#228
Reviewed by George Chastain Jr.
May 1980
Joan Armatrading
Me Myself I
Genre: Anything you can do, I can do better
Allen’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5
George’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5
George’s Highlights:
Me Myself I
Ma Me O Beach
Friends
Simon
I Need You
By George Chastain Jr.
My fourth album to review, and the fourth artist that I was unfamiliar with. However, this album is exactly why I joined the Listening Post – to be introduced to good music I had never heard before. I loved this album, so much so that I pulled it into my Spotify playlists. First, Joan Armatrading’s vocals are superb. Her voice is pure, clear, and melodic. Her range is large with equal control over low notes as well as high. The songs are varied in style, mood, instrumental focus, and vocal complexity. Each song took the album in a different direction. I was constantly surprised. Even the album’s failures had rewarding elements. The songs were vocal centric, and while the musical instruments used in each song might have changed, the reliance on the vocals remained the same. The music was always in service to the voice. If I had to lodge a complaint, I would say that Joan never let loose with her voice. It feels like she could really turn it up a notch vocally. She never does a full-on diva or push herself, and it feels like she is more than capable of doing so. It is for this reason only that this album is not a “5”. Had she let loose, I would have probably died and gone to heaven. Overall, the album feels like a perfect 70’s to 80’s transition album. It covers a lot of musical territory and sounds, but the one constant is the solid vocals of Joan Armatrading. I have not done this with a review yet, but I decided this review required a song by song critique. Me Myself I The vocals are strong and powerful. The message unique. It felt like a slow-tempo rock song with early 80’s guitars. The song is my wife’s anthem. I love the lines: I want to have a boyfriend
And a girl for laughs But only on Saturdays
Six days to be alone It's not that I love myself
I just don't want company
Except me myself I Ma Me O Beach Another fun, upbeat song. Has a country feel to it which I could easily imagine hearing at some honky-tonk bar. It’s easy to listen to this song and imagine Ma Me O Beach. Friends Now Joan switches to a more serious mood. Her voice is never better than in this song. More of Jazz feel with strong classical jazz guitar sounds. The lament in her voice is palpable. Who was it
Who came for me when I was
Stranded in the bad man's land
Who was it
Who put up bail for me when I was
So desperate to get out
Who believed with me
That I was not guilty
Who gave me beer when I was thirsty
And who gave me twenty-five dollars to hold Is It Tomorrow Yet? This tune reverts back to the early 80’s pop rhythms and guitars of Me Myself I. It reminded of some Talking Heads tunes. There’s nothing in the lyrics here that are potentially gripping or soul shattering, but the desire for Joan to see her “baby” and wanting to know if it is tomorrow yet comes across well. Her vocals on this song are her best as she travels up and down the scales. Turn out the Light A love ballad, slow and caressing. Joan travels in the low range for long periods of time in this song, and she does it well. First time we here an electric guitar which weeps during the instrumental, a poor man’s Pink Floyd riff, but serviceable. There are moments in this song where I think she’s going to totally let loose and go Janis Joplin, but she never goes there. Unfortunately. When You Kisses Me This song moves the album into the funk realm. Nice funkadelic base. The chorus is less funky. For me, this song is one of the weaker tunes on the album. All the Way from America I did not think Joan’s vocals were very strong on this song and sounded strained in some parts. The weakest song on the album. Had some violins which was new. Was a cross between folk and John Denver. Feeling in my Heart (For You) Now let’s move to Reggae shall we. Her vocals are clear and beautiful. Lyrics aren’t much, and the song is rather uninspired. This song ends the run of weaker, more mediocre tunes that started with When You Kisses Me. Simon Transitioning from a Reggae sound to a Ska beat. I really enjoy the story of this song. It is the most lyrically clever and, dare I say it, cool. The saxophone is new and fun. Gave her practical things
Like diamonds for her neck And Simon won't be feeling friendly
He'll be lying too close to the floor P.S. After I did my review, I went and did some research on Joan Armatrading and this album. Clarence Clemons was on the sax. I Need You What do you say we change it up again? Powerful violins and strings. Sad and melancholy. Joan’s voice is full of emotion. A ballad – pure and simple. There is something about the length of the song that is just perfect. It feels like it ends to soon, leaves you wanting for more, but that feeling of incompleteness is perfect for the song. https://open.spotify.com/album/0bbqWBKFr1kdqxjoAAIBcR?si=5WY53EkGQIqX3EXCaBM3EA&fbclid=IwAR1OcjSv3Z4LVt4-qn1IxmbDkTBJrL8ZlNKI1F8p4KlE1GSsmI02crJniUA
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