Reviews (page 6 of 13)
This album was new to me, and quite a surprise. I have never listened a lot to Armatrading, but do recall she had some decent rock albums out in the early 80’s (Me Myself, and The Key) very energetic stuff as far as I remember. However, here its quite a different style, like a blend between soul and singer-song folk music, with a very warm pleasant nerve through teh whole album. I really like. Must listen to more Armatrading now..
Love and Affection is a great song. First song that jumped out at me. Greg low backing vocals on the chorus, turns out it was Lester from The Wire, insane.
Great voice and great songs. I enjoyed this a lot.
Carefully crafted love songs, plumbing the depths of the psyche and soul, set to a surprisingly successful musical amalgamation of folk and funk. Unlike most things I’ve ever listened to, and quite beautiful
Really nice album
Funk and beauty — all in one!
I know that this is a divisive album within this challenge, but I really don’t get why. It’s folky AND it’s funky – I don’t really need much more from the music I enjoy. She does have a weird voice that I could see as off-putting to some, but I think that’s actually what makes this unique. She can also write a song, and, more importantly, write a groove. It’s not the greatest album I’ve ever heard, but it definitely influenced a lot of the albums I do consider perfect. On face value, though, this is just a great Sunday Morning™️ album – fun and groovy and folksy music to chill out and vibe with while you make your morning coffee. But then again, I generally love lesbian folk music because duh 🏳️🌈👩🏻❤️💋👩🏻
This album was a surprise but a welcome one. Astonishing vocals and a strong influence for female singer songwriters that would follow her.
C'était bon pour quelqu'un qui porte le prénom d'un cheval
new artist for me, wholesome album with a nice mix with a cheerful voice
cool bluesy folk rock
really enjoyed it, powerful voice, good musically.
Overall a very good album. For some reason I know the name, but I have never listened to her, as far as I am aware at least. I enjoyed almost all of it. It had a good rhythm that was a little funky with some occasional blues. "Save Me" was probably my least favorite track, just started rough. The album really starts to pick up with "Join The Boys" and finds itself with "Like Fire" and has a great ending with "Tall In The Saddle." Most of these mentioned are making the playlist.
beautiful voice
I’d never heard of this artist but it’s an easy-listening album with a good vibe.
I will happily let this grow on me, it's an album to revisit and absolutely one YMHBYD, but whenever it dips into its uptempo country blues side, I felt like skipping, even though the ~vibe~ of it is coherently nice, but ah, hm. I think it's been a while since I've given a 4? Here's one. A good one.
Hey, this is pretty good!
Folk and soul with great arrangements and super vocals. Strong record.
Sounded like it would fit in with a lot of the singer song writers in my parents collection.
We think it was good but forgot to rate it so maybe we are wrong 🤷
I was famiar with Joan Armatrading name, and kind of knew what she sounded like, but I couldn’t place any specific song. So I went into this pretty open. And I really enjoyed this album. The songs are really good, and sound great. It sounded good enough that I had to check who produced it. Glenn Johns, which explains a lot. Anyway, sound is great, songs are very good, singing has a nice personality. Mostly acoustic guitars, backed with full instrumentation, but backed, not overwhelmed by. Has a bit of a Jazzy feel. This is the kind of hidden gem that I came to the 1001albums project to find. That said, it’s not perfect, and has a couple of “less strong” parts in the middle. Solid 4, may evolve to a 5 with more familiarity.
I love this record... songs which really get under your skin, especially 'Save Me' and 'Down to Zero'. 4/5
I would've probably never found this album without this list and I do think is worth listening to before I die! Glad it was included. 4.
Filled to the brim with good tunes and some incredibly catchy riffs. Easy to see why this album is included in the list. Glad to have listened to it (numerous times now) and will seek it out again.
BEAUTIFUL. I should give this more listens in the future. I think it could really, really grow on me.
Another big and great surprise!
Joan is good. A solid listen. Give it your attention.
First time with this album. I knew she had a good voice with the singles I've heard but this is fantastic. Great sound all over
I don't know anything about Joan Armatrading or how popular she may have been, but for folk music I had never heard before, I liked this quite a bit. The songs Help Yourself and Tall in the Saddle were absolutely amazing. Others were kind of bland or dated, but there was enough here for me to stay engaged.
Rock, Soul, 1976 -> 4
An excellent album, got some belters on it.
"Joan Armatrading" by Joan Armatrading stands as a testament to the artist's profound talent, showcasing her prowess as a singer-songwriter. Released in 1976, this self-titled album marked Armatrading's third studio release and solidified her reputation as a unique voice in the music industry. Let's delve into a comprehensive review, dissecting the album's various components: lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while considering both its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics: Armatrading's lyrics in this album are characterized by their depth, introspection, and emotional resonance. She masterfully captures the complexities of human relationships, often delving into themes of love, heartache, and self-discovery. Tracks like "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero" are poignant examples of her lyrical prowess, with their evocative imagery and profound insights into the human condition. Armatrading's ability to craft lyrics that are both relatable and thought-provoking is one of the album's major strengths. ### Music: Musically, "Joan Armatrading" is a rich tapestry of folk, rock, and blues influences, showcasing Armatrading's versatility as a musician. Her distinctive voice, characterized by its warmth and soulfulness, serves as the perfect vehicle for conveying the raw emotion embedded within each song. The album features a diverse array of musical arrangements, from the gentle acoustic strumming of "Save Me" to the driving rhythm of "Tall in the Saddle," demonstrating Armatrading's ability to traverse different musical landscapes with ease. ### Production: The production quality of the album is solid, with a clean and crisp sound that allows Armatrading's vocals and instrumentation to shine. Producer Glyn Johns deserves credit for capturing the raw energy and intimacy of Armatrading's performances while maintaining a polished sonic aesthetic. The instrumentation is skillfully arranged, with each instrument serving to complement Armatrading's vocals rather than overshadow them. Overall, the production of the album is a testament to the meticulous attention to detail that went into its creation. ### Themes: Thematically, "Joan Armatrading" explores a wide range of topics, from the complexities of love and relationships to the challenges of self-discovery and personal growth. Armatrading's lyrics delve into the nuances of human emotions, offering listeners a window into her own experiences and insights. There is a sense of vulnerability and authenticity that permeates the album, as Armatrading lays bare her innermost thoughts and feelings for all to see. Themes of resilience, empowerment, and self-acceptance are also prevalent throughout the album, resonating with listeners on a deeply personal level. ### Influence: "Joan Armatrading" has had a significant influence on the singer-songwriter genre, inspiring countless artists with its heartfelt lyrics, soulful vocals, and eclectic musical style. Armatrading's ability to blend folk, rock, and blues influences into a cohesive sonic tapestry has served as a blueprint for generations of musicians seeking to carve out their own unique sound. The album's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal, with tracks like "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero" continuing to resonate with audiences decades after their initial release. ### Pros: 1. **Lyrical Depth:** Armatrading's lyrics are rich in emotion and introspection, offering listeners a window into her innermost thoughts and feelings. 2. **Musical Versatility:** The album's eclectic mix of folk, rock, and blues influences showcases Armatrading's versatility as a musician. 3. **Production Quality:** The album boasts a clean and polished sound, thanks to the skillful production work of Glyn Johns. 4. **Emotional Resonance:** The themes explored in the album, from love and heartache to self-discovery and empowerment, resonate deeply with listeners. ### Cons: 1. **Lack of Diversity in Tempo:** Some may find that the album lacks variety in tempo, with many of the tracks falling into a mid-tempo groove. 2. **Limited Instrumentation:** While the instrumentation is skillfully arranged, some listeners may find themselves wishing for more experimentation and diversity in the musical arrangements. 3. **Occasional Repetition:** There are moments where certain themes and motifs are repeated throughout the album, which may detract from its overall impact for some listeners. In conclusion, "Joan Armatrading" by Joan Armatrading is a masterful showcase of the artist's talent and creativity, featuring poignant lyrics, soulful vocals, and captivating musical arrangements. While the album may have its flaws, its enduring appeal and influence cannot be denied, cementing its status as a classic in the singer-songwriter genre.
Honestly easy listen. Way better that I thought it would be. Empowering lyrics.
Really good songwriting, which in my mind is one of the most valuable and hardest things to find in music.
Thought it was really good. Not sure how much I’ll come back and listen to though. Rating: 3.8
She’s got some freakin soul!
I, too, have learned a valuable lesson about mixing water with my wine next time. Came into this album completely blind and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this artist. I really enjoyed listening to this album and some of the songs were truly jams. I’m curious if more of her work will show up and if it will compare to this album. Either way, I think this one earned the four stars.
How cool is it to go from not knowing anything about an artist to being somewhat of a fan, all in the span of 41 minutes. I had never even heard of the name Joan Armatrading before, and now I wonder how she slipped through so many people's radars. This record feels like a precursor to the '80s and '90s female singer-songwriter wave. It's nearly every bit just as good. Standouts are Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, Love and Affection, Join the Boys, and People.
Had never heard of her. Cool voice.
Really good, not my usual thing, I enjoyed it.
This was very good. Had never heard of her before.
How nice to hear Joan Armatrading - a catchup activity, an artist Ive never had the peasure of sitting down to like this, and I know form decades ago I liked a few of her tracks. Interesting pulsing voice where the uses volume and emphasis in syllables from- a signature of hers used to good effect and to add rythm and beat via her vocals - no sure what its called to do this>>?. so yes, this stands out as different - feels like a transition or blend of Tracy Chapman and Nina Simone. Unique and soulfully soothing. I was hanging out for the star of the show "Love and Affection" is mastery. oh I do love that delicate and powerful magic - nothing jumps around and works that well tonally - worth a listen just for that happy song.
An excellent album. Well written songs and she has a great sound. I’m glad that I finally actually listened to some of her music.
Really enjoyed that. Probably my favorite album I've heard on this list so far that I wasn't already aware of. I'm definitely interested in hearing more of her stuff.
The my-mum-coded albums are coming thick and fast. I enjoyed this a lot.
Hadn't heard of her before, this was pretty good and added to the listen to again someday pile
This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Really enjoyed her style, sound and swagger in this. Need to find out more about her and why she wasn’t a more popular artist.
Never heard of this artist. Really enjoyed the album overall. 4/5
Really good
Bloody marvellous - could listen to it all day, every day if I had to.
It was interesting. I quite liked it, the instruments were very well played. I think, I have to listen to this again some time. It somehow got to me
Enjoyed this more than I anticipated!
Get a lot of Joni Mitchell vibes…and it fits right in timeline wise with the popularity of singer-songwriters of the 70s. It’s an excellent listen; great arrangements and Joan’s voice sounds wonderful.
pretty good! runs a bit long but overall a good listen!
Love this album. Drags a little by the end but that only knocks one star off. Her voice is great
I really liked this album. There were only two songs I didn't really care for ("Water with the Wine" and "Tall in the Saddle"), but the rest reminded me of other folk from that time like a Joan Mitchell or others that I like. The production and mastering also sounds great, making this a very great surprise for me - something I didn't know about before and will return to again.
Very good. Good blend of folk and blues and probably some more genres. Will listen to again.
Good music. Reminded me of Tracy Chapman. Enjoyed the listen.
This isn't the album with Drop The Pilot on, just in case you're reading this before listening, we may as well lower expectations right now. However, it's still a really good collection of songs, sung brilliantly by Our Joan. It's a bit same-y, I'd say, but very nice indeed.
Armagive it a 4
An important soundtrack to my college years. (yeah, I'm that old) She always found a way to make her message melodic.
first listen a pleasant affair with various folky styles
really liked it!
Folk-rock setentero. Está bien. Un 4.
Such an incredible voice. There's something timeless about this music too. Faves: Love And Affection, Tall In The Saddle
Enjoyed this more than expected! Some nice relaxed numbers and some with a surprising amount of groove!
Armatrading's compositions are unique in that they explore folk rock with a distinctly funk edge. Her voice is also absolutely gorgeous which gives the whole thing a calming feel. Some incredible guitar work here and there too. Honestly what an album! Armatrading does such a fantastic job it feels like this is too often overlooked.
Love her voice and the vibe of the album
This was great
Tracy Chapman wannabe but that's not a bad thing.
Great instrumentals all the way through and many songs had a lot of soul. Great listen from front to back
Fantastic soul/blues sound, and amazing guitar work.
4.5
I first heard about Joan Armatrading when Tracy Chapman's debut album was released. Many critics referred to Chapman as "the next Joan Armatrading" and I can definitely see that comparison. But I love them both separately.
I liked this quite a bit. Her voice isn't the greatest, but it works well with her music, and she is very heartfelt in her delivery. It's was bluesy and soulful, but with a modern feel (for 1976). I'm surprised that I've not heard of her before.
joan is great i love her loose form and the funk touches in this - 4.5
this sounded glorious through my new airpods
I've never heard of Joan Armatrading, and I am really enjoying this. Her voice is great, and the songs range from sweet and folky to bluesy to downright funky. Tracy Chapman is a clear stylistic descendent, but there's a lot to chew on here even though the production is very clean and pop-minded.
Elegante. 4/5.
Way better than expected. Can hear a lot of these songwriting grooves and motifs moving forward even into the pop of the 90s. Really good clarity on recording as well for the era.
Loved it! I saw her for the first time at the Memphis Auditorium Hall in 1977 and thought then, how fast can I get my mitts on this album! Down to Zero is one of my all time favorites.
Shades of Nina Simone. Everyone gives uber producer Glyn Johns a bit too much credit for this one, which shouldn't affect the rating. It doesn't.
Solid seventies singer-songwriter stuff!
Nicee
Did Tracy Chaplan and Amy whinehouse make a baby ?
Wow - I had never heard Joan before. What a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed every track, albeit the material was a little dark for my liking. Rich, complex, and smart instrumental construction complimented by thoughtful lyrics. Listed genres were folk rock and pop, but I heard tinges of funk, disco, and even country. At times Joan's deep voice reminded me of Tracy Chapman. My favorite tracks were Join the Boys, Save me, and Down to Zero. Shocked that she has put out 20 albums with one as recently as 2021 and she is not more in the mainstream with her talent and high quality arrangements.
Lots of cool acoustic guitar grooves. Really enjoyed the feel of this album. Band was locked in, great instrumentation. Like the strings throughout. Would have never guessed this is from 1976, sounds more modern and has an alt-pop-rock vibe. Like the blend of pop/funk/blues. Loved the baritone backing vocals and the sax on "Love and Affection". Enjoyed the various layers playing off each other on "Like Fire".
First artist on this list I had no idea who they are. Had some pretty cool songs, good guitar work, and good singing. The recording and mixing is really well done too.
Love this album if for no other reason in that it reminds me of the mid 70's. Her voice is appealing (to me) and her drummer plays *exactly* what I would have played if I were recording with her. No song really sticks out as a highlight but there were no songs that I didn't enjoy. Glad to have listened to this one, for sure.
Amazing lead off track. Good follow up Love her voice. Love the sound - soulful, folky and layered. Insane guitar work. Like fire. Musically superior album
She has a beautiful voice that seems to have influenced many other artists. I hadn’t heard of her before this.
Overall I enjoyed this Not for every day but in the mood
What a voice. First song is unbelievable. Love how this sounds. One of my favorite new discoveries, excited to go back to this. 4/5
Such a great mid 70s acoustic pop album. Worth a listen!
New-to-me artist. A little funk, a little blues, a bit of Joni Mitchell mixed with Tracy Chapman. Really glad I got to listen to this.
What a treat! Great poppy singer songwriter work from the late 70s. Real standouts include Joan's very distinct voice, a really snappy rhythm section, and nice big production. It manages to dodge too much 70sness and still feels nicely fresh and catchy.
Incredible album. How have I not heard about this before!? Fantastic guitar playing and some insane grooves sprinkled throughout the album. Notable tracks: Join The Boys People Like fire
Great smooth jamz. I was carried away. Never heard of her before and I can dig it. I felt like a lot of the time she was holding back the full power of her voice in service to these understated (but evocative!) lyrics and at first I was bummed about that, like I wanted be like ARMATRADING! BELT THAT SHIT! because if I had those pipes I’d be belting everything everywhere but then I realized that this is her third album and obvi she knew what she was capable of so her softshoeing shit is this really impressive choice. She felt in control of herself and her music here. Listened to it in the rain from downtown Philadelphia back to Conshohocken, kids and Erin asleep around me, traffic creeping, so many stiffs working a couple days between Christmas and New Years, dark dark at 5:30 PM. I saw a fluffy white dog, paws black to the elbow and eyes a little wild, trotting the wrong way down the shoulder of interstate 76. Joan’s guitar was like that dog. I won’t listen tot his album all the time but I’m saving it in the library.
To keep it short and sweet, this a jam. Beautiful singing 4/5
Great folk rock that is elevated by the soulful singing. Standouts are lead off “Down to Zero” and the emotional “Love and Affection”.
Folksy soul with jazzy RnB harmonies and arrangements supporting a powerful vocal performance. The singing displays an incredible range - most comfortable in a warm and intimate low-mid range, she drops down into some smokey lows and raises up for alto flashes. It's light and easy going, singing in service of the song not to feature virtuosity. To start, the songs are driven by an acoustic guitar in a classic singer-songwriter mode but fleshed out with strings, horns, piano and some restrained electric guitar along with simple bass parts and swinging drums plus he odd solo from a pretty lap steel, or a smooth jazz sax. Songs are generally slow and atmospheric, wintery Sunday morning fare. In the middle the pace picks up for some funkier tracks like Join the Boys, People, and Tall in the Saddle that combine a bit of Funkadelic fuzz with the artificial sweetner of Stevie Wonder pop. It ends with some hot twangy blues on Like Fire and Saggle that have a rampant bass and astral slide guitar and a bit of country flair. The production is crisp and clear, a full sound but still roomy with lots of space between the instruments. I'd never heard this before but wow. Favorites: Down to Zero, Join the Boys, People, Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle
Surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did.
New artist for me!
Great vocalist! Water With the Wine and Love and Affection both seemed familiar. Last few songs on the album my interest kind of faded until the tempo picked up during Tall In The Saddle.
It’s really a 3 star album but I was open to persuasion.
I enjoyed this kind of gentle funk with soulful lyrics. Nice.
Easy listen. Found it very relaxing.
Very enjoyable.
Unexpectedly great
immensely enjoyable!
I hadn't listened to this before and was really pleasantly surprised. Some excellent songs, she's a really talented vocalist and musician and I've saved the album to my phone for future. Knocking on a 4.5.
Lovely blend of folk, blues, soul, and rock throughout this. The sound itself is wonderfully clean throughout, especially for something this old. Another gem I hadn't come across before this.
I really have no idea what to make of this album. The weirdest thing about it is that I've never heard of it, which is unusual for the rock albums that show up on this list (and I'm guessing that has a lot to do with the gender and race of Ms Armatrading). The album has a lot of range, with lots of elements of folk, blues, funk, and other related genres. Both music and lyrics are soulful, and she has a great voice with a lot of strength behind it 4/5
I love this discovery. What a neat album. So full of soul and musicianship. A singer/songwriter who can actually write; what a rare treat! I didn't expect much, so maybe I'm currently over-hyping it, but I enjoyed almost all of these songs and found myself bopping along. Fav tracks: Join The Boys, Help Yourself, Save Me
There's a fairly wide variety of styles covered here, it'd be really hard for me to categorize this album. They're all done well and blended seamlessly. The levels here bum me out a little, it's as though every other instrument is given precedence over her voice, so in the more intense sections it tends to fade to the back. That said, really enjoyable, would love to listen again (or to more from her).
Soulful, drums are incredible, really liked it
great album. i loved the ebb and flow and pacing of it. her voice is fantastic. glad to have learned of this one.
I loved her style of singing and her smooth, low voice! Plus a lot of her songs were really fun to listen to. Her career started to take off when she was in a touring production of Hair in the late 60s and you can lowkey tell that that style of music was an inspiration (which imo is a good thing.)
this one rly hit for me today. 3.5
01) Down to Zero - 8,5 02) Help Yourself - 8,0 03) Water with the Wine - 7,5 04) Love and Affection - 8,5 05) Save Me - 8,0 06) Join the Boys - 7,0 07) People - 7,5 08) Somebody Who Loves You - 8,5 09) Like Fire - 7,5 10) Tall in the Saddle - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,80 (78/100) "Drop the pilot, try my balloon Drop the monkey, smell my perfume" That's all I knew about Joan Armatrading before listening to this album :-) This is very pleasant listening. Track #1 is my favourite, followed by #4 & #8.
Incredible richness of voice. Beautiful arrangements. Really fantastic.
This was real good will definitely be listening again
Great lyrics and cool voice
great album!
wiso wür sie s hit-videospiel arma handle wenns mittlerwiile in digitaler form verfüegbar isch?Anyway de Glyn Johns seit s segs best album woner dra gschafft het da heisst entweder lügt er oder s isch easy guet. Down to Zero. sie singt sehr schön. Pedal steel giti isch immer e gueti idee. schöne Song haut mi nöd um. Help Yourself seehr geili Chords. slagzüg afoch hihat. boah d chords gönd los und denn funky time uuuuuhyeah. riese song Water with the Wine. very diatonic very diatonic. oke s goht d hits sind no cool. Weniger strong de song. Love and Affection. sehr schön denn bi 1:20 machts funny chords. geil. Tüüfi Stimm funny. boh chromatischi line. OH SHIT SAXOPHON TIME. Jimmy Jewell heisster. Harde Song. Save Me. Do tönt sie wie d Joni Mitchell. Join the Boys. Superstition ass drumbreat. cool. baut mega geil uuf. drumbeat änderet sich (snare uf 2 und). Song ischmer aber chli zu joooo soul jooo. aber generell nice, akustischi und elektrischi giti sher cool. pianosolo hard People. bass hard. rhodes solo au. UII FUZZGITI. Somebody who loves you. wieder joni mitchell mit chli meh drums und so. aber nice. Like Fire. Gitarre Intro craaazy. slide nocher au. cool. Tall in the Saddle. moody nice, cooli chords. Gitisolo Huuuge. he bachelorarbet isch chli id queri cho aber seeehr überrascht vo dem album, git e glatts vieri.
ok mier started strong, down to zero riese song (((endlich mal e frau)))) sie het e uhuere schöni und klari stimm wiso wett sie eieinzigi waffe trade? nöd so ok chline jodeltime bi wather with the wine, schö recht "reduzierti" musig, rechts chli schrummschrumm, links dingdangdang ok join the boys chli schneller, findi nöd schlecht mal chli tempo innebringe uh shit bridge sehr sick, passiert vill aber d instrument ergänzed sich perfekt like fire isch ok und jz hend mini chopfhörer kei akku meh blink ufem cover ihri rolex wo sie dur de verchauf vo ihrere uzi sich finanziert het? tall in the saddle ischmer zerst chli z langsam gsi aber nachane s langsame gitarresolo isch insane und denn wenns geg de schluss nomal chli schneller wird und d schlagzüg nomal chli meh in vordergrund chunnt findis so en perfekte schluss finds würkli es super, album, mengisch chli langsam für min gschmak aber sie verstahts au mega, e gwüssi dynamik z erzüge und geg de schluss hie und daa chli meh tempo innezbringe, snare und toms findi mega schön warm, ihri stimm sowieso super
A good album. Unique. Sounds like something I could have really gotten into if I had first heard it at an early age. Starts out very strong but kinda tapers off as it goes but I still listen to it multiple times during the day, particularly the first few tracks.
Very solid singer songwriter. Love and Affection is an old school banger.
A few songs got a little depressing for me, but there were other winners.
I enjoyed this - she has a great voice with an interesting tone, and the songs have aged quite well, and sound good in a contemporary context.
Very solid! Enjoyed a lot
Great album!
better than I was expecting
This one was a surprise. I'd heard of her before, but not sure what I was expecting, but not his. I really enjoyed this one - she has an amazing voice. Stand out tracks for me were Down to Zero and Love and Affection.
Finally a good surprise on here. I've never heard of Joan but I enjoyed this album. Love and Affection is a song I've heard covered by other artist but never knew she wrote it.
Before listening: I don't know too much about Joan Armatrading although I have heard her name before. I believe she is 60s folk similar to Joan Baez. Review: This is definitely folk inspired but also more powerful than I thought it would be...there's a little more rock edge to the production than her contemporaries like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Very cool sound with a great voice that was likely a big influence to someone like Brandi Carlile. Down to Zero and Love and Affection are the best songs on here which shows in the Spotify stats...they have 13mil and 32mil listens compared to less than 1mil for the other songs. Thats a shame though cause there are other great songs on here...Water With the Wine and Join the Boys are 2 that I especially enjoyed.
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