Joan Armatrading

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
There weren't many female singer-songwriters on the radio (and especially the charts) in the 1970s--you could count them pretty much on two hands. That said, it's only mildly surprising that this LP made it about halfway up the U.S. charts (and did much better in the U.K.). The songs are so well written, the style so warm and appealing that radio just had a hard time ignoring them. "Down to Zero", "Love and Affection", and "Help Yourself" are witty, smart observations of human relations, showcasing Armatrading's sure vocal style and adventurous folk-pop sensibilities. Like Roberta Flack's "The First Time", Armatrading's "Somebody Who Loves You" is a deep-felt and moving love song, and "Save Me" is a painful and private moment the listener almost feels guilty for overhearing. This is a milestone album in Armatrading's oeuvre. --Lorry Fleming

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-01-13 rating:
A wonderful album - completely out of the blue
Mr Butterfield puts it perfectly in one of the earlier reviews. It's hard to fault this album. In complete contrast to the previous reviewer who thinks that there's no songs which stand up today - there are a number which to my tiny mind have rarely been topped (Tall In the Saddle is my personal favourite). The kids don't really get it - but then again they go to McFly concerts............

5 stars ,in my top 20 albums of all time (and I've got over 1000!)

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review by: date: 2007-06-17 rating:
Hinted at, if not promising, much to come
Back in 1976, anyone who was anyone got Joan Armatrading fever. As mentioned in another review, the late Derek Jewell showcased the LP in his 'Sounds Interesting' show on Radio 3. And the late Alan Freeman liked her too. So dented was our judgement by the arrival of punk, we somehow thought she could become the next Joni Mitchell. (In truth, the only person capable of becoming the next Joni Mitchell was Joni herself.)

The producer she chose for this album was Glyn Johns, who by the stage had already been dumped by The Eagles. But that US connection helped to create the sound and probably aided record sales across the Atlantic too.

Maybe I've just played this album too many times, but 31 years on, no track really stands out for me now. Compared to many albums of the 1970s, this now wouldn't be worth more than three stars; but compared to much of the dross today, it scores a five.

To my mind, Joan's greatest composition is the song she wrote for the 'Wild Geese' movie. The song itself is in the same class as anything Ms. Mitchell wrote, but the rest of the soundtrack CD is unfortunately full of militaristic, brass band music.)

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review by: date: 2007-06-04 rating:
Not just memories
I bought this album following a review by Derek Jewell on Radio 3 (if you're not British BBC Radio 3 is the serious classical station) in 1976, I had very little exposure to popular music at the time and was really take with this- Jewell played Water With the Wine, Down to Zero and Love and Affection, I remember his selection more than thirty years later. The lyrics are effective and personal, yet universal- tunes are catchy but it was the voice that caught me. Partly because of the Glynn Johns production and something technical in the recording/mixing- I bought nine copies of the LP- one cassette and then, eventually, the CD which has none of the sibilance of some of the cheaper LPs. I was bothered that the songs would be too sentimental or no more than memories of my teenage years but this is not at all so, and it is clear to me now that she really can play the guitar.

This is Joan's third LP, (Back to the Night and Whatever's for Us were earlier, but not where to start) Show Some Emotion and To The Limit are this kind of style, then Me Myself I is louder and more guitary. Buy this one and you'll get the set, if you get a Greatest Hits you'll end up buying the original albums anyway!

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review by: date: 2005-07-23 rating:
A remarkable achievement
Every time I listen to this, I'm amazed all over again at how good it is. I always think of this as the debut album, though it's not. But this is where the real JA begins. Trouble is, it's so good that she never got any better, but then that would have been near impossible. So what's so good about it? Well... everything. Joan's voice goes from soft and pure to mocking and ironic to rocky and confident. Sometimes in the same song. She sounds so authentic, so real, so unique. Brilliant lyrics only add to ten of the best songs penned last century - they're all as good as the one(s) you alreaddy know. But the best bit is the band, who create stunning backdrops for these songs, whether languid, rocking, or whatever. I much prefer the sound on this album to any other JA album: it's softer, cleverer, more special, more complex. And the sound quality is great too.
What can I say? This is really an album nobody should be without.


review by: date: 2001-05-12 rating:
The first and original Joan Armatrading album
An excellent album which sees Joan stride into top form. If you only want one JA album, get this one. Contains two songs ("Water in the Wine" & "Down to Zero") which are as good as anything she's done. Also contains her most famous song, "Love and Affection". Good recording - Joan has great presence.

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Similar products

Me Myself I
Into The Blues
The Very Best Of Joan Armatrading
Whatever's for Us
Love & Affection: Joan Armatrading Classics 1975 - 1983

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