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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
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
What can I say? This is really an album nobody should be without.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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!
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!
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant CD
This is a brilliant bit of music and brought back great memories. I play the CD in my car all the time at present and am very glad that I bought it.
Published 6 months ago by bookclub
Stunning
Easily one of the best albums of all time.
Yes, it's as good as Abbey Road, Let it Bleed, Madman Across the Water, Harvest, Blood on the Tracks, Innervisions, and a few... Read more
Yes, it's as good as Abbey Road, Let it Bleed, Madman Across the Water, Harvest, Blood on the Tracks, Innervisions, and a few... Read more
Published 15 months ago by musiclover
Perfect
This is the first Joan Armatrading album I ever bought in vinyl. I love it so much I just had to have it in CD as well. This is classic Joan and a must for any fan.
Published 19 months ago by Sue
Classic personal meditation.
'Joan Armatrading' (1976) is a personal meditation of song allied to a sophisticated mix of blues styles, jazz, soul and reggae. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Daniel Margrain
music cd
i sent for the joan armatrading cd that i bought 25 years ago, it was an LP then, as i don't own a record player anymore i thought i would buy the cd. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2009 by Oggy
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... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2008 by Mr. C. M. Hammond
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. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by Gavin Wilson
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