Square the Circle is the thirteenth studio album by British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. It was released on 8 June 1992 by A&M Records and was Armatrading's last album for the company to whom she had been signed for almost 20 years. It includes her last entry in the UK Singles Chart to date, "Wrapped Around Her", which peaked at number 56.[1]
The album was recorded at Bumpkin Studios, her own purpose built studios. Ex-Japan bassist Mick Karn stayed on from her previous album, Hearts and Flowers, while Graham Dickson once again engineered the album, the third Armatrading album which he had been asked to engineer. Other personnel staying on were Jeremy Pearce who did the design work, while Andrew Catlin was once again asked to do the photography and Sarah Southin returned as a designer. The album is unusual in that Armatrading uses female backing singers. No female backing singers had appeared on an Armatrading album since her debut album Whatever's for Us in 1972, and those were not credited. Subsequent albums used exclusively male backing vocalists. The singers were Linda Lewis, her sister Shirley Lewis and Sylvia Mason-James, all experienced session singers.[2] Linda Lewis had worked with numerous artists, including David Bowie, Cat Stevens and Rick Wakeman, while Sylvia Mason-James had worked with the Pet Shop Boys and Simple Minds, among others. The album's songs show a preoccupation with gender and male versus female characteristics.
The tracks "Wrapped Around Her" and "True Love" were released as singles.
Receptionedit
The album reached number 34 in the UK album charts but did not chart in the US.
AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann was critical of some of the sentiments on the album, singling out "If Women Ruled The World", for its lyrics which were perceived as misandrist. He did not comment on the musicianship. The album received a star rating of 3 out of 5 on that site.[3]
Chris Heim, writing in the Chicago Tribune, noted that "her sound is pared down to direct, catchy pop-rock with only traces of the folk, reggae and jazz stylings that filled past albums" and that Armatrading "retains her touch for writing upbeat tunes that instantly burrow into memory and soft, low ballads that resonate with exquisite pain". He concluded that Armatrading "continues to be one of the most penetrating chroniclers of affairs of the heart in pop today". [4]
Track listingedit
All songs written and arranged by Joan Armatrading.
"True Love" – 3:57
"Crazy" – 3:48
"Wrapped Around Her" (Joan Armatrading, Graham Lyle) – 3:48
"Sometimes I Don't Wanna Go Home" – 4:59
"Square The Circle" – 4:10
"Weak Woman" – 3:56
"Can I Get Next To You" – 4:16
"Can't Get Over (How I Broke Your Heart)" – 3:56
"If Women Ruled The World" – 4:32
"Cradled In Your Love" – 5:16
Personneledit
Musiciansedit
Joan Armatrading – vocals, guitars, mandolin
Simon Clark – keyboards (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)
^"Official Charts: Joan Armatrading". Official Charts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
^"Linda Lewis". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
^"Square the Circle". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
^Heim, Chris (30 July 1992). "Joan Armatrading Square the Circle (A&M)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
Referencesedit
Sleeve notes: Square the Circle, 1992, A&M Records (75021 5388 2)
Larkin, Colin (1997) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Virgin Books, London. ISBN1-85227 745 9
November 23, 2023
square, circle, joan, armatrading, album, square, circle, thirteenth, studio, album, british, singer, songwriter, joan, armatrading, released, june, 1992, records, armatrading, last, album, company, whom, been, signed, almost, years, includes, last, entry, sin. Square the Circle is the thirteenth studio album by British singer songwriter Joan Armatrading It was released on 8 June 1992 by A amp M Records and was Armatrading s last album for the company to whom she had been signed for almost 20 years It includes her last entry in the UK Singles Chart to date Wrapped Around Her which peaked at number 56 1 Square the CircleStudio album by Joan ArmatradingReleased8 June 1992RecordedBumpkin StudiosGenrePopLength42 38LabelA amp MProducerJoan ArmatradingJoan Armatrading chronologyHearts and Flowers 1990 Square the Circle 1992 What s Inside 1995 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Track listing 4 Personnel 4 1 Musicians 4 2 Production team 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBackground editThe album was recorded at Bumpkin Studios her own purpose built studios Ex Japan bassist Mick Karn stayed on from her previous album Hearts and Flowers while Graham Dickson once again engineered the album the third Armatrading album which he had been asked to engineer Other personnel staying on were Jeremy Pearce who did the design work while Andrew Catlin was once again asked to do the photography and Sarah Southin returned as a designer The album is unusual in that Armatrading uses female backing singers No female backing singers had appeared on an Armatrading album since her debut album Whatever s for Us in 1972 and those were not credited Subsequent albums used exclusively male backing vocalists The singers were Linda Lewis her sister Shirley Lewis and Sylvia Mason James all experienced session singers 2 Linda Lewis had worked with numerous artists including David Bowie Cat Stevens and Rick Wakeman while Sylvia Mason James had worked with the Pet Shop Boys and Simple Minds among others The album s songs show a preoccupation with gender and male versus female characteristics The tracks Wrapped Around Her and True Love were released as singles Reception editThe album reached number 34 in the UK album charts but did not chart in the US AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann was critical of some of the sentiments on the album singling out If Women Ruled The World for its lyrics which were perceived as misandrist He did not comment on the musicianship The album received a star rating of 3 out of 5 on that site 3 Chris Heim writing in the Chicago Tribune noted that her sound is pared down to direct catchy pop rock with only traces of the folk reggae and jazz stylings that filled past albums and that Armatrading retains her touch for writing upbeat tunes that instantly burrow into memory and soft low ballads that resonate with exquisite pain He concluded that Armatrading continues to be one of the most penetrating chroniclers of affairs of the heart in pop today 4 Track listing editAll songs written and arranged by Joan Armatrading True Love 3 57 Crazy 3 48 Wrapped Around Her Joan Armatrading Graham Lyle 3 48 Sometimes I Don t Wanna Go Home 4 59 Square The Circle 4 10 Weak Woman 3 56 Can I Get Next To You 4 16 Can t Get Over How I Broke Your Heart 3 56 If Women Ruled The World 4 32 Cradled In Your Love 5 16Personnel editMusicians edit Joan Armatrading vocals guitars mandolin Simon Clark keyboards tracks 2 4 5 8 9 10 Richard Cottle keyboards tracks 1 3 6 7 Mick Karn bass all tracks Richie Stevens drums all tracks Luis Jardim percussion tracks 2 4 5 9 10 Andy Duncan percussion snare drum tracks 7 9 Linda Lewis backing vocals tracks 1 3 4 6 7 8 Shirley Lewis backing vocals tracks 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sylvia Mason James backing vocals tracks 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Production team edit Producer Joan Armatrading Engineers Graham Dickson amp Mike Ging Mixed by Greg Jackman amp Mike Ging Writer amp co producer on Wrapped Around Her Graham Lyle Design Jeremy Pearce and Sarah Southin Photography Andrew Catlin Calligraphy Ruth RowlandNotes edit Official Charts Joan Armatrading Official Charts com Official Charts Company Retrieved 21 August 2016 Linda Lewis National Portrait Gallery Retrieved 5 February 2014 Square the Circle AllMusic Retrieved 19 December 2013 Heim Chris 30 July 1992 Joan Armatrading Square the Circle A amp M Chicago Tribune Retrieved 18 December 2013 References editSleeve notes Square the Circle 1992 A amp M Records 75021 5388 2 Larkin Colin 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Virgin Books London ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Square the Circle Joan Armatrading album amp oldid 1170159559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
