Joan Armatrading (album)


Joan Armatrading is the third studio album from the British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading and her second for A&M Records. It was her first album to be recorded entirely in London, as her first two albums - Whatever's for Us and Back to the Night being partially recorded in France and Wales respectively in addition to London.
Released in 1976, the album peaked at number 12 and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry. It also included one of Armatrading's best-selling singles, "Love and Affection".
Armatrading's 1979 live album Steppin' Out contained two songs from this album, "Love and Affection" and "Tall in the Saddle". She is pictured on the cover of the album playing an Ovation Guitar.
The album's producer, Glyn Johns, later said it was the best album he had ever been associated with.

Reception

In 1976, Robin Denselow wrote in The Guardian that the album "showed that we now have a black artist in Britain with the same sort of vocal range, originality and lyrical sensitivity" as Joni Mitchell. In a retrospective review for Allmusic, Dave Connolly calls it Armatrading's "most muscular music to date" and particularly praises "Down to Zero" and "Love and Affection". He also commends Glyn Johns' production. He says that the album "almost single-handedly into the ranks of rock's leading female artists."
The album was included in Robert Dimery's edited book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Joan Armatrading
Side One
  1. "Down to Zero" – 3:51
  2. "Help Yourself" – 4:04
  3. "Water With the Wine" – 2:48
  4. "Love and Affection" – 4:28
  5. "Save Me" – 3:35
Side Two
  1. "Join the Boys" – 4:48
  2. "People" – 3:30
  3. "Somebody Who Loves You" – 3:33
  4. "Like Fire" – 5:12
  5. "Tall in the Saddle" – 5:43

    Personnel

Musicians

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