What's Inside | 
| Artist: Joan Armatrading
Label: RCA
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy Used: $0.02
You Save: $16.96 (100%)
New (10) Used (61) Collectible (6) from $0.02
Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 136426
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.5
UPC: 743212726923
EAN: 0743212726923
ASIN: B000003ET3
Release Date: October 10, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | In Your Eyes | | • | Everyday Boy | | • | Merchant of Love | | • | Shapes and Sizes | | • | Back on the Road | | • | Lost the Love | | • | Songs | | • | Would You Like to Dance | | • | Recommend My Love | | • | Beyond the Blue | | • | Can't Stop Loving You | | • | Shape of a Pony | | • | Trouble |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Joan Armatrading has long been one of the finest singers in Anglo-American pop. The Caribbean-born, British-based vocalist has a rich, low alto which she uses to stretch and twist phrases, loading them with new implications in the style of her hero Van Morrison. Armatrading, who wrote, arranged and coproduced (with David Tickle) the album, has surrounded herself with top musicians formerly associated with the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, and Al Green. She more than holds her own, not only as a singer but also as the lead guitarist. She sings the first verse of "Merchant of Love," for example, with the deflating, sad sigh of someone who has heard too many lies from too many lovers. --Geoffrey Himes
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
One of Joan's Very Best. July 7, 1999
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I've been a long-time fan of Joan Armatrading and her music, and have been following her work since the 1970's and such classic lp's as "Joan Armatrading", "Show Some Emotion", "Me Myslef I", "Walk Under Ladders" and "Secret Secrets", the last shamefully unavailable on cd. She nearly lost me, however, in the late 80's and into the 90's, with such disappointing releases as "Sleight of Hand", "Hearts and Flowers" and "Square the Circle", all of which have their good moments but, on the whole, don't live up to the greatness of her work which preceded them. Thank goodness that "What's Inside" finds Joan back on track with one of the best albums of her lengthy career. Her voice is as great as ever, warm and tender on the ballads, strong and assertive on the more upbeat numbers. The songwriting is top notch, and the big treat here is the wonderful string section working with Joan, adding a new dimension to her funky, reggae, R&B style songs. This is highly recommended for fans of Joan Armatrading and anyone who wants to discover a singer/songwriter of the first magnitude who has been shockingly underappreciated for too many years.
Mesmerizing September 25, 2000
Christopher R. Cicatelli (bethesda, md)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
this album by Joan Armatrading is amazing. The first time I heard it, back in '96, I was floored. The words, the music, Joan's voice...it is without a doubt one of my favorite CD's in my collection. the best song on the album is Everyday Boy....it'll give you chills. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Armatrading this summer for a music show I produce for BET on Jazz: The Jazz Channel called Profiles at Wolf Trap. She is truly one of the most genuine, and gifted people I have ever met and interviewed. She talked about the song Everyday Boy and the performance that night was spellbinding. Pick this CD up now....it will be a cornerstone in your CD collection for years to come. Thank you Joan!!
Her best work in nearly 20 years! September 1, 1999
Scott T Mc Nally (ORLANDO, Fl USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I first became aware of Joan in 1977 at a concert at the Ramona theatre in Detroit, where she opened for John Klemmer To say that she upstaged the top billed act is an understatement. Show Some Emotion had just been released. I loved it, but when I heard her prior self titled album, which I believe was actually her 3rd or 4th, I was completely blown away. She's done some fine work here and there over the last 2 decades, but nothing could have braced me for What's Inside. She's always been one of the best rythym guitarists around, but the lead licks she lays out on Lost The Love are enough to make B.B. King stand up and take note. I've always thought that her 76 Joan Armatrding release was by far, her best. Till I heard this. It's a truly amazing work of art
The BEST by one of the best April 7, 1999
R. H. Berg (Missouri)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have been an Armatrading fan for decades and, like many of you, recognize she is very underappreciated by music fans in the U.S.. I have collected MANY (wife says too many) rock and jazz CDs and find myself going back to certain classics to play perhaps once a year because their music and message never gets old. This CD is one of those. Its a great blend of classic elements from Kronos and blazing electric guitar from Joan, one who can really play guitar. To top it off, the lyrics show a gripping knowledge of life and talk about issues that I find relevant.
This is the one! February 4, 2004
Roy Brian Thomas (Potown USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Greetings from beautiful downtown Poughkeepsie!
Most people (including myself) adore Joan's 3rd CD 'Joan Armatrading' but I think "What's Inside" is her best work to date! What a great CD! The songs are all so rich and warm.
Joan plays all the guitars - gotta love that! You'll play this CD every now and then for years and years...
1.In Your Eyes - Joan coos through a nice soft intro song over synths and snare drums.
2.Everyday Boy - Song builds up brilliantly with guitars, piano, string, drums and of course, Joan, in a "poignant" tale (what an overused word). I must say, there are 3 words in this song that disturb me.
3. Merchant of Love - Another gem, Joan's voice is soft and longing, the piano and guitar intertwine beautifully throughout.
4. Shapes and Sizes - Kronos Quartet join in on this great song with a creepy important message "obituary columns are filled with love"
5. Back on the Road - the only possible throwaway - but does feature great acoustic guitar playing by Joan.
6. Lost the Love - yeah baby! Joan throws down on some serious blues guitar licks. Takes her time! Love this song!
7. Songs - beautiful song with lots of strings!
8. Would you like to Dance - funky little midtempo song with triple echo vocals and perhaps a little too much falsetto but still great. Nice solo sax!
9. Recommend My Love - see number 8 above. Keyboards are very cool..
10. Beyond the Blue - a little bit country, a little bit gospel ...acoustic guitars remind me of 'down to zero' - Joan seems to be having fun. She gets 'honey from the bee..DUH'
11. I cant stop loving you - Definitely having fun here...funky horns and baseline, goofy lyrics and an occasional wacky noise (he he he), funny repetitive singing of 'i cant stop, i cant stop, i cant stop '...and what is that one off beat drum doing about 2/3rds of the way through the song?
12. Shape of a Pony - nice light song with a bit of an island feel to it (no, not reggae) - I totally get this song.
13. Trouble - You may not agree but I think this song is a masterpiece. Joan sings her heart out over sweeping strings, distant echoing drums, and simple soulful keyboards. I have to play this song twice when I get to it.
Well, I've said too much. Clearly I get Joan. Hopefully you will too.
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