# Why is Joan Armatrading such a relative unknown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888 "2003-06-01T03:34:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/1 "2003-06-01T03:34:31Z")
I think she is a [kick-ass.](http://www.joanarmatrading.com/) rocker. And yet I never heard of this woman until a few months ago. Are there any Dopers who like her as much as I do? Take a listen to some of her tunes if you are unfamiliar with her work. [http://www.bmgmusic.com/catalog/product/cd\_detail.jhtml?productId=21070](http://www.bmgmusic.com/catalog/product/cd_detail.jhtml?productId=21070) My favorites on that list are “Drop the Pilot”, “Kind Words”, and “When I Get it Right”. She’s written a lot of stuff, though, and just about everything I’ve listened to I’ve liked. Am I the only one who is amazed that she isn’t more famous? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/2 "2003-06-01T04:15:17Z")
Are you aware that she was born in 1950 and put out her first album in 1974? I’ve heard of her quite a few times and used to have one of her albums. (I got rid of some of my albums last year.) And I’m no expert in obscure music. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/3 "2003-06-01T04:31:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you aware that she was born in 1950 and put out her first album in 1974? You mean 1972. Her bio is in the first link of the OP. I’m surprised that she’s considered obscure. She’s been in the industry for a long time, is currently on tour, and has worked with some well-knowns. And her music is good. Seems like she oughta have more name recognition. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/4 "2003-06-01T04:56:02Z")
Sorry, I didn’t even realize that the word “kick-ass” was a link. Um, you claim that _Whatever’s for Us_ came out in 1972, but the webpage in the link says that it came out in 1973, and it says that it came out in 1974 in _The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll_. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/5 "2003-06-01T12:57:06Z")
I wouldn’t say she’s obscure, but JA is flying under the radar of flavor-of-the-month pop fans. One problem Armatrading has had (at least in the market I grew up in, New Orleans) is that she gets ZERO radio airplay. Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell suffer the same affliction. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/6 "2003-06-01T13:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wendell Wagner \* > \*\*Are you aware that she was born in 1950 and put out her first album in 1974? \*\* Yeah, I remember listening to her back around '80 or so. I always thought of her as a precursor to Tracy Chapman. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/7 "2003-06-01T18:03:05Z")
Allmusic Guide gives her first album as 1972, which matches my memory, since I first heard her when I was in college. Tracy Chapman has a very similar voice, but it is a shame that Joan is so obscure. “I’m Lucky” is a terrific song. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/8 "2003-06-02T12:31:15Z")
I was listening to “Me, Myself, I” just this weekend. SO and I enjoy her music quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/9 "2003-06-02T13:01:23Z")
Joan was reasonably well known in the 1970’s, so I guess you’re just telling us how old you are ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/10 "2003-06-02T16:48:21Z")
The only song of hers I remember getting serious radio airplay was “Love and Affection.” I haven’t gotten around to it, but I can’t wait to hear her new album. ---
**Author:** ![Bjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@Bjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bjork)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/11 "2003-06-03T02:51:48Z")
Joan Armatrading is was very well known in the 70’s, ask your parents. Besides she is doing pretty well for someone who’s music career was pretty much ended considering she had the whole of “The weakness in me” on “Ten Things I Hate About You”. And yes, she is “kick ass”. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/12 "2003-06-03T11:43:05Z")
She hardly ever plays live, never mind touring, and is an awful interviewee (she’s dreadfully shy). THis doesn’t help in the present music industry as she simply won’t promote herself. Here in the UK she seems to have settled for a small but UTTERLY devoted audience (heavily comprised of lesbians) who obviously supply her with enough of an income to get by on. It’s a shame as i think here early stuff is brilliant. She’s no slouch as a guitarist either. ---
**Author:** ![skin2skin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@skin2skin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skin2skin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/13 "2003-06-03T12:10:06Z")
Who???:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/14 "2003-06-03T13:32:04Z")
I’d never heard about her until a couple years ago, but if she was popular in the '70s, I wouldn’t have known it (not being alive yet and all). I think she’s great… My favorite is “Eating the Bear.” _Some days, the bear will eat you. Some days, you eat the bear._ ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/15 "2003-06-03T13:39:47Z")
I’ve enjoyed her music since the 70s. She’s a very talented singer/songwriter. I think she’s “unheard” of because only stations like WXRT play her music. There aren’t many stations like them nationwide. Plus, I don’t think she’d sell out for fame and fortune. ---
**Author:** ![furr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@furr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furr)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/16 "2003-06-03T13:47:15Z")
i grew up listening to her, my father was a huge fan and his tastes heavily influenced me. thanks to him i spent my entire young life with friends whod go “what huh er who” whenever i mentioned fav music. “drop the pilot” still gets fairly decent radio play over here, but thats about the only one unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![waddamaroon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@waddamaroon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddamaroon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/17 "2003-06-04T22:28:28Z")
I remember seeing her on an episode of **Saturday Night Live** approx 1978 or '79. IIRC, Shelley Duval hosted that night. JA did **Down to Zero** and **Love and Affection**. I was blown away. I’ve been a big fan ever since, but when I try to introduce her to friends, they seem less than impressed. Oh well, that’s their loss. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/18 "2003-06-04T23:52:49Z")
If any of you are in NYC, she’s [playing in Prospect Park](http://www.brooklynx.org/celebrate/schedule.asp) on June 12. Free concert, too. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/19 "2003-06-05T02:09:06Z")
**vix** , thanks for the heads up. Here’s hoping that it won’t rain that day! Sorry you can’t come too, **you with the face**. That’s what you get for living in the Twilight Zone. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-joan-armatrading-such-a-relative-unknown/178888/20 "2003-06-05T08:27:18Z")
I found her in the 80s. If any of y’all haven’t heard “Me, Myself, I”, get yourself a copy, and crank it right up. She’s a bloody great artist.