How to classify Joan Armatrading? In the purest sense, this British siren (a Caribbean transplant) is a singer and songwriter - a post-folkie troubadour with a wickedly eclectic bent. Early on, her style showed the clear influence of sources as diverse as the modern balladry of Joni Mitchell, the moody melodicism of Billie Holiday, and the fragile intensity of Sandy Denny. As she progressed, what made Armatrading unique was her ability to convincingly integrate funk, rock, and reggae into her affecting folk ballads - and that's no mean feat.

In the end, and against my better instincts, I've labeled Joan Armatrading as "alternative," lumping her in with Ethyl Meatplow and New Order. Why? Because her some of her best work - and, I admit, the songs that initially drew me to her - showed the clear influence of punk and new wave. More broadly, Armatrading, in turn, profoundly influenced the entire generation of female singer/songwriters at the vanguard of the post-Nirvana alternative explosion - singers like Jewel, Paula Cole, Sarah McLachlan, and Tori Amos who, frankly, aren't worthy of tuning Armatrading's guitar. Nevertheless, Joan's throaty voice, confessional lyrics, and jaw-dropping melodies rightfully captured the collective imagination of a generation of not-so-riot grrls. But, but don't hold that against her....

Joan Armatrading debuted somewhat inauspiciously in 1973 with Whatever's For Us, a quiet collection of songs cowritten with Pam Nester and produced by longtime Elton John associate Gus Dudgeon. Rather, it was her third, self-titled album that established the high-water mark of her earlier, softer material. Helmed by renowned rock producer Glyn Johns, Joan Armatrading (1976) begins to engender (if not embrace) the broad pop influences that would soon transform Armatrading's music. Centered around what is perhaps her best-known song in America, the amazing ballad "Love & Affection" (a Top 10 hit in the UK), Joan Armatrading blazed a trail both commercially and artistically. But, it barely hinted at the brazen rock the singer would soon tackle.

Over the next few years, Armatrading developed in leaps and bounds, establishing herself as a major force in modern rock - critically acclaimed in the United States and commercially successful in Great Britain. Beginning somewhat tentatively with Show Some Emotion (1977), Armatrading began to progressively shed the trappings of folk music. By Me Myself I (1980), Armatrading was a capable of placing full-fledged rock 'n' roll (such as the title track) alongside gorgeous balladry like "All the Way from America." Produced by Richard Gottehrer (Blondie, Go-Go's) and featuring a stellar cast of New York rockers (including members of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band), Me Myself I represents the apex (if not culmination) of Armatrading's musical evolution.

Still, some marvelous moments lay ahead. Highlights of Walk Under Ladders (1981) include the reggae-tinged rocker "I'm Lucky" and the devastating confessional "The Weakness In Me," while "Drop The Pilot" and the wicked "I Love It When You Call Me Names" stand out on The Key (1983), a heavily synthesized, genuinely aggressive album. Clearly, however, Joan Armatrading had reached an impasse, with her genre-bending sonic experiments yielding less impressive results on each succeeding album. With new wave music in full bloom, providing what would seem to be a natural audience for her edgy oeuvre, she entered the long twilight of her career.

Nevertheless, Joan Armatrading had already built a substantial body of work, releasing seven impressive LP's and an extraordinary EP (How Cruel, 1979) between 1976 and 1983. She capped this off with a terrific, ersatz "hits" collection, Track Record, that remains the most compelling introduction to her music - especially for rock fans. In truth, only one song from Track Record even cracked the American Top 100 ("Drop The Pilot" limped to a lowly #78), though several cuts were major hits in England - including the non-LP single "Heaven," produced by U2 collaborator Steve Lillywhite. Tellingly, Armatrading's albums performed better than her singles in the States, though none equaled her routine Top 10 performance in England.

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