In Laina Dawes's book, "What Are You Doing Here?," which is about a black woman's liberation through heavy metal and the prejudice she experienced as a female metalhead of African origin, she mentions great black female rock singers like Joyce 'Baby Jean' Kennedy from Mother's Finest and Skin from Skunk Anansie, both of whom have made a big impact on the rock scene. However, I don't remember, though I could be wrong, any mention of another great lady who belongs with the two already mentioned, Joan Armatrading. Note to self: find and reread that book. The two Joan Armatrading albums I've listened to, the 1981 album "Me Myself I" and her 1983, "The Key," are both great rocking albums. Therefore, I am forced to think that Joan doesn't get the musical respect she deserves.
Way back in 1983 during my final weeks in the marines, Joan's single from the album, "I Love it When You Call Me Names," got a good amount of airplay. I love the hard rocking edge to the song and the lyrics just cracked me up. This song appears to be about a sado- masochistic couple who get off on abusing each other. The lyrics, "He loves it when she beats his brains in" are sufficient evidence to the fact and there's a cool guitar solo at the end. That song continues to amuse me to this day and I'm a little surprised that no thrash band has covered it.
While it may not have the amusing lyrics like the single, the rest of "The Key" is a really cool album. There are the straight forward rockers like "Drop the Pilot," "Tell Tale" and "What Do Boys Dream." Then there's the power ballad, "Everybody Gotta Know" and while "Foolish Pride" incorporates horns, it is still a decent song that will dent anyone's belief that horns can't be used in a rock tune. Joan does show her versatility with the reggae sounding title track. This is a good bouncy song that has you repeating the chorus, "I found the key to your heart," for several minutes after the song's conclusion, a fine album by a fine singer.
Track Listing:
- I Love it When You Call Me Names
- Foolish Pride
- Drop the Pilot
- The Key
- Everybody Gotta Know
- Tell Tale
- What Do Boys Dream
- The Game of Love
- The Dealer
- Bad Habits
- I Love My Baby
Joan Armatrading[/caption]
Joan Armatrading- lead vocals, guitars, piano
Adrian Belew- guitar
Daryl Stuermer- guitar
Gary Sanford- guitar
Tony Levin- bass
Larry Fast- synthesizer
Stewart Copeland- drums
Jerry Marotta- drums
Julian Diggle- percussion
Mel Collins- saxophone
Annie Whitehead- trombone
Guy Barker- trumpet
Dean Klavatt- piano
Jeremy Meek- bass vocal
I never realised it before but there are some great musicians who play on "The Key." One reason why this album is so good. However, this takes nothing away from Joan and her great vocal ability and song writing skills. She is certainly a power force in rock.
Next post: ZZ Top- Eliminator
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainaw@hotmail.com
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