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Joa Armatrading is a shy and quiet woman who has gone unnoticed by the general public for many years.
Even today, thirty-six years after the release of her first LP, there are still those who don't know her, and the absence of any reviews of her on this site only confirms this. It's a shame because Joan was the prototype of the instrumental singer-songwriter, and many of her colleagues have taken something from her. The first that comes to mind is Tracy Chapman.
Born in 1950 in the Caribbean, she moved to England at a young age and began her career as a musician there. Her first albums have a clear folk imprint.
It was only after this sixth album, dated 1980, that her name began to circulate, bringing her the success she had been pursuing for years. To achieve it, she had to shift her sound towards pop, without betraying her soul, blues, rock, and reggae influences.
"Me myself i" is a kaleidoscopic album. Armatrading easily transitions from the rock atmosphere of the title track to the rock-reggae of "Ma-me-O-beach" and "Simon", to the piano-driven soul of "Friends" where she highlights her deep voice. In "Is it tomorrow Yet?" one can feel the atmosphere between the funky and dance styles that were so popular in those years. Her often introspective lyrics are never over the top, and her voice, now deep and weighty, at other times more sophisticated and refined like in the almost jazzy "When you kiss me", accompanies the listening experience pleasantly and never boringly. There's still time for my favorite "Turn out the light", for the return to folk in "All the way from America", and for the concluding "I need you" with its orchestral arrangements.
Also noteworthy is the presence among the musicians of the late Danny Federici on the organ and Clarence Clemons on sax, vacationing from the Boss's E-street band, and Anton Fig (his collaborations are countless) on drums.
Armatrading will enjoy for a few years the success this album brought her, continuing to produce works in large quantities, only to return to media anonymity. Today, she continues to write music (her latest album was released two years ago) and bring it to concerts filled with passion and good music. Give it a listen.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Is It Tomorrow Yet? (03:33)
My baby say that the time is a
Coming soon
But did not say if it was in the morning or the
Afternoon
If we don't meet today
I think tomorrow may
Bring a surprise
Before my eyes
Is it tomorrow yet
I've got to do my best
For my baby
I've been losing time
Has the clock spun 'round
Did I sleep too late
Have I missed too much
Have I missed much
Have I missed much
I wanna see my baby
I wanna see my baby
Is it tomorrow yet
Can't count the times we've met and we've been going our
Different ways
Tomorrow I know we'll be going
The same way
Don't know 'bout yesterday
And we may not meet today
Under this sky
But I'd like a surprise
Is it tomorrow yet
I've got to look my best
For my baby
This time I'm keeping track
There'll be no looking back
No more maybe
Must be tomorrow today
Must be tomorrow today
Here's my baby
07 All the Way From America (04:52)
You called all the way from America
And said hang on to love girl
But the weeks and the months and the tears
Passed by
And my eyes couldn't stand the strain
Of that promised love
All the way from America
You called all the way from America
And said I'll soon be home girl
But the years and the tears and the fears
Passed by
And my heart couldn't stand the pain
Of that promised love
All the way from America
All the way from America
I stayed all alone and I waited 'round
For you to knock at my door
But the knock never came and no ring
At all
And now I sit and wonder why
You made that first call
All the way from America
I don't believe I'll stay here
I don't think I wanna wait here any more
And if you search for me baby
Better bring some more love than you declared
All the way from America
09 Simon (03:42)
He's from Ohio
Lives with his mother
He loves the woman
Who loves his brother
What can he do now
As she walks across the floor
Here comes his brother
Walking sideways through the door
Was the same at school
He played the fool
Or took a back seat
While Simon ruled
He played by himself a lot
And people called him shy
His mother said be more friendly
And he would ask her why
Has Simon got to be more friendly
And do I have to be like him
And mother said
No son
Gotta be yourself
Be more like I tell you
Be like me
Be like I tell you
Be like me
Now when Kathleen
Came on the scene
He saw her first
And then Simon spoke
He took her to places
That completely turned her head
Gave her practical things
Like diamonds for her neck
Has Simon got to be so friendly
Sometimes he makes me want to kill
Look at 'em dancing
While he's standing by the wall
There's gonna be trouble
When the time to leave is called
And Simon won't be feeling friendly
He'll be lying too close to the floor
And mother said
Oh son
That's not like you
You gotta be more like I tell you
Be like me
Be like I tell you
Be like me
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