Customer Reviews

The Shouting Stage

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I remember sitting under the stars at Red Rocks listening to Joan Armatrading and her stellar band, during the Shouting Stage tour. Sure we all sang along to 'Love and Affection' and joined in with 'Willow', but it was this collection that has endured in my memory. Maybe it was the romantic themes of love and loss, of a making a memory with my wife - still married after 18 years. Thankfully we never lost it at the shouting stage and I'm glad we found a stronger love that has endured. The playing by mark knopler and pino palladino as well as Joan's essential funkiness buoys this album up and even all these years later I continue to float away listening to this one. Highly recommended along with "Lovers Speak".

Yes, not what you would expect from Joan but wow it is good. What ever was happening in her life at the time comes right out in words and sound. Or, if nothing was happening then she gets the Best Actress Award for stepping right in the middle of Hurt and Pain. My first Joan experience so actually was disappointed in comparison with her other stuff, then realized over years of listening to The Shouting Stage that it is a GREAT album.

I was introduced to Joan from a newfound friend when this album first came out back in the late 80's. I remember him saying he was excited with anticipation with her latest release "Shouting Stage" I had no idea what his excitment was all about. Upon my first listen I couldn't make out Joan's voice. Her voice came across kind of masculine which made me pay attention to the lyrics of the songs for that reason. Shouting Stage was played and replayed while hanging out with my friend and while driving in the car so I was afforded a listen in different circumstances and moods.

At first listen I wasn't impressed. Then after many listens I was taken with the lyrics, music and her voice. I was hooked! I found myself thinking about and humming to the songs of Shouting Stage while going about my days.

The lead off song The Devil I know, Did I Make You Up, Stronger Love and Straight Talk are the highlights for me. Each song brings back memories of a time and place in my life.

I've only purchased 3 other cd's from Armatrading since Shouting Stage. I never got the same vibe from her other music. Nothing pulled me in after listen after listen. Only Shouting Stage has given me so much listening pleasure. So for me this is Joan's best cd.

It's timeless. I still very much enjoy Shouting Stage to this day. In other words it would be one of the cd's I would have with me if marooned on an island.

This is a very classy, underappreciated outing by Joan Armatrading. It features fine musicianship with saxaphone, trumpet, clarinet, etc., and is very well recorded. Great late night music.

Is this a good album for a fan? For the normal Joan Armatrading fan it is a hard album, but You have to listen to it. Take it deep in Your heart and it will grow! Especially the bass of Pino Palladino and Manu Katche at the drums are a revealation. The spare sound of the album and the dominance of the Joan's voice make lovers dream. It is not overproduced - the less the better. The album is full of love songs - all You need for a fullfilled evening with Your partner or alone with an aching heart. Try it out!

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!!

This is one of Joan Armatrading's better recordings, well worth a listen. In particular, note the stark simplicity of "Dark Truths." It was used to great effect in one of the later "Miami Vice" shows. She has the perfect voice for such a song.

This is a wonderful album and looking at the greatest hits album, I was very surprised that none of these tracks seem to be on it. If you are still able to obtain this album, get it and listen to it when you have some quiet time alone. It is haunting and beautiful. Shouting Stage is still a song that I cannot get out of my head.

Every track on this album is brilliant and 20 years following its release, it sounds as fresh and REAL as ever. I don't own all of Joan's albums but I know this has to be one of her best collections ever. I have never heard such honest lyrics - you can feel the joy, pain, sorrow - whatever emotions she exudes in each song are so truthful. I guess that's why I keep coming back to the Shouting Stage...it's an album everyone can relate to - regardless of your mood. The all-time best song has to be the title track. It's so emotionally moving, deeply transparent and vulnerable yet is also so rhythmic...I can't get enough of it.

The Shouting Stage is my first Joan A. experience. I have been listening to this on tape for over 10 years and I am now picking up the CD. This may be different for Joan?, but it's what got me hooked. Great album.