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What's Inside

May 27, 2023

What's Inside is the fourteenth studio album by British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. The album was written, arranged and produced by Armatrading, co-produced by David Tickle and recorded at the A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood. The strings were recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, with the Kronos Quartet's contribution recorded at The Plant Recording Studios, Sausalito, California and The Memphis Horns recorded at Kiva Recording Studio, Memphis, Tennessee. The album was released in 1995 by RCA and was Armatrading's only album for the label. She had left A&M in 1992 after an eighteen-year association with the company.

What's Inside
Studio album by
Joan Armatrading
Released30 May 1995
Studio
GenrePop
Length50:17
LabelRCA
ProducerJoan Armatrading, David Tickle
Joan Armatrading chronology
Square the Circle
(1992) 		What's Inside
(1995) 		Lovers Speak
(2003)

Background

Armatrading used a string orchestra on several tracks. She used the London Metropolitan Orchestra, along with the Kronos Quartet on one track and The Memphis Horns on two songs. Because of this, the album had several arrangers (see Personnel list) including Armatrading herself.

B. J. Cole returned to play slide guitar, the first time he had played on an Armatrading album since 1976, when he played on the track "Down to Zero" from the eponymous Joan Armatrading album; and Manu Katché once more returned to play drums. After a twelve-year gap, Tony Levin reprised his role as one of the album's bass guitarists – he had previously played on Walk Under Ladders in 1981 and The Key in 1983. Other than those, Armatrading and her co-producer David Tickle worked with a new set of musicians for the album, including some very experienced artists guesting on several tracks, such as Darryl Jones, who had worked with Miles Davis and Eric Clapton, among others, and who went on to join the Rolling Stones; Greg Phillinganes, a keyboardist who had worked with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin and many others, and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Songs

In an interview in December 1995 in the Los Angeles Times, Armatrading stated that the album's songs represent "things that have touched me".[2]

The song "In Your Eyes" is one of several songs with jazz influences.[3] "Everyday Boy" was inspired by an acquaintance of Armatrading's who had AIDS.[4] "Shapes and Sizes", which contains the line "Obituary columns are filled with love", was inspired by the death of British journalist and broadcaster Brian Redhead.[5]

"Back On The Road" and "Lost The Love" are blues numbers and prefigure her 2007 album Into The Blues. "Trouble" is a "heartwarming salute" to Armatrading's mother, whom she had always regarded as a strong woman whom she wished to emulate.[3]

The tracks "Everyday Boy", "Recommend My Love" and "Shapes and Sizes" were released as singles.

Reception

The album was positively reviewed by most critics[citation needed] and reached number 48 in the UK Albums Chart, and number 91 in Australia,[6] but did not chart in the US.

AllMusic's Thom Jurek said that the album was: "a solid, sweeping, elegant, and heart breaking album" that "proved beyond any doubt that Armatrading [is] a viable, profound songwriter capable of offering striking, imagistic portraits of complex emotional terrain", that there was "not a weak song" among the tracks and that in his opinion the album is "highly recommended". He singled out "Merchant of Love", "Everyday Boy", and "Recommend My Love" as the "finest songs" on the album.[7]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic commented: "the album is an interesting mixture of the styles Armatrading has employed at various times in her career, from the spare, intimate approach associated with her "Love And Affection" phase to the pop-rock of "Me Myself I". He singled out the track "Can't Stop Loving You" as the song that "coulda-been-a-hit". The album received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on that site.[8]

John Roos of the Los Angeles Times called the album a "strong collection" with some "outstanding" songs, and particularly praised "Trouble".[3]

Steve Appleford of the Los Angeles Times praised the album's "subtle emotional ambience" and "raw, smoky intensity".[9]

A. D. Amorosi, writing in the Philadelphia City Paper, praised Armatrading's vocals as being "espresso dark, cigar smoky, hearty and passionate", and said that the album "contains deceptively simple melodies trimmed with ornate baubles, including the laconic blues of "Lost the Love" and the ominously catchy "Shapes & Sizes".[10]

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Joan Armatrading. Additional arrangements by other personnel as noted below.

  1. "In Your Eyes" – 2:43
  2. "Everyday Boy" – 4:37
  3. "Merchant of Love" – 4:49
  4. "Shapes and Sizes" – 3:15
  5. "Back on the Road" – 2:43
  6. "Lost The Love" – 3:43
  7. "Songs" – 3:49
  8. "Would You Like to Dance" – 4:01
  9. "Recommend My Love" – 4:30
  10. "Beyond The Blue" – 3:52
  11. "Can't Stop Loving You" – 3:26
  12. "Shape of a Pony" – 4:43
  13. "Trouble" – 4:06

Personnel

Notes

  1. ^ "Joan Armatrading – What's Inside". Discogs. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. ^ Seigal, Buddy (2 December 1995). "'What's Inside' Is Very Personal". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Roos, John (4 December 1995). "Armatrading's Range and Masterful Poise Combine in Triumph". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Joan Armatrading FAQ". Harmony Ridge Music. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ^ Pride, Dominic (17 June 1995). "Joan Armatrading shows 'What's Inside'. Billboard, p. 14.
  6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. ^ "What's Inside". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  8. ^ ""What's Inside". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  9. ^ Appleford, Steve (11 July 1996). "Armatrading, Thompson Keep It Simple—and Good". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  10. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (20–27 June 1996). "Joan Armatrading/Richard Thompson". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

References

  • Sleeve notes: What’s Inside, 1995, RCA
  • Larkin, Colin (1997) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Virgin Books, London. ISBN 1-85227 745 9

May 27, 2023
what, inside, fourteenth, studio, album, british, singer, songwriter, joan, armatrading, album, written, arranged, produced, armatrading, produced, david, tickle, recorded, recording, studios, hollywood, strings, were, recorded, abbey, road, studios, london, w. What s Inside is the fourteenth studio album by British singer songwriter Joan Armatrading The album was written arranged and produced by Armatrading co produced by David Tickle and recorded at the A amp M Recording Studios in Hollywood The strings were recorded at Abbey Road Studios London with the Kronos Quartet s contribution recorded at The Plant Recording Studios Sausalito California and The Memphis Horns recorded at Kiva Recording Studio Memphis Tennessee The album was released in 1995 by RCA and was Armatrading s only album for the label She had left A amp M in 1992 after an eighteen year association with the company What s InsideStudio album by Joan ArmatradingReleased30 May 1995StudioA amp M Hollywood Abbey Road London Record Plant SausalitoKiva Memphis 1 GenrePopLength50 17LabelRCAProducerJoan Armatrading David TickleJoan Armatrading chronologySquare the Circle 1992 What s Inside 1995 Lovers Speak 2003 Contents 1 Background 2 Songs 3 Reception 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 5 1 Musicians 5 2 Production Team 6 Notes 7 ReferencesBackground EditArmatrading used a string orchestra on several tracks She used the London Metropolitan Orchestra along with the Kronos Quartet on one track and The Memphis Horns on two songs Because of this the album had several arrangers see Personnel list including Armatrading herself B J Cole returned to play slide guitar the first time he had played on an Armatrading album since 1976 when he played on the track Down to Zero from the eponymous Joan Armatrading album and Manu Katche once more returned to play drums After a twelve year gap Tony Levin reprised his role as one of the album s bass guitarists he had previously played on Walk Under Ladders in 1981 and The Key in 1983 Other than those Armatrading and her co producer David Tickle worked with a new set of musicians for the album including some very experienced artists guesting on several tracks such as Darryl Jones who had worked with Miles Davis and Eric Clapton among others and who went on to join the Rolling Stones Greg Phillinganes a keyboardist who had worked with Stevie Wonder Eric Clapton Donna Summer Aretha Franklin and many others and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Songs EditIn an interview in December 1995 in the Los Angeles Times Armatrading stated that the album s songs represent things that have touched me 2 The song In Your Eyes is one of several songs with jazz influences 3 Everyday Boy was inspired by an acquaintance of Armatrading s who had AIDS 4 Shapes and Sizes which contains the line Obituary columns are filled with love was inspired by the death of British journalist and broadcaster Brian Redhead 5 Back On The Road and Lost The Love are blues numbers and prefigure her 2007 album Into The Blues Trouble is a heartwarming salute to Armatrading s mother whom she had always regarded as a strong woman whom she wished to emulate 3 The tracks Everyday Boy Recommend My Love and Shapes and Sizes were released as singles Reception EditThe album was positively reviewed by most critics citation needed and reached number 48 in the UK Albums Chart and number 91 in Australia 6 but did not chart in the US AllMusic s Thom Jurek said that the album was a solid sweeping elegant and heart breaking album that proved beyond any doubt that Armatrading is a viable profound songwriter capable of offering striking imagistic portraits of complex emotional terrain that there was not a weak song among the tracks and that in his opinion the album is highly recommended He singled out Merchant of Love Everyday Boy and Recommend My Love as the finest songs on the album 7 William Ruhlmann of AllMusic commented the album is an interesting mixture of the styles Armatrading has employed at various times in her career from the spare intimate approach associated with her Love And Affection phase to the pop rock of Me Myself I He singled out the track Can t Stop Loving You as the song that coulda been a hit The album received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on that site 8 John Roos of the Los Angeles Times called the album a strong collection with some outstanding songs and particularly praised Trouble 3 Steve Appleford of the Los Angeles Times praised the album s subtle emotional ambience and raw smoky intensity 9 A D Amorosi writing in the Philadelphia City Paper praised Armatrading s vocals as being espresso dark cigar smoky hearty and passionate and said that the album contains deceptively simple melodies trimmed with ornate baubles including the laconic blues of Lost the Love and the ominously catchy Shapes amp Sizes 10 Track listing EditAll songs written and arranged by Joan Armatrading Additional arrangements by other personnel as noted below In Your Eyes 2 43 Everyday Boy 4 37 Merchant of Love 4 49 Shapes and Sizes 3 15 Back on the Road 2 43 Lost The Love 3 43 Songs 3 49 Would You Like to Dance 4 01 Recommend My Love 4 30 Beyond The Blue 3 52 Can t Stop Loving You 3 26 Shape of a Pony 4 43 Trouble 4 06Personnel EditMusicians Edit Joan Armatrading vocals electric guitar acoustic guitar e bow guitar Hojah Farah acoustic guitar track 4 B J Cole slide guitar track 10 Tony Levin bass tracks 1 2 3 4 5 7 11 12 13 Darryl Jones bass tracks 2 8 9 10 Greg Phillinganes keyboards tracks 1 7 9 Benmont Tench keyboards tracks 2 3 5 10 11 12 Todd Cochran keyboards tracks 4 6 13 Peter Robinson keyboards track 8 Manu Katche drums all tracks Alex Acuna percussion tracks 3 4 6 7 10 11 12 13 The London Metropolitan Orchestra strings all tracks except track 4 Kronos Quartet strings track 4 Boz Burrell tin whistle track 12 Memphis Horns horns tracks 8 11 K La backing vocals tracks 3 6 8 9 11 Ray Williams backing vocals tracks 3 6 8 9 11 Terry Evans backing vocals tracks 3 6 8 9 11 Willie Green Jr backing vocals tracks 3 6 8 9 11 Production Team Edit Producer Joan Armatrading Co producer David Tickle Engineer Wolfgang Amadeus Second engineer Chad Munsey Engineer horns Malcolm Springer Engineer quartet Tom Luekens Engineer strings Simon Rhodes Mixed by David Tickle Shelly Yakus Musical director Andy Brown Songs arranged by Joan Armatrading Strings arranged by Joan Armatrading tracks 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Strings arranged by Caroline Dale track 1 Strings arranged by Dana Brayton track 4 Orchestration by Caroline Dale Strings written by Joan Armatrading tracks 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Strings written by Caroline Dale track 1 Design amp illustration Sherri Maxwell Distribution Bertelsmann Music Group Songs published by Polygram Music Management Running Dog Management Mike NobleNotes Edit Joan Armatrading What s Inside Discogs Retrieved 22 January 2018 Seigal Buddy 2 December 1995 What s Inside Is Very Personal The Los Angeles Times Retrieved 31 December 2013 a b c Roos John 4 December 1995 Armatrading s Range and Masterful Poise Combine in Triumph The Los Angeles Times Retrieved 31 December 2013 Joan Armatrading FAQ Harmony Ridge Music Retrieved 1 January 2014 Pride Dominic 17 June 1995 Joan Armatrading shows What s Inside Billboard p 14 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 Mt Martha VIC Australia Moonlight Publishing What s Inside Barnes amp Noble Retrieved 31 December 2013 What s Inside AllMusic Retrieved 31 December 2013 Appleford Steve 11 July 1996 Armatrading Thompson Keep It Simple and Good The Los Angeles Times Retrieved 31 December 2013 Amorosi A D 20 27 June 1996 Joan Armatrading Richard Thompson Philadelphia City Paper Retrieved 5 January 2014 References EditSleeve notes What s Inside 1995 RCA 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 What 27s Inside amp oldid 1124605286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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