Another Electric Album by Joan, The Shouting Stage is Joan Armatrading being funky and features another super tight band. The writing and music on this July 1988 release can best be described as lyrical and has a distinctive dance music sound. In fact, it has a very catchy jazz/r&b flavor throughout. But, don't let that description be off-putting by any reading. This album is beautifully done. When you hear the tightness of the band Joan features on this album, you'll ask yourself why she didn't keep this group together permanently; that's just how well they gel together. Here's the lineup:
Bass: Pino Palladino
Keys: Bob Noble or Alan Clark
Drums: Mark Brzezicki or Jamie Lane or Dave Mattacks or Manu Katche'
Guitar: Phil Palmer (and Mark Knopfler on a couple of tracks)
Sax: Wesley Magoogan (Track 4: Stronger Love & Track 7: Straight Talk)
Like I said, this band is TIGHT! But, the glue holding them together on the instrumental side is the stand out bass playing of Pino Palladino; a master session bassist who has played with some of the top names in the music business, including Mark Knopfler; David Gilmour, Tears for Fears, Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Joan Armatrading, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan and Don Henley, just to name a few. When you listen to his playing on this album, you will know why...The recording and mixing on this album is superb.
1. Devil I Know - Funky & Jazzy(Joan's voice is strong and forceful in her lead, then alternately sweet in her backgrounding chorus)
2. Living For You - Catchy and whimsical with a nice trumpet lead in and solo by Guy Barker
3. Did I Make You Up - The acoustic guitar lick on this one is haunting in its melodic rhythm styling; Joan's singing is perfect for this type of music.
4. Stronger Love - A beautiful love ballad that will conjure up Carly Simon or Sade. Joan's singing is really highlighted in a Sade type arrangement. Amazing.
5. The Shouting Stage - Dreamy, soulful, sultry. If you've never heard Joan sing sultry, you've got to hear her. Beautiful. Anita Baker-esque...
6. Words - Catchy. This is highway driving music...
7. Straight Talk - Jazzy and upbeat with almost a reggae feel to the way it swings...
8. Watch Your Step - Another showcase of Joan's singing. Man, I love the way she's using her voice on this album!
9. All A Woman Needs - Hauntingly beautiful ballad. You really get to hear the deep resonance of Joan's voice on this one.
10. Dark Truths - The perfect ending...a melancholy ballad with, again, Joan singing these long, sustained phrasings...
I always have to try to restrain myself when reviewing Joan Armatrading's albums because I don't want to come off as too easy, but that's a hard thing to do. You want to say that this was an attempt by Joan to make a more commercial album, but it is so well done that saying that (even entertaining that thought) just doesn't hold water. What I have to say is that this album is just another demonstration of the mastery of every genre, and the tremendous virtuosity of Joan Armatrading. If it sounds mainstream it is because that is what she intended and it is obvious that she put her heart and soul into this album with the same level of hard work and artistry that she does in all of her music. It is beautifully conceived and executed! Outstandingly so.
To me, this is an integral piece of the Joan Armatrading catalogue. Not only that, it's a masterpiece of her vocal ability. A vocal masterpiece.
I love this record!!
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Top reviews from other countries
Stephen D. Mitchell
Joan Armatrading with a super tight jazz/r&b flavor- incredibly well done
Reviewed in the United States on 7 July 2011Verified Purchase
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Shouting Stage
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Leclercq Thierry
Une artiste époustouflante.
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Musical perfection
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David Matthews
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