Reviews (page 8 of 13)
On this record, Joan has a great voice and I really enjoy a lot of the stylistic changes. Not every song is captivating, but there are some cool melodies and grooves here.
Join the Boys is a banger
It wasn’t bad, but I’m just getting really tired of 1970s music
pretty cool
2.5
Beautiful, deep, rich voice, with simple but powerful guitar and lyrics - I loved this album!
Mellow funky beats and vocals. Great listen.
zeker niet slecht... singer-songwriter met paar goeie deuntjes en een topstem
Na endlich mal eine positive Überraschung in dieser Liste. Die Künstlerin kannte ich nicht. Was sicher daran liegt, dass ihre Songs nicht so recht radiotauglich sind. So ein richtiger No.1 Hitknaller hätte wohl geholfen.
Had always heard of this artist but really couldn't attach it to any music. It was solid and reminded me of Tracy Chapman.
Fine, didn't leave me aching for more.
This is a beautiful well produced album that dips towards the end. It also contains the astounding Love and Affection. My instinct is a 3 but I feel that it's way better than the 3s I've given. 4
Hieno ääni, kappaleet kuulostaa kappaleilta ja niitä tulkitaan kunnolla. Niin folk toimii. On tämä onneks myös popia, on asennetta.
Artisti ei peittele maneereitaan vaan korostaa niitä (varmaan parempi päätös kuin miltä se kuulostaa minun korviini). Biiseissä on selviä merkkejä yrityksestä välttää geneerisyyttä pysyen silti genren sisällä. Lopputulos on ihan ok muttei innostava (paitsi ehkä vika biisi). 2+
Liking this. I’d never heard of her, but some nice funky and bluesy guitars, some good melodies. I’m surprised this is British.
Joan Armatrading is a performer I haven't paid much attention to, and I was really impressed by this album. Great songwriting, funky grooves, and impeccable guitar chops.
Enjoyed this one, mood was old school acoustic then added some flair with some funky lines.
I really liked this! So fun, retro sounding
This album was a nice surprise. Had never heard of Joan Armatrading before. Will be adding this to my downloads. Really liked Down to Zero, Like Fire and Tall In The Saddle.
How the hell have I not heard of Joan?! Extremely puzzled by this. Great sound, songwriting and production. According to wiki Glyn John’s said this was the best album he’s been a part of… sounds like he had a few drinks maybe, but still interesting. Glad to have Armatrading in my musical universe now.
Really smooth and pleasant music - pretty obvious progenitor of Tracy Chapman and the lady from 4 non blondes (not just because of superficial racial and sexual orientation similarities). Just different and tuneful enough to not sound like an adult contemporary blues. Nice Sunday afternoon music, had a great time listening to this while the sun slanted in through the kitchen windows and I made my family enchiladas.
This far exceeded my expectations -- weekend bias alert Glynn Johns said it was the best album he was ever associated with. Wowowwow. The entire album flows and hardly brings on any fatigue. I listened to it twice in a row without it feeling like a drag. Water with the Wine was a really hard hitting track. Not at all pleasant, but the music got the helpless emotion across while preaching that crazy story/message for women in the 70s Like Fire -- favorite track on the album. Slide guitar was fire.
Didn't hate this, didn't love it
My buddies and I went through a massive Tracy Chapman kick in 2016 - slugging Bud Lights and blasting songs like Telling Stories, Bang Bang Bang, Crossroads - we said we were "Chappin' our balls off". Probably something very Boston-white-boys-with-a-Superfly-poster-in-the-living-room about that whole thing, but I promise it wasn't ironic - that Greatest Hits album is still one of my favorites. I had heard Joan Armatrading's name, but never dug in. This doesn't hit quite as hard as Tracy, but some really nice guitar work and songwriting - obviously "Join the Boys" really makes me want to load up the beer bong.
I listened to this multiple times. The first track grabbed me right away and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t love the rest of the album QUITE as much but it was still great.
This was better than expected but not by much.
Another XPN staple I’ve heard a bunch of times but never really *listened* to before. Goddamn she’s good.
Very nice, good new discovery, will deffo come back to this. Love and affection the standout but no lulls or lows really.
Lovely, emotional, liked the Sax.
Oh man, a beauty, after a week of grafting through some dire albums, this was an absolute gem on a Friday. My heart melts at her voice and the stories she can craft for us. I'd heard about her before and a couple of tracks, but that was just... Mighty
Приятно. Лучшая песня - Down To Zero.
Great songwriting. That low voice in one of the songs surprised me.
Ok but not really my thing. Cool to learn about her and her music though
Good vibing for a road trip
Folksy, not very memorable.
An album I wasn't expecting to enjoy that much but did. Very good vocals and songwriting, intimate but not too much, and timeless in a sense it could have been released a decade earlier or a decade later. Key tracks: Love and Affection
I guess it's okay but this "singer-songwriter" thing solo artists have isn't for me.
Quite nice as an album, even if hard to get into. I like the voice range, the way it switches up here and there. However, I do wish it was something else, rather than what feels like gloomy singing into night.
How have I missed her??? She is amazing.
Never heard of this woman before, but I must say I quite liked this album. I was first tempted to draw lines between her and Tracy Chapman, and while there are some similarities I also think they differ quite a lot. Joan almost feel more like Joni Mitchell at times, weirdly enough, but is also her own completely. This still managed to stand out despite the amount of 70s and 80s albums we've had, which is quite a feat. One of the most powerful things on this record is Joan's voice. I think she sounds incredible! She does more calm songs like 'Somebody Who Loves You' very well, but also manages to deliver some energy in 'Help Yourself' Another strong thing with this album is that almost all songs are quite good. There is no real complete miss. There is a good mix with some more funky and uptempo ones, then there are a few more calm ones mixed in nicely as well. Must say that this is what's fun with this list: That you sometimes stumble upon things that are great that you never heard of. Weak 4!
The opening track "Down To Zero" is a very powerful track with great vocals. It's reminiscent of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car". After the first song I was excited for the rest. The rest didn't grab me as much as the first track though. The whole thing felt a bit too chill, like there was no agency in the songs. "Love and Affection" was the only other exception which made me remember why I was excited for the album to begin with. Too bad, was hoping for something great but I still found a few new songs and an artist I hadn't heard before!
Ok, another one I've never heard of. And what kind of name is this? From 1976... great, some kind of hippie nonsense. Well, let's get it over with... HANG ON--- This lady is fantastic! How is she not more popular? Or is she and I just didn't know it? Regardless, this is one of the best albums I've come across on this projects. A quick count shows that I've rated 26 albums a 5 (including this one) out of 385 played. I'm digging up some of her other work for my playlist.
Great sound. Easy 70's singer songwriter vibe
OK
Never heard of this artist. Will check her out, listen to a couple tracks. Singer-songwriter. First track is pretty rocking. A little more rocking then I would have anticipated. Not my type of music though. I respect it. 3 stars
Simpatico, piacevole
Never heard this artist before. Her voice is very easy to listen to. Really enjoyed this. So much so I looked further into her catalogue. If this is your vibe checkout the Whatevers For Us LP.
Groovy and emotional at times both are great. Singing is also amazing, a very particular style which works and is very versatile. Favourite songs: down to zero, help yourself, water with the wine, people, tall in the saddle. Overall around 8/10
ok
-this is really nice! had some great rhythm. I had not been familiar with Joan Armatrading as a person or artist before this but I was impressed -the vocals and rhythm throughout the first few songs were great, and “People” was the highlight of the second half imo. some songs were sort of underwhelming but the highlights made up for it -Favorites are Down To Zero, Join The Boys, and People
Rating: 6,5
Good songwriting. Loved the blend of genres. Felt fresh for early 70s. Joni Mitchell but more rock and funk. Very cool. Must listen #80.
Relaxing, managed to listen twice walking to class :)
Good. Not sure I'd listen to it many more times, but it was still good.
Often compared to Tracy Chapman, I thought I'd enjoy this, but it was just boring
3/5. Favourite song: "Help Yourself". She sure can work those strings. Very "Gentle Giant"-esque at times.
Pretty good that
That was great - such balance with some folky almost country sound with some funk influence and just overall so personal and unique. Very enjoyable
I remember when Len coined Joan’s nickname, Joan Armourplating! 4.1
Certainly can here the influence on later singer songwriters but there was nothing overly compelling about this 3*
Sorta folksy soft rock to me. I think shes got a good velvety voice and it makes me think of feminist festival music or outdoor craft show blues fest stuff. I feel like her guitar picking is holding it down with a sweet mellow buttery groove. The song tall in the saddle has some electro funk I like.
Never heard it wish I’d heard it before. It’s really strong. Doesn’t fit into any category.
look i think the music is nice and sweet but i just can't get into it
Five stars for "Down to Zero," everything else is a little bland
Really surprised me, an album I will definitely give another listen. Some really great instrumentals in there along with a unique voice creates an interesting sound straight from the 70’s
I think I had heard 1 Joan Armatrading song previously, so this album is really great to uncover. There is so much texture to her songs, lyrically, rhythmically, and instrumentally. Love and Affection and Tall in the Saddle in particular are 2 tracks that start slow and when they kick in deliver something else. There are also rhythms on a couple of songs that almost predict Talking Heads Fear of Music. I started thinking this was a 3.5, but know it will raise in estimation--sort of like when I listened to Tracy Chapman's Matters of the Heart on a loop one summer job. Going 4, but could it be a 4.5?
Soulful and lively without sounding dated
Best Song: Love And Affection. My enjoyment of this song was almost ruined by that man's voice coming in with the entirely unnecessary, cartoonishly deep bass, but the rest of the song was really lovely. Worst Song: Somebody Who Loves You. It didn't feel like her voice was allowed to resonate as well in this track as in the others. Overall: She's got a really pleasant voice and the songs feel really accessible. Nothing that'll blow your socks off, but I also get the sense that that wasn't the goal. Will definitely be returning to this for good Summer/Fall background music.
Lidt mere forgettable stemme end sådan en som Joni Mitchell eller Tracy Chapman meget senere, men jeg kunne godt lide produktionen
Synes det lyder pisse godt, sjældent god blanding af folk og alle andre genrer som Joan lige havde lyst til at lege med
Very enjoyable
Oh man, this music is tight up my alley. How am I just now discovering her?!? Loved it.
I liked this album. A lot of emotion throughout the alhums.
Smooooth…like honey
This isn’t a bad album at all. It’s a nice blend of folk, rock, jazz, and even a touch of blues. That said, her style reminds me a lot of the singer-songwriters who became popular in the 90s. But since this came out in 1976, maybe she was the one who pioneered that sound!
Fuck youtube in the arse with a red-hot poker! I was listening away and after 3 tracks I heard some bint wittering on about investing in crypto, there was no 'skip ad' button - it showed as a track in the album playlist and was 57 minutes long!!! I eventually worked out I just had to click on the next track button. However, this just highlights how the tech giants have now monetised us all. I'm old enough to remember the hopes we had for the internet, back in the earl and mid 1990's. We've allowed a small number of people and companies to bastardise it instead, just to line their pockets and try to control the masses. We need to burn it all down <rant over>. Errrm, ok, just realised I haven't mentioned the music at all. I enjoyed. It wasn't something I was particularly looking forward to or expecting much from, but it was ok. There was an element of 'waiting room music' to it, and it felt a bit repetitive by the end. I wouldn't seek it out for a re-listen, but wouldn't turn it off it got served up again.
Tracy Chapman owes her entire mediocre career to this woman.
Not bad. I kind of enjoyed several songs
It was fine. Got a little boring. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this.
Good voice, nice songs, but nothing really amazed me
Heel fijne seventiessingersongmuziek van deze dame, qua geluid en stem vergelijkbaar met Tracy Chapman die we al gehad hadden. Wat kan je er verder nog van zeggen, weinig trekt echt de aandacht, maar het draait lekker weg.
Ik ben niet zo van de singer-songwriters en daar hebben we toch overduidelijk mee te maken. Toch voelt het als meer dan dan. Maar wat zorgt dan daarvoor? Ik vind het moeilijk dat te ervaren. In elk geval kiest ze voor soms vollere muziek, soms catchy muziek en soms zingt ze heel krachtig. Misschien biedt het net die variatie op de standaard singer-songwritersfeer, die ik nodig heb. Of is het gewoon het moment? Het is in elk geval lekkere muziek om bij te werken.
Ik zie de hoes, hoor het eerste nummer en dan denk je gelijk: Tracy Chapman. Joan gooit er iets meer gitaar tegenaan denk ik. Maar verder is het dezelfde soort singer-songwritermuziek, met een urgente toon. Nu was Joan een jaar of 10 eerder, uit de golden age of singer-songwriters. Dus of ze nu zo origineel was weet ik niet, maar ik vind het wel goed gedaan. En ze weet haar boodschap (geen idee wat die is hoor, want ik luister natuurlijk heel slecht naar teksten) wel goed over te brengen. Qua muziek zit er regelmatig een fijn tempo in en de gitaar mag ook veelvuldig meedoen, zowel in klassiek akoestisch als clean verstrekt of zelfs als slide. Het wisselt het standaard singer-songwritergeluid wat dat betreft af met het geluid van een band. Ik heb hier het complete album met plezier naar zitten luisteren. En dat is toch wat muziek moet doen, plezier geven. In uitzonderlijke gevallen kan ik voor singer-songwriters ook een 5 uitdelen, maar daarvoor zit dit nog niet genoeg in mijn systeem. Ik ken(de) ook geen hitje van Joan. Een mooie 4 kan ze alsnog in haar zak steken lijkt me.
Loved this one! I hadn't heard of this artist before, and was instantly hooked with the first song.
Amazing guitar and lyrics,
Very creative album with a nice rich tone and excellent singing. Favorites: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Tall in the Saddle
Enjoyed this, didn’t blow me away. Loved the production, the drums and the guitar recording was moorish. Will give it another listen to see if round 2 grabs me. Still liked it on second listen, but I couldn’t remember a single song. Not as memorable as I wanted.
Not my jam, but I think it is good background music or something that I’d think is soothing at a coffee shop. The singer has a very soothing voice
some songs faded into the background and were somewhat forgettable but i really enjoyed it overall
Wow! I was surprised I have never heard of this artist before. I actually really enjoyed this. People was a great track is a kicking groove while Like Fire was a listen again immediately. I kind of get why she didn’t take off as much in the US as she moves constantly between jazz, singer songwriter, to disco/ blacksploitation era funk. She did each masterfully but I think the diversity could hurt her commercial appeal. I want to listen to this a few more times….
This is my second time encountering this album. It was already saved in my Spotify albums but I couldn't really recall when or why I saved it. However, as I listened to this album it made me think of a lot of indie-folk music I listen to today. I'm guessing this was just a bit ahead of it's time. I'm definitely going to revisit this one as I enjoyed it a lot.
It's fitting I generated a strong black woman on Martin Luther King Jr. Day(and also the same day the orange tyrant takes over a superpower, but we won't further discuss that fucker). She's essentially a black English version of Joni Mitchell, except her music has a little more pep in it, and her voice is much better. Favorite song: "Help Yourself"
Aw man i actually do like this, but none of the songs stuck out to me in a way that would have me coming back. I really think this is worth a listen though.
Seemed ok, not really my taste.
Woncha Come On Home has been a fave of mine for several years now. Love Joan's voice, too. All said, this album felt a bit meandering on first listen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it grew on me over time.
If Lilith Fair existed in the 70s, Joan Armatrading would probably be the headliner. I'm surprised I've never heard of her before, because I see so many female singer-songwriters I love reflected in her music. It's a bit of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Indigo Girls, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush mixed in with an extra funk that feels specific to the mid-/late-70s (in good ways and bad). Her music feels layered and experimental, without ever going too far off the rails and feeling directionless. I especially like the first track. Giving this one a 4.
Good songs but whatever
This is why I love this exercise. It’s so great discovering music that somehow hasn’t made it to your ears. Sure there are some duds here, but I loved the songs where she sounded like piano bar Joni Mitchell. Would listen again.
this album is all over the place
I like her voice and the bluesy roots, but the tunes were not especially interesting.
I've got nothing bad to say about this album but it's not quite my taste.
Liked it halfway thru
A unique and compelling voice. First time listening to her music and really liked it. May not be fair or relevant comparison, but my mind went straight to Tracy Chapman. Curious if Joan was an influence on her.
Gorgeous voice.
----
This was beautiful and funky!
This was really great. Love & Affection was a definite highlight. It also sounds like Dave Matthews is very influenced by Joan Armatrading... but how would I know that (hahahah).
Nothing really wrong with it necessarily. It's just not for me.
little bit tracy chapman vibes- nice album, great lyrics and groovy music- fav song was love and affection
Aw man. This is one of those albums I feel bad for more than anything. It just has no staying power. I can’t remember anything about this, and it sounds incredibly dated and it never really has any passion?
how unexpectedly good was that? Good grooves, good lyrics, good singing.
Oh this was just absolutely lovely. My standouts: Down to Zero, Save Me, People, Tall In the Saddle
Honestly so peaceful, feels like Sade and Eric Clapton had a baby it would be Joan Armatrading - love it.
I hear so many different sounds she must have influenced. I’ll give her that.
Like it 3/5
Strong Tracey Chapman vibes, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible.
Incredible voice, loved this!
I hadn’t heard this album or her music at all before, at least not that I can recall. Great mix of instrumentation, I love the bass on tracks like “Join The Boys” and the guitar on “People” and “Like Fire”. Percussion is solid throughout the album. This album has a good mix of vibes and sounds, some slow songs and some faster and more upbeat. I think she has a good voice though I’d say overall wasn’t my favorite, but I respect her abilities and she killed it with the arrangements.
Liked “Down to Zero” and the breakdown of “Help Yourself” just around the halfway point. Liked "Join the Boys" enough to add it to my liked songs. Music isn't what I normally go towards but I enjoyed it all the same. The bass grooves are very nice throughout and her guitar playing on "Like Fire" and other songs is beautiful. I see myself listening to select songs off this album going forward.
Always a joy discovering someone new from the 60s/70s, and one who had me thinking of both Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. A couple of decent songs, but otherwise the album came across as forgettable.
Good singer great voice whilst the album not my preferred music of choice a solid album.
Joan's voice and playing is wonderful, it's the perfect intersection of folky rock and funk/soul in a way that brings the best out of both. I wish I loved this sound more than just a few songs that grab me as much as they do, I think a couple songs go on for too long and don't really work as well. Overall still a great sound and probably would try to look for more like this
quite boring at the beginning. got a little more exciting towards the end. 2/5
She's just incredible.
Surprised by this album- it had a wide variety of styles and sounds. Some songs were reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, others had a much stronger funk/soul sound. Overall- pretty good album. Good music for driving
I liked this a good bit more than I thought I would. She’s a bit more creative than a lot of the other singer-songwriters of the era.
Fairly pleasant overall, but no outstanding tracks
Came to the theatre once. It was okay. Simpsons: No
Pleasant album, wouldn't mind listening again.
Really enjoyed this, not massively blown away but it's my kind of thing and she does it really well.
bit budget tracy chapman aren't we. or maybe the other way around? anyway they both have a vocal texture that instantly makes me feel like i'm in the early 90s again... i also like how playful this can sometimes be. unsure i'll return to it but i'm p content with it
lovely voice, it felt old without feeling antiquated
How have I never heard of Joan Armatrading? First song plays like if Nina Simone nicked Dylan's band from Blood on the Tracks, but only the first track. She doesn't stay there, she travels and blends so many genres through the 40 minutes of this album, just a versatile and interesting album with some tracks sounding 20 years early, like pop and R&B of the late 80s/90s. Incredible album, wild talent, wonderful voice, I'm so glad I drew this one! And on the anniversary of its release no less.
Awesome. Haven’t heard this in a zillion years, but it’s so refreshing.
Love and Affection the highlight song. The first 6-7 songs very earwormy, lower end of 4 stars but still strong.
Great voice!
+++ help yourself, save me --- water with the wine, people the first album i’ve encountered that was completely unfamiliar to me. the slower songs really shined, her voice reminds me of folk singers moreso than rock or disco oddly. norma tanega specifically comes to mind.
such a disappointment that i’ve never heard of joan armatrading! i really liked this album! my favorites were: down to zero, people, and tall in the saddle
Down to zero help myself tall in saddle
Another album that I enjoyed much more than I thought I would - Not quite enough for it to be an addition to my library, but enough for four stars, I think.
It's pleasant, but ephemeral. She writes ok songs, the odd great song and it's a nice album to listen to. But she's not breaking any ground. I don't think it's an artist anyone would feel they had to go back through their catalogue and immerse but it's fine.
Some nice sounds
Great voice. Good album. She should’ve been bigger.
A mix of blues, jazz, soul, and folk songs in my opinion. Well done and easy listening
Never heard of this artist before! I like her voice; it's kinda like a British(/Kittitian?) Tracy Chapman. Some snoozers in the bunch, but overall pleasant.
Great album! Like an earlier, British Tracy Chapman, but with a bit more groove and funk on certain tracks.
Dated in spots and a little middle of the road, but overall an enjoyable, funky folk-ish record.
mid
Really enjoyed this one. Nice folk vibes
a melancholy permeates the whole album, making its love songs feel less like pleas to another and more "if i ever get to love again, this is what i'm sure it will feel like." even the folk funk experiments have this feeling of anxiety about them, how often her lover can be fiery and sweet, but you're reading between the lines that they aren't right now (and probably haven't been for some time). kind of had tears in my eyes for the whole thing, and i don't know if that's me or just what the music does. i think a few of the tracks are duds ("Water With the Wine" should probably not sound that cheery given its subject matter) but the rest of the album makes up for it. an album that makes you want a good cry and a cigarette, and i don't even smoke.
Lovely
there is nothing wrong with this but it really did nothing for me. could i write poetry to this? n
Armatrading's label as the "Black-British-Joni Mitchell" is not unwarranted. Her vocal delivery is very similar, but lyrically is not nearly as interesting. The musicianship is high-caliber. Beyond the hit, "Love and Affection", this album failed to keep my attention on any one song for very long.
This is my favorite discovery of this project so far. Lovely stuff!
Really like this
Pretty interesting - Joni Mitchell kind of vibes. I didn't like any of these songs enough to want to keep hearing them, but nothing was bad. The album was varied enough to be interesting, and I like her voice
Liked the first track, that's about it.
Better on the second listen. More contemplative mood.
loved this. will relisten.
I'm not sure what this is supposed to be, honestly. It's not bad, per se, but there's nothing about this that is good. There's some really odd vocal musical choices. There were a couple of songs that got me to nod along, while mindlessly listening. But any time I pay attention to this album, I just kind of wish I didn't. Again, not because it's bad. It's not bad, but it's uninteresting, and not committed to be anything in particular. Favorite Song(s): Somebody Who Loves You
The songs feel like they should be amazing but there's just something holding it back. Although a lot of reviews are saying it's emotionless, I don't think that's it. I think it's more that the singing doesn't mix well with the music backing it up. I wish I loved this, but I just didn't.
Absolutely fine. Just doesn't interest me.
wow, this was an amazing album. 5 stars all the way
First time encountering her. What a great voice! Love hearing an alto instead of the usual sopranos. The album starts very strong, like solid 4 stars territory. And then track 4 hits (Love and Affection) and from that point on, everything is 4.5-5 stars. Overall, this album is so damn good that it's an enthusiastic 5 stars. There are some sick, filthy grooves on this album. A lot of the acoustic guitar work is out of this world great. I'm going to come back to this album frequently.
Glad I got to discover her.
Tracy Chapman without class consciousness.
Liked this! Enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell lol! Only downside was the attempted ballad(s).
The cover might suggest a mellow, stripped-back album of guitar and vocals, and while there’s certainly some of that here, there’s also a surprising dose of upbeat tracks with a delightful funk flavour. Joan’s voice is nothing short of spectacular, rich with emotion and character, and the backing band is equally impressive, elevating the songs with their superb musicianship. This album was a real treat from start to finish. Standout Track: Water with the Wine Score: 4/5
I thought it was solid, not very many songs stuck out to me except the first and last one, for the most part it was enjoyable, but not enough to have me listen to it again and again
decent but not overtly engaging
I haven't heard anything by Joan Armatrading before now, but I definitely enjoyed this. It was pleasant and folky and funky at the same time. "Down To Zero," "Join The Boys," and "Tall In The Saddle" were my favorite songs, but everything was fairly enjoyable. A little sleepy at times, but that's folk music. Overall a solid album.
this was just an average singer songwriter album
Alright music, nothing stood out to me though
Different then what I normally listen to but still pretty good
This was new to me and completely captivating. Her voice and sense of melody were odd but familiar at the same time. Johns made some inspired choices in connecting her with musicians that made it all just sing…. Good stuff that I am sure I will revisit.
Joan Armatrading is a British singer/songwriter with a deep, rich voice, who wrote a confessional type of folk rock songs. Her eponymous album was her third, and the work that propelled her to fame. The album includes "Love and Affection," Armatrading's first hit single. These songs incorporate rich orchestrations - saxophones and 12-string guitar solos - to add to the rich sound of Armatrading's incredible voice.
I've always liked Joan Armatrading but I pretty much have only heard what has been played on the radio and the one album I do have (Track Record). Two of those songs come from this album, which I didn't know. Both Down to Zero and Love and Affection are great and everything else is really good or better. She's a great singer-songwriter, but the backing band on this are terrific. This is a close call -- would have gone 4.5 but I'm rounding her up!
I’d never heard of her before but I liked this! She has her own sound which is somehow both unique and approachable. I’d listen again.
Such a beautifully cool record
Some personal chronicles about the dynamics of relationships. Nothing overtly amazing, but nothing skippable either. Very accurate cover art, the focus here is a girl and her guitar. For this being made almost 50 years ago, it holds up surprisingly well. Feels like it coulda been on the radio with Lenny Kravitz in the 90's. An even 3 stars
A woman who does it all and with such tact, Joan really killed this whole album. There's a very bold line from here to Tracy Chapman and many others, capitalizing on bringing diversity to who's behind the guitar and stories. Emotionally direct if not overwhelming, its a masterwork in its' own right
Pretty good album. Not especially ground breaking but I like her voice and no complaints. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
5⭐️/5 [11.29.2025] 01.08.2026
Surprisingly good. Not sure why she isn’t a household name.
it's funky and cool. The recording is absolutely pristine for the time. Ultimately just not something I find overly interesting or expect myself to come back to. It's rare that the most played song is my personal favorite, but Love and Affection was really the standout, a sax solo always does it for me. 3/5
This was a fun album, very different to what I usually listen to but it was refreshing. Some songs were a little repetitive but for the most part it was good. I actually continued listening to more after the album finished, and found out Joan Armatrading is from St. Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. She also has a British accent and a lot of good stories to tell, I liked her a lot.
really really cool the guitar playing is awesome
This was listenable and there were some good songwriting moments, but it didn't rrally move me.
Tracy Chapman, but from Temu.com.
i’m not sure about this album
Great soulful bluesy folk music with a hint of 70s. Sounds ahead of its time. Deep and personal lyrics.
Liked this one a lot. She has a hell of a voice.
No recollection of any song after listening.
This is a strong 4. It might even be a 5 but I'm not sure about some songs. Her voice is so pretty and I love the instrumentals. Just wow!
Liked the first song, that's about it.
I have never heard of this artist, which is surprising given how clearly she has influenced others that came after her. Great album.
I liked this better than I thought I would. I didn’t know what to expect. Like a folk/blues/soft rock type of feel.
Very nice album! Loved the vocals
Consistently great songwriting and performances from Joan but something about the recording prevents it from being a 5.
Join the boys was funky and enjoyed. Bass is solid. Love and affection has some nice sax but otherwise just sounded like another ballad. Overall album was just fine. Wouldn’t be upset if someone put it on but don’t think I’d go out of my way to listen again. If I could give half stars I’d give a 2.5.
In NYC this weekend, listened to it in Central Park which added to the experience. Still kinda forgettable.
Loved some of the songs and her voice/style, but felt the quality decreased as it got to the later tracks
Rich instrumentals and production, pretty dynamic genre-wise without any one track feeling out of place.
Not bad, not really my style
Not bad, not great.
Poetic love songs 🤩
What a tender jazzy little album! Love and Affection was JUST on a show I was watching so I was so happy to hear it again so soon!
Love and Affection
Pretty smooth listening.
#66 Nice voice.
fabulous blues singer/songwriter, great songs - later albums are also 5* she is great live, an ace electric guitar player !
She has a beautiful voice gonna have to finish album later
Some good stuff going on
Excellent. 4.5 stars
solid
🎧Fantastic, and one I’d never heard before. In fact Joan Armatrading’s name was completely unfamiliar to me. What a voice. Did not care for Join The Boys but otherwise this is great. Favorite track: Down To Zero
The Good: A self-titled album is always nice! The Bad: you got to be into folky singer-songwriter music… The Ugly: I don’t belong to the group that is into this kind of music… Yes, she is important for music… but that doesn’t mean that she is important enough for me to care. The listening experience was non-memorable, and that should say enough… 2* because I’m not evil
This was a pleasant surprise. Never heard of Joan Armatrading but I think she's great. A+ vocal work. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Beautiful voice. Simple but intricate album.
Not bad. Some good songs, mostly mediocre songs. Not my favorite, not anything I'd seek out, but not anything I'd skip if it was on someone else's radio.
Smooth, jazzy but also funky. Great arrangements and a great, powerful voice.
Never heard of her prior to this. Didn't really speak to me much but was cool to be exposed to a singer-songwriter I didn't know until now. Kind of a mix between funk, soul and folk rock, pretty cool.
Það er ekkeer að lögunum á þessari plötu en það er heldur ekkert sem hrífur mig. Þessi plata myndi sóma sér vel sem bakgrunnur í matarboði en ég er ekki viss um að ég myndi muna eftir henni
great voice.
I absolutely loved this album, only really knew Love and Affection but it’s one of the ones I’ve listened to the most so far, I may even buy it, tremendous
I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading. I'll chalk it up to things not crossing the pond (westward) as easily back in those days. Overall, pretty neat. The first few songs here are definitely the strongest. Help Yourself is mellow on the bookends but has a middle part that's just electric. Love it. Water with the Wine is upbeat, but the lyrics... Jesus, how dark. Unfortunately, I find the album to gradually fall off after this. But it still made for a fun listen. Fav tracks: Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Water with the Wine
It was okay
"Down to Zero" was my favorite song on the album. The rest is pleasant singer-song writer work that makes for great afternoon listening.
didn’t know about her before this, a good find from 1001. funk, pop, soul, rock all rolled into one album. Favorite track: love and affection other picks: down to zero, join the boys, like fire
First time listening to her, pretty cool singer/songwriter fare
Great songwriter and singer
Hearing elements of blues and jazz at least, but also feels poppy at times. This genre blend didn’t work too well for me. Beautiful vocal.
Didn't really liked it
Wow, decades since I heard any of this. Down To Zero is a magic song. This album should be a stellar attraction in the Cool Hall of Fame. Her voice in just Help Yourself and Water With the Wine is worth a million times the price of admission. I think my older sister must have had this because many of the cuts have the familiarity of long lost but cherished memories. Endlessly inventive, and she exhibits a powerful possession of all aspects of the music. No filler.
What a beautiful voice.
Sublime songwriter, incredible voice and range. Ahead of her time too - this music still resonates. Happy to play this over and over.
I'm familiar with Joan Armatrading — not that I know her catalog, but I did own "The Shouting Stage," which was released a dozen years after this, and I've heard this album as well. Anyway, I feel the same way about this album as I did back in the day. Armatrading is talented, and there's a precision and professionalism to the writing and performances and production here, and I'm left utterly unmoved by it. It's fine. It's pleasant. But it's as though it were processed through an emotional compressor and the end result is... pleasant. And fine.
Wow. Although I'd certainly heard of Joan Armatrading, I somehow had never heard her music before today. Too bad for me, for this was killer. Great songwriting and musicianship, a nice variety of styles, some gorgeous harmonies, and influential to boot. I may be overrating it with a 5—it's possible it'll settle down in 4-star territory with more listens—but when an album sweeps you away, you gotta go with your gut.
Wow! What a start to the US Bicentennial Year. This album is like looking at the ground and finding a diamond. Down to Zero is my fav
Una voz muy hermosa.
Joan Armatrading's stellar vocal skills and Glyn Johns' pitch-perfect production values easily explain how this very good album ended up on the list. Oh, and you have at least four memorable cuts on side one, subtle yet also lively opener "Down To Zero", tongue-in-cheek "Water With The Wine" (about a narrator falling all-too-quickly into a man's arms, maybe regretting it a little the morning after), and the delicate and heartfelt "Love And Affection" and "Save Me", two already stunning songs made even more stunning thanks to the cinematic string section playing on them. The second side is a little less memorable song-wise, though. It goes to usual seventies folk-rock fare in rather pleasant ways, with a lot of bluesy and jazzy inflexions to spice things up a little (that fretless bass!). But even with those nice arrangements, and Joan showcasing her impressive acoustic guitar-playing chops on "Like Fire", there's something that feels a little too 'derivative' in Armatrading's music in that second half. Of course it would be quite reductive to merely state Joan was playing a slightly lesser version of the sort of African-American-indebted music Joni Mitchell was playing around those years. Armatrading had a voice of her own, just like Mitchell had. Yet Joni's oeuvre also had extra quirks and distinctively poetic and idiosyncratic touches that made it fascinating in the long run (and grating to some people, I readily admit it). Joan was into simpler pleasures, it seems, maybe stemming from the fact that she was British, obviously didn't have to resort to the 'blackface' nonsense Joni sometimes fell into (both metaphorically and literally), and so had no stakes in the sort of tireless "deconstruction" Mitchell constantly operated within her own songwriting. Maybe those simpler pleasures resonated with a possibly less pretentious audience at the time. More power to the latter. But decades after, it's hard not to notice the difference between the respective ambitions of those two artists, as admittedly unfair as associating Joni and Joan is. Armatrading is releasing a new album next month, by the way (November 2024). Its two singles sound like an updated version of her slicker, glossier eighties adventures. Well, sort of. But anyway, it's nice to learn that she is still very active, and that she keeps on releasing records almost fifty years after this eponymous album came out. 3.5/5 grade for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: 25 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 419 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 249 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 311
Nice, but it didn't hold my attention for the whole play... not sure I'd pick it to play, but it would be ok if someone else put it on. I'd listen
5/5. This is truly the perfect mix of singer songwriter pop and soul. The instrumentation is truly wonderful. Big and loud while still being quiet and in the background. The production elevates this to another level. And I haven't gotten to the lyrics and her vocal expertise. It feels so natural and beautiful. Like Joni Mitchell with Aretha Franklin. I never was bored throughout the whole album and each song hits just right. Sometimes it's somber, other times it's so funky and awesome. Crazy I never heard this one but so glad this one showed up, a classic for me for sure. Best Song: Love And Affection, Join The Boys, Down To Zero
These songs have emotional power as deep as Joan Armatrading's voice, really bringing you into her world. Engrossing, like Joni Mitchell or Neil Young at times. Very listenable, sweet and lovely. Her voice is unique and you should hear it at some point in your life. Cool to see on the list.
bdb album. 1976 british folk rock/pop
I had not heard of Joan Armatrading prior to this but really glad to have listened to this. 3.5
Listening to this album is like sitting next to someone on a bus who insists on telling you their life story in monotone. Joan’s idea of “emotional” is like watching a piece of cardboard pretend it has feelings. Every song is an endless parade of half-hearted attempts to sound soulful, with all the charisma of a tax audit. By the second track, you’ll find yourself questioning your life choices. She might have tried, but she missed “heartfelt” and hit “insufferable” instead.
Low 4, maybe better than Marvin Gaye, worse than Sheer Heart Attack and Cyndi Lauper Tall in the Saddle was the most notable for me, although the others are really good.
Same opinion as Marvin Gaye ig. Maybe better, maybe worse? IDK
Really good instrumentation and vocals I liked a lot
There were some catchy tracks on here. I think this era gave a light to some generationally talented singers. I'm not sure who is in the backing band but I think it's very well done and a great balance where Joan's voice is the centerpiece. Down to Zero, Love and Affection, and Tall in the saddle are probably my favorite tracks.
This is a pretty standard singer-songwriter album. It’s not really standout in any way, though she is a great singer. I think the first track might be the best one. The supposed single, “Love and affection” is pretty average and could be sang or performed by anyone to the same effect. Joan Armatrading’s voice is the unique feature here and even that doesn’t really do it for me. Sure, it’s performed well and she’s got a great alto/near tenor tone but that doesn’t save it from the bang average songwriting.
Soulful, sweet, easy listening.
really liked the acoustic guitar in this album. consistently good songs.
Beautiful. So often on this list I feel disappointed that I missed a volume of music, and this is one of those albums.
Volumes of slow burns Gracefully sung with sharp tongue Classy, folk like edge
Wow. Amazing. It's not a 10/10. Ut I think it is close to a 9/10. I loved listening to this. It was fun, beautiful, peaceful, all in one album.
Eh
Entre las mejores!!!!
Started out great with some awesome tracks, took a detour and landed the plane with some incredible tracks. Not unbeleivavle, not horrible. The tender stuff is what standsout. "nondepressed Tracy Chapman"
Its a vibe, super Tracy Chapman vibes but alot earlier than her. Super cool
why we tradin arms
somehow lowkey one of the best produced albums ive ever heard...the amount of precision on display without sacrificing an ounce of warmth is astonishing! obviously a lot of it is going to come down to joan herself, who is magnetic and powerful without ever once overplaying anything. i dont mind things that are cold or overplayed, but the discipline here in all directions is impressive, and creates something shockingly enveloping in ways that i dont even think i can articulate after just one listen. the start of every new track pulled me in all over again...great melodic ideas and expressive song structures, arranged tastefully and performed magically. what i caught of the lyrics (not typically my focus on a first listen) are also incredible. i cant believe ive never heard about her before even a little, this deserves way more canonization!
there was a couple good songs on here. Probably not something I'd revisit. 3 stars
First time listen. Highlights: love and affection, somebody who loves me, tall in the saddle
Qué bien empieza!!! Totalmente desconocida para mí. Me guardo en favoritos "Down to zero", "Help yourself", "Love and affection" y "Like fire".
WHAT A VOICE, iconic
3.5
This was way better than I initially expected. At the beginning, it sounded kinda like a Nick-Drake-meets-Chrissy-Hynde sound, great guitar-playing, wonderful melodic lines and chord progressions. But then the funky guitar licks came in and I found myself humming along and really enjoying it. I listened to the album twice. Five stars.
Quite fun and funky! Love and Affection and Join the Boys particular stand-outs.
I had never heard of Joan so I had no expectations, but I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. Borderline 3 or 4 stars, I'd happily listen to this one any time.
Good album overall. Another one where I can see where a lot of later things were inspired further!
I’ve never heard of her, but I really enjoyed this. The music was great and she has a great voice.
Solid
Fun and groovy album; liked!
Very good listten , the guitar is great in parts , lyricism is good and vocals are very good .. just below amazing it’s a sharp 3
It's alright. Playlist material.
I was surprised at how funky this one was, and Joan Armatrading has a great voice
Enjoyed this very much.
You know, it's always interesting to see a self-titled album that isn't the debut, because you never know what it's going to represent in their career. For the Beatles, it meant getting weird and doing whatever the hell they wanted to. For Metallica, it meant the start of a shift in sound to become more accessible. And for Joan Armatrading, well I don't know what it represents other than being good. I like this album. It's not a masterpiece, but it's solid. I like what I heard. The singing is pretty nice. The sound is fairly interesting. All of the descriptions I found beforehand labeled this as something like folk rock or singer-songwriter which gave me a certain impression of what this would be like. However, I'm sensing a much stronger funk and soul influence than I expected. But you know what? That's far from a bad thing. I mean, I like folk rock, but there's only so many folk rock albums you can listen to before it stops being interesting. It's always nice to get something that's a bit different but still somewhat familiar. It's especially nice when the sound is as good as this. The writing is also pretty good. Overall, this isn't the most fascinating album out there, but it is pretty good and sometimes that's all you need. Light 4/5.
I LOOOVE WOMEN!!!
Bit of a mixed bag. Some songs were better than I expected, some were let down by the songwriting. Consistently great singing and musicianship.
This is good music, but it's a bit anonymous, especially for the 70s, when this is more of a 50s genre. In general, I prefer to give high ratings to "genre renaissance" albums only if they bring something really new and special to the table, and I don't think Joan Armatrading quite accomplishes this. It (at least the first half) absolutely sounds like an Ella Fitzgerald release from the 40s or 50s, with better production and maybe a little more country-focused. That being said, the soul in Armatrading's vocal is undeniable, and the strings and horns complement her well. The acoustic guitar playing is incredibly groovy in certain tracks too, including Like Fire. The songwriting could use some work - there aren't particularly many hooks to make the individual songs memorable - but you can't really make bad music in this style. There's a reason this genre (which is sort of a blend of funk, country, and soul) had been done to death by the mid-70s and continues to be reasonably beloved in the present day. 3/5 Key tracks: Down To Zero, Help Yourself, Like Fire
really enjoyed the sound of this album, very chill and such a great voice.
Very nice funky groovy music that I don't think I have ever heard before. It's pretty good, even less popular songs are good and have a great vibe. I will definitely be listening to this one again.
One of the most unique voices to come out of the seventies.
Pretty listenable singer-songwriter stuff.
Enjoyed this album.
Joan Armatrading has never quite reached the heights of superstardom, perhaps because she has always refused to play the tabloid fame game and kept her private life to herself. This album is a quiet gem, from one of Britain’s greatest singer songwriters, mixing songs of longing and regret with some gorgeously smooth jazzy R&B. There are some very pointed lyrics here too, especially Water with the Wine dealing with date rape.
This is really good, and I never heard of her before. It's really nice & smooth folk rock/pop with a jazz/R'n'B twist. Great voice, nice compositions, some very seventies sounds, nothing too mellow or cheesy.
It was a good strong soft rock album. I can’t really see myself going back to it but it was very interesting and I loved the lyrics and song writing behind much of the album. Favorite song was probably join the boys. 7/10.
Pretty dull and boring. Just never got into it at all the songs were slow and the lyrics didn’t really jump at me. There’s talent there but she’s no Tracy Chapman.
Okay record.
Very enjoyable listen, has aged well
Excellente découverte. Un album qui mix country et soul avec des touches de rock classique. Très intéressant car la voix de Joan est puissante et sculptée pour ce style.
Love her voice and it was a pleasant listen but I wasn’t particularly moved or into it.
What in the Joni Mitchell was this
Yeah this alright. Some good tracks with great guitar playing, but most of this just flew by without much thought. Not bad but I'm not quite sure why it's essential
Solid album, some real highlights and no obvious lowlights.
Good album but it did nothing for me. One and done.