UPDATE: I'm Open to Persuasion: Intervention Celebrates Joan Armatrading's Self-Titled Album With LP Reissue

UPDATE: I’m Open to Persuasion: Intervention Celebrates Joan Armatrading’s Self-Titled Album With LP Reissue

Intervention Records – the label well-known for its audiophile-quality releases – has announced its latest title: Joan Armatrading’s 1976 self-titled classic. It’s been highly anticipated since we first reported about it, and we’re thrilled that the time is finally right for its reappraisal.

Armatrading’s breakthrough album will be reissued on 180-gram vinyl on April 5.

With classic tracks like “Love and Affection” and “Down to Zero,” the Glyn Johns-produced Joan Armatrading was the British singer-songwriter’s breakout album, and it introduced American audiences to her singular talents. Soulful vocals, shimmering guitar work, and faultless songwriting are on full display on the celebrated recording, which first arrived on A&M Records in the autumn of 1976. Forty-plus years after its original release, it still stands as a high-water mark of the singer-songwriter genre, as much on its musical merits as on its production value.

Intervention will now give the album the treatment it deserves with a 180-gram, RTI-pressed, ultra-quiet LP reissue, expertly remastered by Kevin Gray. As usual, the label has used the best-available source: in this case, an analog 1/2″ safety copy of the original stereo master tape. Intervention maintains that the album will now sound even more “rich, resonant, and dynamic.” And with restored art overseen by Tom Vadakan and a gorgeous, Stoughton-printed tip-on gatefold sleeve, what’s not to love?

Joan Armatrading is now available for pre-order directly from the Intervention Records website. We’ll update this post with Amazon pre-order links as soon as they become available!

Joan Armatrading, Joan Armatrading (A&M LP SP 4588, 1976 – reissued Intervention Records IR-029, 2020) (Intervention Records)

Down to Zero
Help Yourself
Water with the Wine
Love and Affection
Save Me
Join the Boys
People
Somebody Who Loves You
Like Fire
Tall in the Saddle

Sam Stone

Sam Stone has been obsessed with catalog music ever since his folks gave him a Contours best-of collection for his fourth birthday. He quickly began to learn all he could about rock and roll history and beyond, a passion that continues to this day.

Sam followed his love for music to the classroom, earning a B.A. from Towson University in Electronic Media and Film, concentrating on radio and audio production, as well as an M.A. in Audio Arts from Syracuse University. He has put his knowledge and skills to work at prominent reissue labels and is excited to bring his perspectives on catalog music to a broader audience. When he’s not writing for The Second Disc, Sam can be found researching about music, talking about Joni Mitchell’s career, and adding another box set to his Amazon wish list.

4 thoughts on “UPDATE: I’m Open to Persuasion: Intervention Celebrates Joan Armatrading’s Self-Titled Album With LP Reissue”

Mark H.
February 17, 2020 at 3:37 pm

Is the SACD to be released at the same time? Still listed as “pre-order” on Intervention’s site.

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1. Sam Stone
  February 17, 2020 at 3:52 pm
  
  Hi Mark, my understanding is that the Joan Armatrading title will be vinyl-only. If that changes, I’ll be sure to let everyone know!
  
  Reply
  1. RecordSteve
    February 17, 2020 at 4:34 pm
    
    You’re a good Catalog Man=keep up the great music research amigo!
    
    Reply
Stanley Saint
February 18, 2020 at 1:32 am

I never understood reissuing of albums like this. Don’t get me wrong, Kevin Gray is awesome, but the original US-pressing is widely available in near mint conditon for very cheap prices, several places on the internet.

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