Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading '1976 [2020]

Tracks list

Joan Armatradings eponymous third album is a charmer, almost single-handedly
elevating her into the ranks of rocks leading female artists. Up to this point,
Armatrading had shown that she had a lovely voice and an ear for interesting
arrangements, but her work had been steeped in the folk idiom of the early 70s.
Her third album changed all that, with producer Glyn Johns bringing in members
of Gallagher & Lyle, Fairport Convention, and the Faces to punch up her folksy
sound with elements of rock, country, and disco. The result is her most muscular
music to date, with Armatrading adopting a swagger that showed her tales of
unluckiness in love didnt have to have dire consequences (Tall in the Saddle,
Water With the Wine). Of course, it helped that the record featured her best
material delivered in a wonderfully expressive voice that can capture the shades
between song and speech like a sweeter version of Ian Anderson. Down to Zero
(which features pedal steel guitarist B.J. Cole) and Love and Affection are the
albums most memorable tracks, the latter breaking into the U.K.s Top Ten (the
album itself made the U.K. Top 20). But what endears this record to fans is the
quality of each song; it wouldnt be fair to call anything here filler. The artsy
and eclectic Like Fire, the beautiful ballad Save Me, and the ingratiating
melodies of Somebody Who Loves You are just as likely to strike a chord with
listeners as the better-known cuts. While Glyn Johns deserves credit for
bringing Joan Armatradings songs into a more flattering setting — its not
coincidental that the record feels like a polished version of The Who by Numbers
— his real stroke of genius was letting the artist flower to her full
potential. For many, this album remains the high point in her catalog. ~ Dave
Connolly


Tracks:

01. Down To Zero (03:50)
02. Help Yourself (04:06)
03. Water With The Wine (02:51)
04. Love And Affection (04:32)
05. Save Me (03:39)
06. Join The Boys (04:50)
07. People (03:32)
08. Somebody Who Loves You (03:36)
09. Like Fire (05:12)
10. Tall In The Saddle (05:48)

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