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"...Shelter In A Storm..."
After
the artistic and commercial high of her 3rd studio platter "Joan
Armatrading" in the autumn of 1976 – an album resplendent with the
magnificent showstopper single "Love And Affection" amidst its classy
ranks – the 1977 follow-up "Show Some Emotion" was generally
considered to be somewhat of a disappointment.
I'd
argue "Show Some Emotion" is an overlooked wee beauty. And in 2017 –
Joan Armatrading's fourth studio album is coming up fast on a 40th anniversary
– so as the good lady would say "...once more with feeling..." Here
are the CD Remaster details
UK
released September 1997 – "Show Some Emotion" by JOAN ARMATRADING on
A&M CDMID 105 (Barcode 082839466325) is a straightforward mid-price CD
transfer of the 10-track 1977 album on the label's 'A&M ReMasterPieces'
Series and plays out as follows (37:35 minutes):
1.
Woncha Come On Home [Side 1]
2.
Show Some Emotion
3.
Warm Love
4.
Never Is Too Late
5.
Peace In Mind
6.
Opportunity [Side 2]
7.
Mama Mercy
8.
Get In The Sun
9.
Willow
10.
KIssin' And A Huggin'
Tracks
1 to 10 are her fourth studio album "Show Some Emotion" – released
September 1977 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68433 and October 1977 in the
USA on A&M SP-4663. Produced by GLYN JOHNS - the album peaked at No. 12 on
the UK album charts and No. 52 in the USA.
THE
BAND:
JOAN
ARMATRADING – 6 and 12-string Acoustic Guitars, Thumb Piano and Lead Vocals
JERRY
DONAHUE – Lead Electric or Acoustic Guitar on all tracks except "Woncha
Come On Home" where all instruments are by JA
GEORGIE
FAME – Fender Rhodes Electric Piano on Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9
JOHN
'RABBIT' BUNDRICK – Organ on Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 8
TIM
HINKLEY – Organ on Track 5 and Piano on Track 10
MEL
COLLINS – Saxophone on Tracks 7 and 10
BRYAN
GAROFALO – Bass on Tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10
DAVE
MARKEE – Bass on Tracks 3 and 6
DAVID
KEMPER - Drums on Tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9
KENNEY
JONES – Drums on Track 6
HENRY
SPINETTI – Drums on Tracks 3 and 10
PETE
CLARKE and JOE SCOTT – Backing Vocals on Tracks 6 and 8
BRIAN
ROGERS – Strings Arranged and Conducted on “Willow”
The
CD Remaster was carried out by ROGER WAKE at Bourberry & Wake and is very
clean – even beautiful in places. Unfortunately the inlay is a gatefold slip of
paper with musician credits only and bugger all else - a damn shame really.
Following
on from her debut LP "Whatever's For Us" on Cube Records HIFLY 12 in
November 1972 and her 2nd effort "Back To The Night" on A&M
Records AMLH 68305 in April 1975 – "Joan Armatrading" didn't so much
launch JA but explode the West Indies lady (by way of Birmingham in the UK)
onto a world stage. The self-titled LP was everywhere by Christmas 1976 and
being praised as one of 'the albums of the year' by admirers in the music press
on both sides of the pond and everywhere else for that matter. The pressure was
on to produce an equal. And in 1977 tracks like "Show Some Emotion",
"Willow", "Kissin' And A Huggin'" and "Warm Love"
absolutely delivered on the emotional and musical sucker-punches – but despite
its No. 6 chart position in the UK (six notches better than her more famous
predecessor) many felt the rest of the record somehow lacked. I'd disagree.
Another
gorgeous production from Glyn Johns sees those acoustic guitars up front while
high calibre guests like Jerry Donahue of Fairport Convention, Rhodes Piano
R&B star Georgie Fame, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick who’d done a stint with Free,
Kenney Jones of The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who, Saxophonist Mel Collins
of King Crimson, Tim Hinkley of The Bo Street Runners, Jody Grind and Snafu and
Dave Markee of Centipede – all contribute immensely to the overall classy feel.
The
opener "Woncha Come on Home" is gorgeous – just Joan on Acoustic
Guitar and a plinking Thumb Piano singing almost Acapella on a song where she’s
scared at night and pining for her beau. "Show Some Emotion" is the
first tune to show the full playing range of her band – all Jazz-Funky but in a
Rock way. The Bassist Bryan Garofalo who gives the track such a great groove
later sessioned on Joe Walsh's "So What" and did stints for John
Stewart, Kim Carnes and Glenn Frey. But the first true moment of greatness on
the album arrives with the beautiful "Warm Love" which A&M lifted
as a 45 in March 1978 (AMS 7346) with "Get In The Sun" from Side 2 as
its flipside. It seems amazing even now that such a genuinely pretty love song
with obvious heart in its very DNA did no business on either side of the pond.
Thinks
Funk-Up with "Never Is Too Late" – Jerry Donahue on Electric Guitar
with Ja on Acoustic – both chugging away at the neck-jerking rhythm. She
switches to Acoustic Piano for the mellow "Peace In Mind" – a song
about plans people pursue that don’t work out. JA then takes an impressive Lead
Acoustic on "Opportunity" – bending those strings as Jerry sneaks
around in the background on a Slide Electric – sinister and cool - while Pete
Clarke speaks in a deep dark voice about worldwide adventures and opportunities
to make money out of other people's misery. Over on Side 2 things get
Jazz-Funky as the band swing and sway on "Get In The Sun" – Joan
working some clever vocals phrases in the upper register. The final two - the
stunning mellow declaration of love in "Willow" and the sexy took-my-baby-walking
of "Kissin' And A Huggin'" - are amongst the best tracks on the album
and regularly appear on 'Best Of' and 'Anthology' CD compilations.
If
you want more of her great material – the "Gold" 2CD set from
Universal has beautiful 2005 remasters from Erick Labson – an Audio Engineer
who has over 1000 mastering credits to his name including huge swathes of the
Universal catalogue. In the meantime invest in this 'whole' album that's gotten
lost over the years.
"...Come
running to me when things get out of hand...running to me when it's more than
you can stand...I'm strong...straight...willing...to be a shelter in a
storm...your willow..."
Ain't
that just beautiful...
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