I don't think it does anything to break any molds, but it's a solid record, regardless. Favorite tracks: "Tall In the Saddle", "Water With the Wine", "Help Yourself"
3.5/5
Lovely Sunday morning album
Belle découverte. Jolie voix, beaux arrangements, j'ecouterai à nouveau avec plaisir
Liked it
Is this folk? Sort of but it grooves a lot more. She sings so well and her voice by itself can make it groove which is wicked. This describes most of side 1. On Side 2 the groove is delivered by instruments tag teaming with her voice. After my first listen, I was between 3 and 4 but the second listen with headphones made the choice clear. .... and her birthday is Dec. 9. Giddy up!
In a conversation about the best female songwriters/musicians, Joan Armatrading's name should be there. Her talent as a musician and song-writer is hugely apparent here, with excellent lyrics, affecting vocals and a crack ensemble behind her. She definitely wears her heart-felt emotions sleeve. I was shocked to see that this record is 47 years old, but her music has held up just fine over the years.
Power Woman! Liebe ihre Stimme und den Vibe vom Album. Habe es beim Kochen gehört und diese Atmosphäre *chefkiss*. Auch die instrumentals hab ich sehr gefühlt. Einziger Kritikpunkt ist, dass alle Lieder sehr ähnlich sind, deshalb hab ich auch kein spezielles Lieblingslied
folk feels 👍
This is one that I will need to listen to again. Have a feeling it’ll be better second time around.
3.5/5 Best: Join the Boys Worst: Like Fire Fairly enjoyable
What a wonderful album. Armatrading feels like the unappreciated Tracy Chapman of her generation. These songs are so thoughtfully written and composed, drawing from old musical traditions while still staying current and fresh for the time. Joan's vocal performances are deeply passionate and heartfelt. It's not an album of bangers but there's no duds either. Strong 4, almost a 5.
This was mellow and good.
Damn good. Great voice, great playing and songwriting and lovely blend of genres
I knew the hits of this album from the radio but have never listened to Joan Armatrading - I'm sold, this album was great and she has a beautiful voice. It's to hear albums like this that I joined the project
listened to it twice, simply loved the tone of her voice. Musically was ok, not much to get you jumping up and down but vocally I loved it
Fun tunes
I was familiar with the name but had never listened to the album in full before. Really enjoyed it.
Like joni Mitchell, van morrison and Peter Gabriel combined but with some nice flavor
I've never heard of Joan Armatrading. This set me off... I'm at a beach house for the week. Scored an invite from a friend of a friend. I don't know most of the people here, but they're cool so far. It's Tuesday late morning and I just started my coffee, lazed out in the living room to ponder the day ahead. This album starts playing and it's all cool and chill, blazing sun outside, cool a/c and music inside. I will never play this album, but whoever did done good. Perfect for the moment. I especially enjoyed Like Fire and Tall In The Saddle. I was good and high by then.
Fresco y sublime
never heard, a lot of artists owe their style to her.
Not a singer songwriter fan in general, but I enjoyed this album.
Solid album. Guitar, vocals, and lyrics are great
Fuck, THIS was a surprise. I'd heard of her since I was a kid in the 1980's but never heard her until 41 years old. A stellar musician and what a great collection of songs and lyrics!
Really solid folky pop album with some cool funk stuff thrown in. Smooth production too. Never heard of this artist before.
I remember having this album back in college. Joan Armatrading is superb, and this is a great album.
Fantastic album, what a great voice, great songs and music. Really great album
Joan Armatrading works as an equally as talented 1970’s bridge between Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. Matching both in vocal tonality and songwriting prowess.
Bluesy. Folksy. Fun. I loved it.
This album has fantastic production from Glyn Johns. Love and Perfection is a bit of a moment, especially hen the sax solo kicks. There is no specific style or genre. Joan Armatrading makes it all sound so simple. Songs, music, performance. Quality listening.
Girlie slaps
Una muy buena voz, tranquilo de escuchar y con un ritmo fácil de llevar. Con no mucho acompañamiento, canciones buenas.
Fabulous
I'm shocked that I had never heard of Joan Armatrading before and also how much this album ripped. 4/5
Mid-70's singer songwriter but a cut above all the rest. Some called her a British Joni Mitchell. She's not at that level but she's not far off. Best Tracks: Down To Zero; Water With The Wine; Love and Affection
Cool folky sound. Reminds me of Tracy chapman
Loved this album. Great old school voice
Really good guitar playing and lovely voice, gonna check out more of her stuff!
Nice nice, it drags for a bit but it’s soulful af
joan armatrading has a marvelous voice! what a treat to listen to her self-titled album. the songs here are soothing, as if she literally reached out of spotify, patted my hand, and told me everything will be okay. every song contains such unique, colorful lyrics, proving her ability as a songwriter. she bounces between heartbreaking ("down to zero") and desperately optimistic ("somebody who loves you") while requesting help ("save me") and remaining realistic ("help yourself"). while so many songs on this album are good, "join the boys" shows armatrading didn't shy away from a protest song. it's uplifting yet the opening lyric (or rather, rallying cry) asks, "are you for or against us?"
You know, I was aware of Joan Armtrading, and I knew a few of her songs, but had never heard one of her albums. I am here to tell you that this album in particular is outstanding and alone is worthy of her getting more recognition than she does. I would describe Joan as having a Joni Mitchell quality mixed with Tracy Chapman. Her singer-songwriter style from the lyrics and instrumentation down to the topics and vocalizations resonate just as much as theirs do, and yet, she is lesser known than both of these other artists. Joan Armtrading is full of such richness, warmth, and passion on every track; there is something incredibly tangible about her emotions. This is an album I will want to hear again and again.
Funky, bluesy en soulful, met nog een beetje country invloeden. Goed album
I would probably listen to this album again, there are some great songs!
really good! i love her voice and that cool kinda 60’s ish feeling guitar
Pretty good shit
Just a girl and her guitar. This is an album I would not listen otherwise, I'm glad I did, loved it. The pitches and the lyric deliveries for certain parts really convey her emotions My favourite was https://youtu.be/IqtsKkd4zoQ
8/10
Cool, folk but with a tiny bit of funk (nice bass work)
Oh how I love Joan Armatrading!
Great!!
Heard Save Me as theme for Atlanta child murders doc, love it
A beautiful and honest album that sounds fantastic. Great songs with great arrangements and Joan's sultry vocal adding some earthyness that gives each song a nice warm quality. I do have to mention the production and the sound quality of my vinyl copy. Deep dynamic and tastefully arranged the production helps to bring out the best in each song. A & M pressings rarely disappoint in this department. 4.5 stars for over all quality.
That was awesome. What a great, distinctive voice and vocal style. I've never heard of her before but she had me grooving the whole time. Reminds me of my dad's music collection, which for me is good praise. Fresh and nostalgic at once, since I don't tend to listen to the genre often. The slower, sweeter love songs aren't my jam but that's fine, they're still fine. Highlights: Down to Zero, Join the Boys, Love and Affection Lowlights: Somebody Who Loves You, Save Me
Surprise find! Liked it!
Someone I hadn’t heard of before, and really enjoyed within this kind of pop chanteuse genre (which is not really something I seek out but I liked this better than most). Nothing really to complain about here - the songs are well chosen for her voice, nicely arranged with skilled but not distracting instrumentation, beautifully sung.
Good album different sound than im used to but it’s fits together so well
Wow, what an incredible album. I'm shocked that I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading until today, but she will certainly be in the regular rotation going forward. Her voice is so powerful and dulcet at the same time on this record--I can't get enough of it. Really glad I got to listen to this. Favorite track: Join the Boys
Wow. Never heard of this album before, but was a real treat. Love the folk sound and not surprised to find out it was well produced by Glyn Johns. Fav song: Down To Zero
Amazingly surprised by this album. Unknown for me before. The assemble is sometimes a bit bombastic. A la Dave Matthews. But still very enjoyable.
This is the kind of album I want out of the project. I wasn't aware of the artist or this record. Overall sounds of the era. Well done.
Excellent songwriting, gorgeous voice.
enfinnnnnnnnnnn
l'enfant cachee de tracy chapman et joni mitchell jai raison ou pas la team
Favorite Songs: Down To Zero, Help Yourself, Love And Affection, Join The Boys, People Least Favorite Songs: Somebody Who Loves You Joan was a completely new artist to me, and was really a treat to spend 40 minutes with. Her voice is tender, flexible, strong and comforting while avoiding typical pitfalls of other singer-songwriters. The guitar skills and poetic lyrics on display are also standouts that make this album an enjoyable listen. The production was clearly handled by someone who knew what they were doing, and everything sounds crisp and mixed very well. For a mid 70's album, there are alot of timeless sounds and themes here. The occasional electric guitar lick, drum hit, saxophone wail, or background voices add some much needed excitement and texture while still letting Joan have her moment. Some of the tracks here might have more appeal to one person than another depending on what genres you tend to fall back on; but, with an album showing off slow-moving love songs, funk you can dance to, blues riffs... it's just amazing it blends together at all.
Really nice. Good vibe and at times it gave me Funkadelic vibes without the funk. Probably won’t listen to it again but it was nice.
Good!
Really enjoyed this one. Good easy-listening/classic sounding tunes. Smooth all the way through
Really strong voice. I liked the opening track a lot, saved to Spotify. Reminds me a little bit of Tracy Chapman with the guitar, lower voice and lyrics. This is they type of music you have on in the background while doing chores or something. I enjoyed it.
Beautifully voiced classic
"love and affection" es buenísima, todo el disco lo es, qué buenas composiciones, tan simple pero tan bello, es muy agradable estar escuchando esos sonidos fabricados a la medida; no tenía la dicha de conocer a esta artista pero se ganó un fan, incluso escuché más música de ella, es un concepto muy atractivo en una palabra: talento
Chulo
jag gillade detta! hon hade en fin röst och det var bra sånger. så gammalt album?? otippat!
Listened to while playing golf. Enjoyable
Never heard of Joan Armatrading before. Good album with some funky vibes. I don't feel like writing a long review right now. Good album but doesn't reach the top.
Mysigt
Instrumentation and production adds a filmy 1970s residue that obscures the songs and performances a bit but not in a delicious Stevie Wonder kind of way. On subsequent listens it may fade away but hearing this recording for the first time, I can't help but get distracted by it. Fortunately that is the only criticism I have.
Reminds me of a much more soulful Joni Mitchell. Can't believe I've never heard this album before, but that's what I'm here for.
7/10. Pretty good stuff.
The first half was super slow but it really picked up. People and Tall in the Saddle are great tunes. 7/10
Tout bonnement excellent, nous pouvons dès à présent aborder Napalm Death en toute sérénité.
Næs áttunda hljóðheimur, flott altrödd og ljúf lög og gott groove til skiptis. Svo er hún með háskólagráðu í sagnfræði líka.
Folk-rock setentero. Está bien. Un 4.
Le daré un 4 porque canta muy bien. No conocía ninguna de sus canciones.
I like this album. It reminded me of Esperanza Spalding, somewhat, but less jazzy and more country. It was good and I'd listen to it again. 4/5
Okay, now this I can get behind. I'm not familiar with Mrs. Armatrading, but first of all - that's a fun last name to say. Does she have a record called "Armatrading Places"? If not, she should. But also what a voice! It made me think of Joni Mitchell but in a different register. Lovely, warm production all around. I could be misreading this, but is "Water with the Wine" about date rape?? Kind of seems that way, but then I was watching I MAY DESTROY YOU last night, so maybe that's on me... Anyway, "Like Fire," "Down to Zero," etc. I liked most of it. Good stuff. Armatrading in some mediocre Britpop-electronica records on this list for more Joan Armatrading records, please.
She has a great voice, but it gets a bit tedious until the last two songs.
Nice and easy listening. I love her voice, deep and soft at the same time. What wonders me how she’s isn’t recognized.
Overall good album. Very Joni Mitchell-ish
surprisingly good from my girl joan
A great listening experience from a very very talented songwriter.
Poetic, melodic, timeless
One of the albums I enjoyed most at first listen. Had a couple of songs I didn’t realise I knew, and I enjoyed her vibe and tones. 8/10
This is a nice – even very nice – record to know, largely because I suspect few people who read this book / take on this project would know it well, if at all. It’s just my speed, really, pleasantly understated overall, and extraordinarily smooth in its genre-fusing. But it never reaches desert island disc territory, never quite sweeps one fully away. “Somebody Who Loves You” sounds both terrifically intricate and powerfully intimate. “Help Yourself” and “Water with the Wine” are other highlights, plus the lap steel flourishes on the opener. “Polished and professional” is right, as is the idea that she deserved more than a pigeonhole and much better sales and acknowledgement. I loved the voice and style from first hearing (“Drop the Pilot” of course, which is a great song) and I'm sufficiently inspired to listen to this one more than once and to go deeper in the catalog, too. 3.8 for 4.
Really beautiful album
Her voice and acoustic accompaniment worked very well together, some of these songs were beautifully written and composed. I enjoyed what I heard a lot, as it reminded me of a few other songwriters from that era. I can see how she would get lost in the shuffle of that genre, but this album from start to finish was rather enjoyable.
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Joan Armatrading before. Her music is a seamless mix of funk, country, and folk that is lush and driving. Her voice is versatile and her songs are well written.
A simply stunning collection of songs, Armatrading surely deserves more recognition for making quietly compelling, engaging music. There’s a breadth to her music - ballads, soul, funk, folk - and her artistry delivers them all expertly. The production is exquisite - lush strings are only added where required and you can hear the contribution of every musician. This is good stuff. Fun fact - The Wire’s Clarke Peters (Detective Lester Freamon, Pawn department hump who turned out to be good police) sings the bass backing vocals on Love and Affection!
Really nice. Expressive and emotive with soulful feminine drive. Lots of baby-making musics. I recall some reference to Miss Armatrading from the 80's but not the context from before. This record is certainly not dated to the mid 70's and stands as a cool human connection to whenever.
Loved this album. Such. Wide range of styles, full lush production and still sounding modern. A cracker
My older brother was a big fan of Joan Armatrading. I gave her a quick listen back then and didn't really connect with her music. Now, with my older, more mature ears, I can see why he liked her so much. Great songwriting and range. Some of her singing reminds me of Joni Mitchell, which I'm not a fan of - that sort of jazz style melody - but overall I think this is really good. Planning to listen again to this and more of her music. 4 stars.
This is a slow-burn album - I wasn't sure over the first few songs ... it's inevitable that you try to make comparisons...Joni Mitchell? Laura Nyro? I don't know if either of those match. Way more than just the vocals on this one - the music and songs are each interesting/diverse. It's pop, it's folk, it's rock, bluesy... but at the same time nothing is so "out there" that makes any of it inaccessible. My highlights would be "Join the Boys" and "Like Fire" which is my favourite - this has such a crazy-cool acoustic guitar intro from Joan, and that last song "Tall In The Saddle" is a surprise; you think it's gonna be a slow jazzy tune to end it all and then about 2/3 through that changeup to uptempo was great. Really enjoyed this one. 8/10 4 stars
An amazing voice. Lovely songs. A great album to get lost in or to use as background music.
“Showed that we now have a black artist in Britain with the same sort of vocal range, originality (in fact even greater originality in terms of musical influences) and lyrical sensitivity as Joni Mitchell.”
I really liked this album! Great voice and good instrumentals, liked certain parts of strings. A bit samey though but that’s ok.
Chill, good guitar. Nice voice.
Man, there are some fucking jams here man. And the slower cuts are good too! Great production and performances all around. This is a winner.
Ooo I am really liking this one! Brand new discovery for me. Down to the Ground reminds me a lot of Van Morrison's Into The Mystic, the progression of it, the cadence. And something about the second track Help Yourself reminds me a lot of Jeff Buckley, there's a quality to the vocals and musical arrangements that feels very Buckley. It's soulful and passionate, but edgy and deep too. Actually this whole album is reminiscent Buckley, but I know Joan came first. I'm so impressed by this groovy badass woman. I think Joan and Jeff might have been kindred musical spirits. I'm so into it!
Terrific album. I had never heard of Joan Armatrading. Folk rock, with an edge of r&b. Four of the songs are bangers. I really enjoyed "Love and Affection" and "Somebody Who Loves You."
That was great!
unique sound, a little like a woman Bob Dylan
As if Tracy Chapman merged with Joni Mitchell. Love the funky tracks.
Really enjoyed, nice easy listening
Love her voice. Good singing Joan
I enjoyed this. All rather similar but all good I guess.
A good one.
This is one of these albums that I would not have picked myself but can very well understand why it is on the list. But it is a fine album, and probably the Joan Armatrading I have listened to the most. Also: it is not possible to give an album that contains "Love and Affection" anything less than 4 stars.
Really enjoyed this one. Love some funky bluesy folky soup
So assured
Pretty surprising
Awesome blend of folk and blues.
Fire, great stuff
Wonderful album, I love the mix of folk and blues present on many of the tracks
Lovely melodic and great to listen to when cooking
Delightful
Complete sleeper. Great mix of Folk/Funk that I had never heard of.
Yeah, I like this. Surprising I've not heard of her before, great voice. Good instrumentals. Give it a listen.
Great guitar work, bass work throughout this album. Loved her voice. Some good songs but nothing amazing. Would definitely listen again
Nice calm listen
Els grans discs de cantautors solen tenir com un dels seus principals hàndicaps l'excessiu recolçament creatiu en les lletres i el missatge, descuidant moltes vegades la música. No és aquest el cas. Més enllà d'unes lletres d'alt nivell compositiu i d'una veu increïble, es nota la búsqueda per part d'Armatading d'unes melodies que resultin atractives i uns arranjaments que estiguin a l'alçada. I ho aconsegueix. És un disc per descobrir o redescobrir per part d'un públic molt més massiu del qual ha tingut fins ara
Nice jazzy bluesy
Some great jam bits, sounds almost like live improvised jazzy/soul/rock.
Not my style
great voice and great songs, its not my taste really but i can't deny its a great piece of music
Thought it wasn’t my thing at first, I was wrong! This one definitely heats up as it goes on, the funk got cool enough for me to raise my impression from 2 to 4 stars
Have never heard of Joan Armatrading. But man, she's great! Her voice and backing band are excellent. Pedal steel in "Down to Zero" is haunting.
This album was real good. She has a great voice and a perfect, folksy, singer-songwriter vibe. I'll listen to this again - really, really enjoyed it.
When she's good, she's unbeatable. Down to zero has been in my personal top 10 for 40+ years and not likely to be shifted, and Love and affection is just completely perfect.
An album of some number of pop-folk bangers. Yet another "how did this get produced so long ago" find thanks to this site. At first blush, I feel that it stands up to many of my favorite pop projects of the last twenty years. I want to give it time to grow on me before I think about it in words again.
Pretty good stuff.
Pop soul poderoso
Letting out plenty of data jarring moans, this one had plenty of smooth soul
Really pleasant, smooth vocals.
Joan Armatrading's name was familiar, but I couldn't tell you if I've heard any of her music. "Love and Affection" is the track on this album that I've heard before. This was a good suggestion, and a solid album all the way through.
Pretty chill jazzy background vibe
The production, the band, and the songwriting are all superb on this album. It’s a shock that it came out in the mid-70s because it could easily come from the 90s or even today. For an artist I’ve never even heard of I enjoyed the hell out of this.
Will listen to again
Powerful voice and lovely guitar - A great album
Tapers off towards the end, powerful vocals and rhythms throughout
It's smooth like a wave. It also smacks you in the face like a wave
She’s got a story and you know exactly how she’s feeling. She’s a bad bitch
Really good. Very original mix of folk,rock,funk,jazz etc.
Down to zero - virkelig godt! Funket og rocket på samme tid. Help yourself - God produktion, originalt og meget harmonisk. Fed vokal. Water with wine - God produktion, trommerne svinger godt.
Really nice opening. Her voice is GORGE AHHHHH This is a 4 defo
Listened to this while walking around the west end, it was so relaxing and chill, perfect walking soundtrack on a recently-wet now-sunny day. Bass was funky AF
I thought it was fun. Brummie queen as well 😍
So lovely and warm. A gem
Very nice and moody experience
wasnt the sort of thing i usually listen to, but i enjoyed it. haven’t heard of this artist in the past but i might check out the rest of her discography.
Really like this - Such a nice voice and an awesome guiatar player. Love all of the strings involved. The Cello (I think??) on Love and Affection is soooo so good. Down To zero, Love and Affection, Like Fire were the big highlights
Enjoyable music
Very enjoyable.
Las negras pueden hacer mas cosas que soul.
“Joan Armatrading” by Joan Armatrading (1976) With lyrics that are rich in passion, Armatrading inundates the listener with images that spring forth from particular moments of experience. She freezes emotional time. It’s as if she’s beginning to swoon, and an entire song issues forth in the brief instant that she’s falling to the floor. Makes you want to rush over and catch her before she hits the deck. Can’t help yourself. Powerful. Whether the feeling is anxiety (“People”), dejection (“Down to Zero”), panic (“Save Me”), apprehension (“Water with the Wine”), or longing (“Love and Affection”), she touches, grabs, pierces the heart. If you’re human. And, boys, she devastates your cockiness with both whimsy and panache in “Tall in the Saddle”. We are all suitably chastened. Here’s a sample (from “Somebody Who Loves You”): “Cozy corner your arms around you So tired of one night stands Left with longing from misspent passion With one more human to despise . . . “ Dancing between folk, funk, and jazz, she harnesses powerful alto vocal stylings (pleasantly croaky on the bottom) in company with sensitive arrangements, to serve up tasteful musical confections. Very nice acoustic stylings (especially on “Like Fire”). And has anyone ever sung the word “insane” (“People”) with greater fidelity? Shivers. This is music one should not listen to all day, but rather on well chosen melancholy occasions when you need to be reassured that in your yearning and pain, you’re not alone. 4/5
Very good
Le daré un 4 porque canta muy bien. No conocía ninguna de sus canciones.
It is good!
Great album. Unique blend of the sounds of the 70s. Not quite Joni Mitchell level of songwriting, but she has all the same skills. I enjoyed it!
Have always liked her voice and storytelling
Genre-bending and before her time!
Well that was nice!
somewhat mediocre and inconsistent buttttttt really liked the last song and she had a good voice
quite cool i’d say
I like the minimalistic feel of it. It's just a songer with her acoustic guitar and a bit of accompaniment but not too much. Very cool vibes that fit the lyrics very well.
Beautiful stuff
Never knew this existed. Dug it
Good album, production value was pretty amazing
Nice, mellow, soft rock. Reminds me of Carole King.
Folksy, with depth. Really enjoyed the entire thing.
Surprisingly great album, liked the combination of voice and instruments, shows a great variety of genres and songs, without becoming too much
Excellente chille muziek met prachtige stem.
Not gonna lie, I was surprised by this one
Never heard this before…. One song was semi familiar. Really enjoyed it though. Soulful with good tunes!
One of those albums where I've definitely heard the sound and some songs before but never put a name to the voice. I enjoyed this.
What do Italian mafia people do with guns? Illegal arm-a trading. Had the same experience with this as with yesterday’s Blue, but I probably liked this more overall
“Armatrading eh? I’ll buy it at a high price.” Resident Evil 4
After a belting opening the rest of the album was fine but just didn't draw me in
Es un album precioso, pero no he conectado con el en absoluto, por mucho que me hubiera encantado, sobretodo porque me recordaba un poco a Joni Mitchell que me suele gustar lo que escucho de ella. Tal vez no me ha pillado en buen momento. Me he guardado las que mas me han llamado la atención para reescucharlas en otro momento. La que mas me ha llamado la atención es Somebody who loves you.
I know this is excellent, just not ra really for me
Thought this was an interesting sounding album. I like the mix of soul, funk, and pop/rock? 7/10
Nice comfortable album. Nice songs
Grei folkefunk. Sterk treer.
Aldri hørt om dama før. Solid visesangeri. Gode tekster, fin stemme. Bare litt for ordinært.
Pretty nice, love Joan Armatrading's voice. Though nothing really remarkable.
Starting off with Down to Zero. I usually don’t judge an album by its cover, but this is exactly what I expected this album to sound like. A couple nice guitar moments, and she has a lovely voice. Help yourself was pretty nice. I liked the acoustic and the way it was almost sung more in a spoken word fashion. I appreciated that it got more upbeat going into Water With the Wine. Love and affection was a bit more interesting, especially with the horns in there. The piano in Join the Boys was great too! People was a lot of fun! Like Fire was alright. I didn’t love Tall in the Saddle, but it worked as a closer. 3/5 ⭐️ 168/1089
PRetty good an alright but idk wen ta bit too long or not as passionate idk. Was really nicely made
Yeah quite good, great vocal variety
so basically im not a stranger to the "female singer-songwriter" type. yet this sounds so generic. need some innovative shit like fiona apple. 3/5
Liked it .. didn’t love it but I liked it.
Meh
Lots of interesting stuff here, all anchored with great acoustic playing and a beautiful voice. Sorta a Tracey Chapman meets old school Van Morrison vibe. Glad I heard it.
Weirdly good considering I couldn't name any of the tracks. I'd heard of Joan Armatrading but before listening I don't think I could have described her. She has a strong voice and is well worth a listen.
6/10 - Enjoyable listen as easy background music. Not particularly complex and a bit samey throughout. Felt the instrumentals weren't exciting on a lot of songs but the last couple of songs were quite striking. Some songs would warrant another listen but I wouldn't really listen to the whole album again.
This feels like a British Tracy Chapman. Some songs feel like folky and blusey, where others have a bit of Carol King behind them. I wasn't blown away by anything, but I certainly enjoyed it. Something for everyone to enjoy.
Was a very nice vibe! Good lyrics, I really liked people. Probably closer to a 3.5
This is alright. A lot better than similar artists from the same period from similar genre. She sounds like Cher
Decent album, but felt pretty generic to me. Wouldn't mind listening to it in the background, but probably wouldn't be the one putting it on.
Thought this would be another forgettable British album, but it was a nice surprise. She does some bluesey stuff, some more traditional singer songwriter stuff. There’s nothing to be mad at here. Does it absolutely have to be on the list? Probably not, but it was a fun trip.
Shout-out to my friend Anne for posting about this album before it appeared in my queue for the 1001 albums list. Really nice little record. Unfortunately the first two songs are the strongest and most interesting, compositionally. The rest of the album isn't terrible but there's some really weird lyrics on here. Like, maybe the song "Water with the Wine" is not about sexual assault--it certainly doesn't sound like one, but the lyrics paint a different picture. Anyway, the album is good.
A good album, I liked Down To Zero, Help Yourself and Somebody Who Loves You the most.
Meget tidløst. Ok, men heller ikke noget, der hænger ved.
I visually recognize this album so I got excited, I should've heard this a long time ago, and while I can definitely admit that it's near essential listening as far as evolution of sound, it's not something I can get myself into frequently. Maybe it's just not quite enough to get me into that singer-songwriter mood, maybe it's a little too Americana influenced being such a British effort. It really boils down to a matter of taste, because I could appreciate the vocal tricks and the quality of production. I wouldn't hate on anyone playing this next to me, I just won't ever be the person to put it on. 2.8/5
It was a pleasant album. I didn’t feel a whole lot from it - overall it felt more akin to like a chill Sunday morning kind of listen. Obviously talented and was nice to hear.
really powerful and unique vocals really wide range and a perfect balance between funky soul and gospel folk the minimalistic production really lifts the which, despite being its strong point, does not overshadow the instrumental parts and manages to create a continuously interesting and enjoyable work
Once in a while you go down a rabbit hole. While I had certainly heard of Joan, it was no where near my interest musically growing up and even today, holds little interest. What I was truly amazed to discover is how very accomplished Joan is as a musician, philanthropist and genuinely good person. A fascinating detour as I listened to the album. Amazing vocals and diverse arrangements keep the album moving but for me there were few songs that I’d say were compelling such that you could recognize the tune. This would definitely be appealing as a live performance. Emotional songs performed live in a theater setting would make for a fine evening even for me! Love and Affection and Down to Zero are the best tracks by a good margin. No negativity implied just not a wow experience and certainly not in the Top 1001. 3/5
05/22 Was okay
Muy aburrido pero se nota la artesania de la señora. Nota: 2.8
So far so good. I bet Tracy Chapman gets compared to her endlessly. The first song is the best song. It hasn't gotten bad, but there was promise there that has dissipated over the next three songs. I like the fusion of soul/funk/R&B. Join The Boys is like lady Isaac Hayes. Like Fire is a highlight too. She's got a Bonnie Raitt feel to her on occasion.
Pretty nice overall.
A name I know, but not sure I've ever heard a song before. 70s singer songwriter stuff, not terrible, not particularly good. Flows along in the background. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No 75/299 (25%) Will I get: No
6/10
tiene TEMONESS. la verdad hay un par que me sacaron de mi nube de pedos y se disfrutaron. el disco entero no es taaaan bueno, pero todos los temas estan bien, con algunos que se salen. buen disco para escuchar.
Very mellow, should go back and revisit. Also very first time ever hearing of her.
It's light. It's fun. Not much to write home about.
After the first 30 seconds I thought wow this sounds a lot like Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Enjoyed this!
This album SOUNDS amazing. The production is unbelievably crisp. I think it definitely lacks some solid songwriting and melody creation, because even though I found myself in awe of the sonic quality, I didn’t find myself loving the actual songs. Very little catchiness to the writing. Overall, pretty cool. Definitely enjoyed listening, but don’t know if it quite makes it into my regular rotation. 3.4/5.
First Listen; 3.5; This album sounded ahead of it's time. It has a mix of what I would call easy listening, jazz, and folk with interesting guitar interspersed throughout. Also has great singing/vocals. In a non-derogatory way, this sounds like later coffee shop, 90s pop. Favorite Track: Like Fire
Mittwoch, 01.07.2026 Auf dem Weg in die Uni - in der Ringbahn und in der U3. Auf dem Weg nachhause, nachdem ich meine Eltern besucht hab.
Dienstag, 23.06.2026 In der Ringbahn und U3 auf dem Weg zur Uni, beim Mensaessen (Kartoffelcurry mit Reis - sind 2 Beilagen erlaubt?)
Pour l’instant je me fais assez chier, mais à la fois les chansons sont plutôt jolies. water with the wine : jeux de voix intéressantes C’est quand même bien que ce soit de la folk mais avec pas mal d’instruments et de variété Je dirais qu’au global l’écoute est agréable mais que je n’ai aucun son qui me marque 6/10, un 3 mais un petit 3
Liked it but didn’t make an impact