What’s Inside is the fourteenth studio album by British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. The album was written, arranged and produced by Armatrading, co-produced by David Tickle and recorded at the A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood. The strings were recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, with the Kronos Quartet’s contribution recorded at The Plant Recording Studios, Sausalito, California and The Memphis Horns recorded at Kiva Recording Studio, Memphis, Tennessee. The album was released in 1995 by RCA and was Armatrading’s only album for the label. She had left A&M in 1992 after an eighteen-year association with the company.
Armatrading used a string orchestra on several tracks. She used the London Metropolitan Orchestra, along with the Kronos Quartet on one track and The Memphis Horns on two songs. Because of this, the album had several arrangers (see Personnel list) including Armatrading herself.
B. J. Cole returned to play slide guitar, the first time he had played on an Armatrading album since 1976, when he played on the track “Down to Zero” from the eponymous Joan Armatrading album; and Manu Katché once more returned to play drums. After a twelve-year gap, Tony Levin reprised his role as one of the album’s bass guitarists – he had previously played on Walk Under Ladders in 1981 and The Key in 1983. Other than those, Armatrading and her co-producer David Tickle worked with a new set of musicians for the album, including some very experienced artists guesting on several tracks, such as Darryl Jones, who had worked with Miles Davis and Eric Clapton, among others, and who went on to join the Rolling Stones; Greg Phillinganes, a keyboardist who had worked with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin and many others, and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Tracks 1 In Your Eyes (Caroline Dale) 02:42 2 Everyday Boy (Joan Armatrading) 04:37 3 Merchant Of Love (Joan Armatrading) 04:49 4 Shapes And Sizes (Joan Armatrading) 03:15 5 Back On The Road (Joan Armatrading) 02:43 6 Lost The Love (Joan Armatrading) 03:43 7 Songs (Joan Armatrading) 03:49 8 Would You Like To Dance (Joan Armatrading) 04:01 9 Recommend My Love (Joan Armatrading) 04:30 10 Beyond The Blue (Joan Armatrading) 03:52 11 Can’t Stop Loving You (Joan Armatrading) 03:25 12 Shape Of A Pony (Joan Armatrading) 04:42 13 Trouble (Joan Armatrading) 04:06Biography Joan Armatrading
Musicians
1 In Your Eyes Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Vocals - Joan Armatrading
2 Everyday Boy Bass - Darryl Jones Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Vocals - Joan Armatrading
3 Merchant Of Love Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Percussion - Alex Acuna Background Vocals - K La Background Vocals - Ray Williams Background Vocals - Terry Evans Background Vocals - Willie Greene Vocals - Joan Armatrading
4 Shapes And Sizes Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Acoustic Guitar - Hojah Farah Keyboards - Todd Cochran Percussion - Alex Acuna Vocals - Joan Armatrading
5 Back On The Road Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Vocals - Joan Armatrading
6 Lost The Love Bass - Darryl Jones Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Todd Cochran Percussion - Alex Acuna Background Vocals - K La Background Vocals - Ray Williams Background Vocals - Terry Evans Background Vocals - Willie Greene Vocals - Joan Armatrading
7 Songs Bass - Tony Levin Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Drums - Manu Katche Percussion - Alex Acuna Vocals - Joan Armatrading
8 Would You Like To Dance Bass - Darryl Jones Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Peter Robinson Horns - The Memphis Horns - Background Vocals - K La Background Vocals - Ray Williams Background Vocals - Terry Evans Background Vocals - Willie Greene Vocals - Joan Armatrading
9 Recommend My Love Bass - Darryl Jones Drums - Manu Katche E-Bow - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Background Vocals - K La Background Vocals - Ray Williams Background Vocals - Terry Evans Background Vocals - Willie Greene Vocals - Joan Armatrading
10 Beyond The Blue Bass - Darryl Jones Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - BJ Cole Acoustic Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Percussion - Alex Acuna Vocals - Joan Armatrading
11 Can’t Stop Loving You Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Horns - The Memphis Horns Percussion - Alex Acuna Background Vocals - K La Background Vocals - Ray Williams Background Vocals - Terry Evans Background Vocals - Willie Greene Vocals - Joan Armatrading
12 Shape Of A Pony Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Guitar - Joan Armatrading Keyboards - Benmont Tench Penny Whistle - Boz Burrell Percussion - Alex Acuna Vocals - Joan Armatrading
13 Trouble Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Manu Katche Keyboards - Todd Cochran Percussion - Alex Acuna Vocals - Joan Armatrading
Other Musicians
Strings – The London Metropolitan Orchestra
Liner Notes
Producer – David Tickle, Joan Armatrading Arranged By – Joan Armatrading Arranged By (Strings) – Caroline Dale (Track 1) Arranged By (Strings) – Joan Armatrading (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) Arranged By (Strings) – Dana Brayton (Track 4) Engineer – Wolfgang Amadeus Engineer (Second, Horns) – Malcolm Springer Engineer (Second, Quartet) – Tom Luekens Engineer (Second, Strings) – Simon Rhodes - Engineer (Second) – Chad Munsey Engineer (Additional) – Graham Dickson, Mike Ging (Track 2) Mixed By – David Tickle (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) Mixed By – Shelly Yakus (Track 2) Orchestrated By – Caroline Dale Recorded By – David Tickle Design, Illustration – Sherri Maxwell Recorded At A&M Studios Recorded At Abbey Road Studios Recorded At Record Plant, Sausalito Recorded At Kiva Recording Studio Phonographic Copyright BMG Music Copyright BMG Music
