Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
My favorite thing about the Decades series is when I get to fill in a glaring blind spot.
I’ve heard the name Joan Armatrading before, but I couldn’t have told you her nationality, her musical style, or her period of peak popularity. Gun to my head, I would have predicted she was an American folk artist in the Joni Mitchell vein, probably big in the 60s and early 70s.
Well, she’s British, not American. And while folk is in her repertoire, she has a far-ranging sound that touches on jazz, rock, and pop as well. As for the timeline, Armatrading’s first album came out in 1972 and she has released 20 more since then, including one last year at age 73.
She is also a Black woman, the first in Britain to achieve worldwide musical success.
Armatrading’s self-titled 1976 release was her third overall, and her first commercial success. She teamed with producer Glyn Johns on the recording (I just wrote about him as a 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame recipient).
You might recall that Johns has worked with pretty much every legendary musical act in the world. Well, he once said this was the best album he ever worked on.
I can see why he’d say so. It’s a gorgeous record, emotionally raw and musically rich. Armatrading’s vocals are alternately soulful and jazzy, and her lyrics are playful and profound.
I could see falling in love with this album over time. Through just one listen I knew it was something special, something that demands more attention.
Sometimes I feel like a broken record here, writing that I need to dive deeper into one artist after another. Well, Armatrading is definitely going on that list.
When you’re reeling
You step lightly thinking you’re number one
Down to zero with a word leaving
For another one
Now you walk with your feet back on the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Brand new dandy
First class scene stealer
Walks through the crowd and takes your man
Sends you rushing to the mirror
Brush your eyebrows and say
“There’s more beauty in you than anyone”
Oh, remember who walked the warm sand beside you
Moored to your heel let the waves come rushing in
She took the worry from your head
But then again
She put trouble in your heart instead
And you fall
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
You’ll know heartache
Still more crying when you’re thinking of your mother’s only son
Take to your bed
You say there’s peace in sleep
But you dream of love instead
Oh, the heartache you’ll find
Can bring more pain than a blistering sun
But oh, when you fall
Oh, when you fall
Fall at my door
Oh, the feeling
When you’re reeling
You step lightly thinking you’re number one
Down to zero with a word leaving
For another one
Now you walk with your feet back on the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
You’ll know heartache
Still more crying when you’re thinking of your mother’s only son
Take to your bed
You say there’s peace in sleep
But you dream of love instead
But oh, when you fall
Oh, when you fall
Fall at my door
Meet Me In Montauk 
I had a bit of exposure to Armatrading as a kid through my older sister, so I knew she was Black and had a general sense of her musical style. That said, I couldn’t recall even one of her songs, so I would be onboard for that deep dive.
Your sister has impeccable taste.
Also on board for this deep dive! 🙂
Count me in too!