THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

732-Joan Armatrading-Love and Affection.

1976-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1.42. Discerning listeners will realise that Joan Armatrading doesn’t actually possess a male baritone voice, in fact it belongs to the American actor Clark Peters.

Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, CBE, was born on December 9th, 1950, in Basseterre, Saint Christopher and Nevis, British Leeward Islands, in what was then a British colony. When she was three years old, her parents moved with their two eldest boys to Birmingham, in England, sending Joan to live with her grandmother on the Caribbean island of Antigua. In early 1958, at the age of seven, she joined her parents in Brookfields, which was then an area of Birmingham. In 1968 Joan joined a touring production of the stage musical ‘Hair,’ which was where she met the lyricist Pam Nestor, who would work with her on her debut Album ‘Whatever’s for Us,’ which was released in 1972. Joan Armatrading who has recorded in the genres of ‘Rock,’ ‘Pop,’ ‘Folk/Rock,’ and ‘Blues,’ was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire,’ (MBE) in the 2001 Birthday Honours, and ‘Commander of the Order of the British Empire,’ (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours, for services to music, charity, and equal rights. She has always been reluctant to discuss her personal life in interviews, but has said,’People who like my music have a legitimate interest in me, but I need to retain some privacy, not to be telling people what’s going on, or what I feel. When you go home, the reason it’s beautiful is because it’s personal to you, and the people you want to include in it.’ In 2011, Joan Armatrading entered into a civil partnership, but she does not talk publicly about being gay.

The discography of Joan Armatrading includes 20 studio Albums released between 1972-2021, and 57 singles issued between 1973-2018. there are also 13 official compilation Albums, four live Albums, and two box sets available. In the UK, where she has had far more success with her Albums, rather than her singles, 13 of her studio Albums have made the top 40, with her 1980 Album ‘Me Myself I,’ peaking the highest at Number 5. She has had three of her singles make the UK top 40, with ‘Love and Affection’ reaching Number 10 in 1976. In America on Billboard, two of her Albums have reached the top 40, with ‘Me Myself I’ charting the highest at Number 28, and in 2007, her 16th studio Album ‘Into the Blues,’ reached Number 1 on the American ‘Billboard Blues’ chart, remaining on the top spot for 12 consecutive weeks. Joan Armatrading’s only entry on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart remains ‘Drop the Pilot,’ which peaked at Number 78 in 1983.

‘Love and Affection’ was the first of two singles released from Joan Armatrading’s self titled third studio Album from July 1976, it was her fifth single release overall, and her first to become a hit. The song was written by Joan Armatrading, with the production being by Glyn Johns, who appears on this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list in the capacity of producer, engineer, or for mixing, on many occasions, (see also best songs 1048-933-662-265-77 and 70.) Also appearing on ‘Love and Affection’ were Jerry Donahue, (acoustic & electric guitars) Dave Mattacks, (drums) Jimmy Jewell, (alto saxophone) Dave Markee, (1943-2020) (bass) and Leroy Champaign, and Clarke Peters, both on backing vocals. Both Donahue, and Mattacks have both been members of the English Folk/Rock band ‘Fairport Convention, and at the time of writing Mattacks remains their drummer. Jimmy Jewel who plays the memorable alto sax on ‘Love and Affection,’ was a long term contributor to much of the work of the Scottish duo ‘Gallagher & Lyle,’ while Clarke Peters who provided his ‘baritone’ vocals on the track, would later move in to acting, and is best known for his roles as Lester Freamon, in the television series ‘The Wire,’ (2002–2008) and also as Albert Lambreaux, in the television series ‘Treme’ (2010–2013.) Clarke Peters can also be heard prominently on ‘Boogie Nights,’ which was a UK, and Billboard Number 2 hit for the British Funk/Disco group ‘Heatwave,’ in 1977.

Joan Armatrading has spoken about how ‘Love and Affection’ came to fruition while she was driving along the ‘Kings Road,’ in London.’I can show you the spot where I was when those lyrics came to me, It was somebody trying to persuade me to be with them.’ She has said that the opening line,’I’m not in love, but I’m open to persuasion,’ is about herself, as someone was trying to persuade her into a romantic relationship. Joan has also said,’It’s just deeply, deeply personal, and I can’t talk about it without talking about the person I wrote it for, which I never, ever do.’

‘Thank you, you took me dancing ‘cross the floor cheek to cheek. But with a lover I could really move, really move. I could really dance, really dance, really dance.’