Joan Armatrading

Oh wow what a wonderful surprise. Funk, R&B, pop, hints of rock… every song is a mini masterpiece. Maybe the airport gin will wear off… but maybe it won’t.

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

Kind of a funky album, mixing blues and funk elements. Reminds me a little of Tracy Chapman--maybe she was inspired by Armatrading. Not sure I'd go back to this album, but I can see the appeal for sure. I think for me, I don't love some of the jingles and riffs that she has, so while some of the grooves are great, the songs are hit or miss. Not sure how else to describe it. 3/5

Can't help but see the positives in this album despite it not making me feel much. The guitar work and vocals are brilliant, and there is a soulful feel to the record that does sit well. However, there wasn't a single moment on this album that made me feel anything special. It's a pleasant enough listen but I imagine I won't remember too much about it.

Super cool. 3

Great. Classic! Have it -- love it. Such a great 70s era singer songwriter album. Great listen throughout.

3 Stars (8/15)

Love and Affection

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 really like this album. Funny thing is, I've owned this for years and never really listened to it. The second half is much stronger than the first, which is rare for the 70s, but the guitar playing and songwriting are on the money. 7/10

Long time favorite, it's still fantastic

didn't really hold my attention but was pleasant enough that i listened to the whole thing

Este disco es pura belleza. Melódicamente soberbio, perfectamente instrumentado, voz pura, sencilla, envolvente, tersa. Elegancia en la composiciones y en la producción. ¿Qué más puedo decir? No lo había escuchado y solo conocía a Joab de oídas. “Down To Zero”, “People”, “Somebody Who Loves Me” y mi favorita, “Love And Affection” van a ser escuchadas más veces en los próximos días.

Having rated Tracy Chapman not so long ago, I can't unhear the influences of Joan Armatrading on her. I knew Joan Armatrading was a folk singer, but never listened really to one of her albums, nor did I have any in my collection. So, another first time listen. It's certainly not bad, well crafted folk songs with some jazz and funk influences, but it's not really getting a grip on me. Pleasant, but not special, maybe it's the genre, I had the same feeling with Paul Simon's first solo effort, and the previously mentioned Tracy Chapman too. 3/5

3.0

Interesting instrumentals, but I the vocals really were a put off here. It sounded out of tune to me in the sense it was a lady with a low voice trying to be high pitched. Odd. Anyways, this was particularly uninteresting.

Arms trading… despicable…

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

Okay I know this is classic “guy trying to describe woman singer songwriter” but she really has some super Joni Mitchell things to her songwriting. I unfortunately am not a huge fan of the production on this album though… but there are some rly fantastic songs here so glad to have finally listened to a full album of hers!

Kelpo laulumusiikkilevy.

Solid stuff here, lots of interesting elements which made for a good time. Lots of variety in the instrumentation :)

Decent soul-folk album that has a lot to like, but also has a tendency to drag a little. It feels like the album starts strong, loses a lot of its energy, then comes back full circle at the end. Overall good, but very inconsistent and could have used with some additional trimming. Top tracks: Down To Zero, Love and Affection, Tall In The Saddle

I really enjoyed the first track, but unfortunately the rest didn't really hit those same notes for me.

Cool

Who the hell is this person?

Bilo je nekih na papiru sličnih singer-songwriterastih albuma ali nijedan nije ni blizu ovog nivoa. Prošao mi je u sekundi, vrlo duševan i kvalitetan album mada malo monoton i pogrešnog žanra za moj ukus. Puno ispred svog vremena.

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*

Good mastering for the 70's, singer also has a great voice. Music itself didn't really resonate with me though, and while I could listen through the album there was nothing that I really would want to listen to again.

Приятный. Ярких моментов не так много, но послушать приятно. Можно взять на заметку и как-нибудь вернуться

Perry remarkable that this was made in the 70s, but not my cop of tea.

Another one from my ma’s stash. File under Emotional but not too Mawkish. Not this exact record, of course, but close enough: same voice: warm, husky, like she’s telling you a secret while also sort of daring you to laugh at it; same guitar, steady and unfussy; same sort of songs - they never quite catch fire, but they glow nicely in the corner like one of those three-bar fires with moulded-plastic coals covering it. This third album was her breakthrough, apparently. Though the breakthrough leaned hard on Love and Affection as a single. If this is the only Armatrading album on the list - and I’d bet it is - I can’t shake the thought that it should really be The Best of Joan Armatrading. That's probably the one my ma had. Yes, I know: Alan Partridge vibes. But that’s how you get the good stuff in one place. Me, Myself, I; Drop the Pilot; I’m Lucky; All the Way from America, and, yes, Love and Affection. Those are the Joan Armatrading songs you have to hear before you die. They are available on one album, but it isn't this one. 2.5 It’s very difficult not to compare Armatrading with Joni Mitchell. The intimacy of the vocal, the free rhythms of the melodies, and a band with one foot in jazz, all of it in service of songs confessing hopes and crushed hopes in love. How on earth is one supposed to avoid comparing ‘Save Me’ with ‘Help Me’? Or ‘Help Yourself’ with ‘Help Me’? This is an album of good songs. But they’re not that good. The lyrics of ‘Save Me’ or ‘Tall in the Saddle’ express sentiments too trite in situations sketched with too much coyness to really bear comparison with Mitchell. ‘You stand on the bank/ Immune or evasive/ Throw me a lifeline, save me’ ‘I looked to you for love/ Thought you walked on holy ground/ But oh, you're mean’ Absent here is the poetry and the drama of something like A Strange Boy or Lesson in Survival. Although Water With the Wine (the one dud on side 1) might cost you a mouthful of tea. The backdrop of Joni Mitchell’s protagonists throws Armatrading’s into unforgiving relief also. Armatrading portrays herself passive in love and sometimes prey. Mitchell always gives a sense of being in control - philosophically at least - and even the predator. She doesn’t need anyone’s help. There is hardly justice in throwing a comparison with Joni Mitchell in anyone’s face at the same time. These are good songs. Worth a party of their own. Love and Affection is a great song - and the one most unlike something Mitchell would do, I think. The band are hot. I loved the guitar playing on Like Fire and the drums on Tall in the Saddle. The drums sound brilliant throughout. 3/5

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

Fine

Je ne me rappelle déjà plus ce que j'ai entendu (c'était ya 10 minutes)

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

On her self-titled breakthrough, Joan Armatrading establishes herself as a soulful singer-songwriter with a jazzy edge, her supple voice pulling equal weight with the elegant arrangements. Produced with care and clarity by Glyn Johns, the album balances intimacy and polish, allowing Armatrading’s sharp songwriting to shine without losing its warmth. “Down to Zero” pairs crisp piano with guitar in a way that feels both buoyant and melancholic, while “Water with the Wine” rides a steady midtempo groove that underscores her emotional candor. The standout, “Love and Affection,” takes its time to bloom, but when it does, it’s one of those rare tracks that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. This is the sound of an artist fully coming into her own voice.

loved almost all song

Pretty folksy

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

Álbum cercano, hogareño y refinado, en la línea de la época, imagino. Nada en particular que me haya dejado loco, aunque los highlights están en la primera mitad. No hace demasiadas cabriolas con la voz pero tampoco es que lo necesite; suena bien y ya. Favs: Down to Zero (la mejor imo, muy buen opener), Help Yourself, Love and Affection, Somebody Who Loves You

Con un sonido y formato que recuerda al cantautor de los 90 (Fiona Apple & Co.), el disco tiene ideas muy interesantes que se pierden en la totalidad de la canción. Eso sí, comienza súper bien, Down to Zero es un temazo, pero conforme el disco va avanzando la fórmula se va gastando (y cuando intenta algo distinto, como en Join the Boys o People, no termina de clavar el aterrizaje). Estoy muy seguro de que acabo de escuchar los cimientos del movimiento singer-songwriter noventero, entiendo que sea un esencial. A la playlist: Down to Zero Bájale al yodel porfa: Save Me

A great singer songwriter album that has tons of variety

Not a good track record so far!

Best leuk

Not bad, liked the singing and the lyrics, but its noting too special.

really wanted to like it but just didn’t

Cool funky grooves with string vocals. I can dig it.

Not bad! Loved the first song.

Really enjoyed It!

9.3/10

Felt a little apprehensive at the beginning, but by the end, completely entertained.

pas ma came

Learned about Armatrading from an old, old friend. Literally life-changing times, catapulting me into the first phases of real adulthood.

A bit of a mixed bag. Some quite pop/soul stuff on here that's not so much to my taste. Some cool funky moments. And some other cool weird stuff going on. Overall I quite enjoyed it

Groovy. A nice album to listen to but not very remarkable. Not sure if it should be classified as an album 'you must hear before you die' though.

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.

Love it.

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.

No private session used for Spotify and know idea what I was getting in to. Judging a book by the cover it will be in the 70's style of complicated acoustic guitar behind mumbly singing. But no, guitar yes, definitely not mumbly singing, nice voice with minimal backing instrumentation. Singer songwriter stuff.

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

Dull.

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.

This album picks up towards the end, few tracks I really enjoyed. Good voice but it's not something that floats my boat regularly.

This was a new artist for me. Pretty solid, great background music. Great voice, awesome backup bank - really enjoyed the song 'Tall in the Saddle.' Solid, overall. 3 for sure.

Not bad!

Not bad

ok

Funky musicians. I really liked the music. The pop style isn’t really my thing, but, glad I gave it a shot.

I enjoyed this record.

New for me, it`s good! simple but effective

not my thing

me gusta esto, súper dinámico, musica entretenida

Down to Zero. Never heard this album before. Nice drum sound. Really pop with a warmth. Beautiful steel as well. Great rhythm and timing in her singing. Help yourself. This turned funcky a minute or so in! Water with the wine. Enjoyed this in a musical, tell a story type of way. Love and affection. Save me. Im not clicking with this album. Not terrible but not one ill come back to again and again. Maybe a couple of tracks. Join the boys. This is one i might come back to. Would be a great live song i reckon. People. Nice organ solo in this followed by a guitar solo with a great sound. Somebody who loves you. OK. Like fire. Nice groove to the guitar. Nice laid back feel buy not aure it goes anywhere for me. Tall in the saddle. Dont mind this. Not a fan of the guitar solo in- a bit lackimg texture/all yhe aame volume. Something about her voice. She is a good singer, has good range, some interesting tremello other probably quite difficult and technical bits but at times her voice sounds a bit all in the mouth. I dont know her ao well. Maybe she was ne er known as a singer but more of a composer or arranger? There’s some good variety in terms of what she does with her voice and its not over the top lile a guy sebastian type ‘hey i can sing’ so it maoes sense from that POV.

Perfect for a quiet weekday evening: a half-empty bar and a cold beer.

Uh it was decent thx

Masterpiece. Bluesy, jazzy, funky, folky, and rocking a voice like a peated single malt. I remember when I started learning guitar that dad gave me this album as his favourite work. I appreciated it then and so much more now, and today I read about the wonderful artist's background. This is life and it's a joyful experience.

At first I thought I was really going to dig this, but it ended up feeling kind of blah

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!

Joan has such a warm presence, especially on songs like "Somebody Who Loves You." And this year, Richard Ashcroft released a banger that samples her hit "Love and Affection" which made me so happy for both of them.

Ikke hørt før. Ikke verst!

Awesome

Pretty good folk rock style, first half of the album was like a 6/10 and the second half was an 8/10.

Angenehm. Starke drei Sterne.

What the heck. I'm two albums away from finishing this list and this album was better than most of the crap I had to slog through.

an absolute wonder

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.

It’s well made and easy to listen to. It just doesn’t really pop anywhere

Good album

meh

Gillar hennes röst. Instrumenteringen väldigt 70-tal. Basrösten på Love and affection väldigt obehaglig.

Good, but no song hit me hard.

joni mitchellesco, linda voz, great production, deserves a second listen

fun while it lasted

Amazing voice is the most memorable part.

Maybe my favorite album so far. I had never heard of her before and this has already made the endeavor worthwhile.

Normal, not my artist

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.

Really liked this one, neat find

A fine listen, just not something I see myself revisiting in full

Ingen svakheter egentlig. Ikke de store høydarne heller, men så tror jeg dette er en plate som blir bare bedre og bedre for hver gjennomgang. Sterk treer.

Good album. A classic.

Very solid listen. Pleasant voice and instrumentation, pleasant experience. Sounded like a 90s record, in all honesty.

Love to see a familiar friend, and she is a timeless classic

OK

Joan grew on me. Singing the blues, it to a more soulful funky beat. Great guitar player.

Folksy. Nothing very original or memorable .

Soulful voice. Forerunner to Tracy Chapman. The first and last two songs on the album were the best.

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.

Poppy folk music, but with a healthy dose of jazziness. Vocal timbre very reminiscent of Nina Simone, very deep. Decent anulan with catchy writing.

a wonderfully funky and energetic album that covers several genres thanks to unique, innovative instrumentation. a stunning vocal performance from joan sees her explore a wide range which is made even better by the fact that the album is lyrically strong too. beautiful guitar and sax solos add so much depth to a lot of the tracks. this album is the perfect length and has your attention from start to finish.

I enjoyed it but it wasn't anything special.

Great voice (pre Tracy Chapman), great musicians, great songs. Still somehow something was missing?

Y'know, 60's/70's singer-songwriter folkies have never really been my bag. If you've been a part of my group you've probably read me say this a million times before, but it bears repeating. I just don't have an easy time with them whatsoever. Oftentimes, they come across as poets who wanna pretend to be musicians, and that's just not something I can vibe with. Being AuDHD, I struggle with lyrics, so just the mere idea of listening to a whole album where I have try n' dissect flowery poetics, where it's the only thing you really **can** do because the music behind it is often so nonexistent ... it's like, I sometimes wonder if I was too harsh on 'Court And Spark', like maybe I just didn't give it the fair attention it deserved. But it was never gonna be easy for it to win any favors with me, let alone make me actually **like it**. It's a losing battle for most of these 60's/70's folk dealies. Which makes it all the more a plus that this album doesn't sound like it came from the 60's or 70's. Seriously — this album came out in 1976, but if you'd just given me a cut from this thing without any extra context, I never would have been able to tell. To begin with, the lyrics are **not** flowery or poetic. They're not dead simple, but, more importantly, they're not as obtuse as I've come to expect from these sorts of albums. These lyrics are more like ... and, yes, this is the comparison everyone's made: they're like Tracy Chapman. There's a clearness and a directness to them that I really appreciate. Like, it's just nice to be able to hear lyrics and understand what they're saying. I don't hafta bend over backwards and get a literary degree to even begin to get them, no: they're right there. I seriously can't tell you how much I enjoyed this album simply for the fact that I wasn't gonna hafta struggle with the words. But there's more to this album than just the lyrics. There's the music as well, and this is another area where this album feels like it fell through a time warp. Most folkie singer-songwriter albums from around this time (so I've come to picture them) seem to not really care about the music? It's never emphasized and more often than not feels like it's there as a necessity so it's not just poetry and nothing else. Often, they'll learn to play guitar and that's it. Sometimes there's a harmonica for some brief interludes ... ooo, and maybe if they're feeling extra fancy, they'll add in **other instruments**! Just as long as they aren't doing anything interesting. That's distract from the **poetry**, y'know. With Joan's album, though, honestly, if you wanted to listen to this thing on a purely sonic level, you absolutely could. Joan's got herself a great voice, for one. It's a little different than you'd expect, but she uses it wonderfully. I think the worst I can say about it is there's a spot of tremolo or two that sounds like when I speed up Buffy Saint-Marie's cover of "The Circle Game" (you ever try that? The tremolo on the held notes is a riot; it sounds like she's singing on an active washing machine). But besides that, the instrumentation is so far beyond this decade. There's just something incredibly 90's about it; I can't exactly place my finger on it. It just evokes that kind of atmosphere. I mean, goodness, this thing has some country **grooves** sometimes. The end of "Tall In The Saddle" goes off, honestly. And the strings on this album — oh, goodness me, the **strings**. Lovely strings; big fan of them. By themselves they would've been enough to win me over on this album, and good for the rest of the album that everything else keeps up to that snuff. Color me impressed. I really didn't expect to like this album as much as I did. It honestly makes me wonder why people don't talk about this thing more? It feels like it should be named as an inspiration more often, right alongside Joni Mitchell and whoever else. It's crazy how ahead of its time it is — and I guess that's ultimately the secret to get me to like 60's/70's folk albums. Just sound like you came from the 90's! Get some good instrumentation and melodies, don't be so purple prose about your lyrics ... and boom! An instant classic! I mean, is it **that hard** to sound 20 or 30 years ahead of your time? I don't think so. If Joan could do it, why can't you?

Just some good folk, nothing much else to say. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 5. Well, that didn’t sound like 1976 at all to me. That sounded like at least 1986, if not a little further. Immediately, as with a lot of other people, the mind goes to Tracy Chapman, but these aren’t really Tracy Chapman tracks. Yes, vocally, they’re pretty similar, but Joan Armatrading blends the sort of spoken, conscious style of Tracy Chapman’s scattered & scatty vocals with the flair and twang of an Elton John. Lyrically, these are “conscious” tracks, sure, but conscious in the frame of love as opposed to societal stuff. I don’t think there are many tracks here that portray that kind of idealized love that other singers might croon about (“Love and Affection” & “Like Fire” come to mind), but instead, a lot of mildly flawed (yet fair / fun) scenarios for it. I mean, hell, the album starts on “Down to Zero”, which is basically about a guy who’s utterly humbled after getting broken up with, and having to crawl back to the person that he already had it best with beforehand. “Water with the Wine” is just a good night after a very drunken bar trip, with a lesson to not go too crazy out there. “Save Me” is an interesting twist on the first track, with someone basically drowning in her own sorrow & needing someone to save her… but he just won’t do it. “Somebody Who Loves You” is basically begging someone to admit to cheating so she can come up with an excuse to forgive him & take the heat, but he just won’t do it. I’m harping on the lyrics a bit because I think they add to the album, but the big secret is that they are ENTIRELY unnecessary. Joan Armatrading’s vocal style is lovely, and her passion comes through on a lot of these tracks. The other star of the show is the instrumentation, and it’s where this album shined brightest for me. Everything from the guitar, percussion, keyboard, piano, the steel guitar, the sax, and so on just fits perfectly. Beyond that, the way this album is mixed & composed evokes a sense of being far beyond its years. I can’t recall a track where I could specifically say “yeah, this one sounds like 1976 to me.” Honestly, I think Hootie & The Blowfish is my closest comparison in terms of an overall groove, but as a whole, it just feels like a ‘90s album that came to fruition very early. It’s hard to describe without listening to the album, and if you’re somehow reading this without having listened to it, just go fucking do it. I really think the music speaks for itself far more than I can here; it’s a 41 minute delight. A few tracks go a little long & spin the wheels in a way that feels like padding, but the grooves & her voice are both so infectious that you’ll never care about it in the moment. I’m very glad this is on the list – when I saw she was a singer-songwriter with a folk & pop lean, I simply hoped it would be interesting enough to warrant being on the list, and it was in spades. This is an excellent find, and a very strong 5 to my ears. P.S.: The final 2 minutes of “Tall in the Saddle” are fucking awesome.

On my third listen I realized she might be onto something. It’s a good album, Save Me, Save Yourself and Down to Zero are my top 3.

it's ok, a bit blant

I really enjoyed this one. Sounded more like 80s-90s than 70s.

This is a name I have always heard and never gave it a good listen - she’s incredible

I mean, the comparisons to Tracey Chapman are inescapable. Joan is a totally new artist to me, and while I still don't find anything that gets me super excited after several listens, it's still a perfectly comfortable listen all the way through. [3.5]

Just couldn’t get into this one

Dull

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.

Fajne do pocholpwania zeby w moim wielkiem dwu piertowym domu lecialo na winuly albo glosnikach

Nice album

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.

This was not my style of music for the most part but I did enjoy the last song.

Class.

Fun, but didn't quite draw me in.

Super smooth. Great vocals. Not super earwormy but enjoyed the listen.

DNF. May revisit when I’m in a singer-songwriter mood

Joan Armatrading: This one had some surprises and some original sounds. I could hear she must have been a big influence on Dave Matthews. Favs were “People” and “ Like Fire” and “Love and Affection”

In one ear out the other

Felt like one crappy song

A unique blend of John Martin and Stevie Wonder but I’m not sure the songs are strong enough. Certainly no memorable ones after 1 listen.

Artiste inconnue. Pop standard pas désagréable, parfois (mais trop rarement) agrémenté par des chorus réussis, ce qui lui évite la note minimale. Mais il n'a pour moi aucun intérêt, il ne présente absolument rien d'original ni créatif. =>2/5

Good chilled out album, nothing too special

Solid enough soul album, not especially memorable. Tall in the Saddle was my favorite, I guess

I've never heard of this singer or this album. Well, the voice isn't bad, the music is pleasant, but the whole thing is so boring that I won't listen to it again. If I hadn't heard this album, I wouldn't have missed anything. 3/5

This was a decent album didn't blow my socks off or anything but it was alright!

down to zero- 5 help yourself- 6 water with the wine- 5 love and affection- 6 save me- 5 join the boys- 6 or 7 people- 5 somebody who loves you- 5 like fire- 5 tall in the saddle- 5

some chill acoustic stuff with a few electric elements and some nice backup vocals in some songs. one of those albums that didn't blow me away but was still a pleasant listen. she's clearly a very talented singer I guess favorite song: "somebody who loves you" overall: 6/10 (but like a high 6)

It was a good Album, what I enjoyed Most is his voice. Good lyrics , the Melodies are catching you and his voice is just a piece of heaven.

Never heard before. Ok.

I wasn't sure at first, but it turned into a pretty chill, easy listening album.

Niet heel interessant

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

Oddly enough, at the start of this year, I heard the big single off Joan Armatrading's self-titled album, "Love and Affection", and remember enjoying it. Joan is an English singer-songwriter who had a rather earnest upbringing and worked her way towards a record deal while writing and performing her original songs. This third album of hers would be her commercial breakthrough, and I can hear why. This record is a rich blend of folk and pop, with bright textures and bouncing grooves to make these songs feel vibrant under Joan's soft yet commanding contralto delivery. Not only does her strumming of the acoustic guitar come off well-accented, but the rest of the soundscape is bolstered by the welcomed additional instrumentation, such as the accompanying strings and alto saxophone solo on "Love and Affection", or the mandolin motifs on "Somebody Who Loves You". Adding to this flair are some deep observational lyrics of love in all its twists and turns. I know that love and relationship songs will be forever abundant in music. Yet, there is something to be said about Joan's particular poetry in plain, spoken language, directed towards "you" as the partner involved in the relationship, that feels more resonant. Nothing is left to ambiguity or second-guessing, as she laid it all out on the table, including the accusations of one-night stands on "Join the Boys" or the affair exposed in "Somebody Who Loves You". It may seem simple in its presentation and execution, but Joan Armatrading's self-titled album is just that good. I couldn't find anything to complain about with this record, and I am glad to have gotten to check her music out this year.

Would have been easy enough even without the wikipedia piece above to pick out "Love and Affection" and "Tall in the Saddle" as the "best" songs on the album, as they definitely stood out against the rest. This just wasn't for me though.

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

Solid pop music with a bit of country.

I mean just a solid vibe.

I just can't get into folk. I don't know what it is. The funk parts I like.

Jazzy folk-pop album from the mid-70s. Musically inoffensive and even inmemorable, lyrically more provoking, but the songs blend together too much. She is talented but this album isn't really my thing.

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!

It sounds fine enough, but all blends together.

The lady has a great voice, thought provoking lyrics & clearly talented but her album leaves me cold. I didn't dislike the album at all but unless I focused, I would just forget it was even playing. Not one track stood out for me in a good or bad way. I'll give it two stars because of the very obvious talent (you gotta be deaf not to hear it) that Joan Armatrading has but I would never play her album again that said... if it (a song from her album) was playing on the jukebox at the pub no doubt, I would like it well enough but would none the less ask my date for money to load the juke box with an hour's worth of music that actually excites me.

This has some Elton John vibes. And Lilith Fair vibes

I only know of one Joan Armatrading song, which I like. This was more of the same. I liked this. The only criticism I would have is that it’s quite ‘samey’.

really interesting and groovy. i didnt pay much attention to the lyrics tho

She is not bad at all. The lyrics are good, the music more diverse than your average guitar-wielding singer-songwriter, but it is still singer-songwriter so far too boring/slow for me.

Boring

What a wonderful new listen for me.

Joan Armatrading is of course great, though maybe I prefer her without a lot of production, just voice and guitar? Or minimal strings like those on "Love and Affection," my favourite song on this album. A lot of the extra instrumentation on here makes otherwise potentially timeless music sound dated and kinda corny—at least to my taste.

Fantastic album. Love that this sounds alt folk in the 70s. Easily could have dropped in 2005 and wouldn't know the difference.

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 really love Joan Armatrading's voice and she is a supreme songwriter. However, hearing this album made me think it was a wise choice I went with buying a greatest hits album instead of her entire catalogue. Her singles off the album were wonderful but others felt a bit like fillers.

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.

Off the cuff remark: I thought I would be more familair with this than I am but having listened through I am not overly surprised. I liked it less than I wanted to. Singer-songwriter that just doesn't capture my attention. Standout track: Love and Affection, but even this I felt I knew less than I thought I did and it was okay rather than special. Revisit?: wouldn't think so.

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.

Good.

Absolutely love this one. Excellent sound quality and great songs. A classic!

Siento que fue de menos a más, es un álbum lleno de varios ritmos pero si creo que empezó lento o no tan impactante, no me sorprendió tanto vaya. Las interpretaciones del bajo y la guitarra creo que fueron los destellos de este álbum. Me encantó el final, es mi canción favorita del proyecto y le dí like a 5 de 10 canciones así que de ahí mi calificación. Debería darle más escuchadas, pero esas fueron mis primeras impresiones.

This was a nice playlist, I liked the song "Help yourself"! Though none of the songs would be something I would listen to regularly so none of them will be added to my new playlist.

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.

Based on the reviews, I expected to like this. Didn't really enjoy it, though it's fine.

Dad- 7 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 3 Michael- 7 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 6.25

Pleasent enough, but I constantly forget to pay attention. It just doesn't catch or keep my attention. Standouts Join The Boys 3/5

Stupenda sorpresa. Una voce della madonna, con musica che spazia tra jazz, blues e addirittura in qualche momento prog

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"

Not my favorite, but not bad 2.75

Just didn't do anything for me. I'd listen to it a second time to see if it hits different on repeat, but I don't want to.

Me gustó mucho su voz, no la conocía pero la verdad me pareció muy bueno.

This was a perfectly okay 70s album from another artist I don't think I've heard of before. None of the songs were familiar but it was very 70s studio. "Armstrading" sounds a lot like Christine McVie also, and I guess Tracy Chapman is the American version of "Armstrading."

Sick as fuuuuck

Bangers all the way through. Really fun and hypnotic vocal melodies, funky syncopated percussion. Elements of pop, country, soul. Can’t stop listening

Stunning and relaxing, good!

A pleasant surprise. Jazz, soul…wow! What a voice!

2.4 Honk minimmimi

Cool

Classy

Good voice but very bland

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

What a fantastic album. This is the absolute real deal and approximately 100 times better than any modern imitators.

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).

This is exactly what I was hoping for when I started this project of 1001. Never heard of her before this, and I will want to know more now. Every track seemed to have a small surprise to just keep you interested. Loved it.

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

This was SO GOOD

Solid Gold. Wonderful lyrics, fantastic music and arrangements. Her voice is so beautifully natural, top notes are delicate and soft, mid range is deep and mesmerising, and low range is raw and nasty. She has a big mix of bluesy, soulful, jazzy, and country folk all mixed up. Amazing album by the UK's best female singer songwriter ever.

Great album - no weak tracks here

fun sound fun songs can’t really go wrong

Kind of like funky Joni Mitchell. Won’t return but I enjoyed it.

Somewhat familiar but haven't listened extensively. This record had a nice vibe for a Sunday morning

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

Enjoyable easy listening album. Highlights were Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, Save Me, and Tall in the Saddle

First listen for me. Incredible tone and range. Some of the arrangements feel dated in a way that hasn't aged too well. Appreciated more stripped down songs like "somebody who loves you". Will listen again.

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.

Not really my vibe

Good but not my taste.

2.5/5

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 don't think I've ever heard of Joan Armatrading, but man, this album is pretty good. Bluesy, funky and her voice is killer. I feel like this album could have been made in the last 10-15 years. Sounds way ahead of its time.

Beautiful voice and songs but passed me by

Listening to this right after 16 Lovers Lane was a night and day contrast for me. I knew the name but I'd never much listened to anything of hers. I will fix that. This is music that sounds like it might get put on to relax or to have something playing in the background, but within a song or two, it takes over everything else.

Pretty good!

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

I'd only recently heard of Joan Armatrading through her song I'm Lucky, which I liked a lot, so I'm a little disappointed by this album which is absolutely fine but nothing for me to write home about. Out of interest I listened to Walk Under Ladders (featuring I'm Lucky) and I did prefer it to this, so I might explore more Joan Armatrading in future.

3.5 stars

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.

I was pretty good, though it may be the age, but felt rather generic.

No está nada mal.

4.2

Very enjoyable listen this morning.

Great mix of soul and folk. I enjoyed most of the tracks, the songwriting, and the production. My only critique is that most of the track sounds too same-y and sounds bland at times. Favourite Track(s): Join the Boys, Like Fire Least Favourite Track(s): Save Me

Joan has a fun style and I like the writing, but I don't see myself coming back. Good for what she offers, though

good, not great

Tasteful soul pop vocals

this was nice!~

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.

It's ok, but I've had my fill of folk and singer singer writer stuff over the past 2 weeks, so I might be a little biased.

-water with the wine

First time listening to her. 4 stars.

She’s like a groovy Joni Mitchell.

She’s got a great voice. Some of the music is a bit too mellow for my taste but when she gets bluesy, a little funky, it’s better. Not gonna be a favorite but I’m not mad I got to hear her.

Like Meat Loaf but even sexier

Some lovely songwriting and melidies

I found this somewhat forgettable in terms of songwriting and vocals. People was a fun song.

I love it !

3+

En general esta bien, pero de verdad solo me ha gustado 1 cancion

Fantastic

Good enjoyed it

Folk Rock being folky and mellow. While nothing inherently wrong with this it bored to wishing it to end soon.

This is a great album, glad I finally listened to it! I knew Love and Affection already, just had no idea how talented she is. Great songwriting, production, and singing. Not really a bad song on here, and sounds quite ahead of it's time as well.

Great album

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.

The collection of songs seemed non-cohesive. Her unique style of singing was recognizable throughout, but some songs sounded like they were recorded by completely different bands, or written by different songwriters with different grooves in mind. Enjoyed a couple of songs, but the album as a whole had me all over the place.

Beautiful voice. I'm surprised I have not heard of her before.

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!

Better than I thought it would be. Thought it would be a real soft folky. More 2.5 than 3.

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 👏

wasnt bad just wasnt for me

cool album, just not my type

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.

I did not like this at all. Couldn't groove to it.

Not a big folk guy

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.