Having exhausted my Cd collection I am revisiting a few artists who made brilliant debut albums; many of course went on to  even greater things.  This is, of course, a personal selection.  Hope you like it.

Joan Armatrading – Whatever’s For Us

Well, a complete unknown in 1972.  Joan had apparently written about a hundred songs with Pam Nestor, another singer songwriter.  Looking for fame – mostly as a writer than a performer, she was ‘discovered’ by Gus Dudgeon, a producer for Elton.  She was signed to Cube records, a small independent, who wanted to promote Joan as a singer.  Many of the songs initially recorded by Pam and Joan, with Pam singing were rejected in favour of those featuring Joan singing.  The pair had originally wanted to be a duo, with Joan writing the music and Pam the lyrics.  These other songs have never surfaced, and Pam seems to have disappeared from the picture.

The resulting album, featuring Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper and Gerry Conway accompanying Joan, mostly on piano and acoustic guitar, is simply stunning.  The songs are subtle and complex and seem to have emerged fully formed as almost classics.  Joan’s voice is deep and sumptuous and soars above the melodies.  For whatever reason I bought the album – maybe the hand-painted cover design, as I had never heard of Joan before.  Possibly I read a review in Time Out or City Limits.

Hard to pick favourite tracks, from such a stunning album – but I love ‘My Family’, ‘It Could Have Been Better’ and best of all ‘Visionary Mountains’ – which was recorded years later by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.

Joan apparently was quite dissatisfied with the album, and the dropping of Pam Nestor.  The record sold quite poorly and Cube records folded a year or so later.  However A. & M. picked up Joan and re-released this debut on their label in ’74.

Joan went on to a long, and still continuing solo career.  She is a unique talent, not only as a singer but as a writer and arranger, but also as and artist who has never been manipulated by Record companies.  As a black female singer this is a rarity; she has never relied on, and in fact has steadfastly refused to appear ‘sexy’.  Just recentl she has even written a classical symphony which was broadcast on Radio 3.  Needless to say, if she were a young artist today she would never get a recording contract, being far too independently minded.