DVD review: JOAN ARMATRADING – Me Myself I – World Tour Concert

429 Records [Release date 11.11.16]

Hardly the most ‘original’ of titles for Joan Armatrading’s globetrotting swansong, but befitting as, believe it or not, her ‘farewell’ tour which lasted almost two years, and saw her play 235 dates across four different continents was the first time she had gone truly ‘solo’ with just her guitars and keyboard.

And she’s in fine vocal fettle, reeling off classics like ‘All The Way From America’, ‘Love And Affection’, ‘Me Myself I’, ‘Down To Zero’, ‘Drop The Pilot’, ‘The Weakness In Me’ and ‘Willow’ across the course of a 90 minute set.

It’s an evening in the presence of an old friend and a remarkable achievement for a girl brought up from the age of seven amongst the inner city decay of Birmingham.  Her worldwide success would be almost impossible to replicate in the digital age.

But, as good as her performance is, and it is very good, there are a couple of gripes.  Firstly, Joan isn’t entirely ‘solo’ – on some numbers backing tapes are used, and it just seems a bit ‘weird’ when strings, harmonica and sax mysteriously emerge from the PA.  Her performance simply doesn’t need them.

And secondly, as I understand it, the tour included a decent amount of banter between numbers with the audience.  That appears to have been largely edited out – presumably to ‘marry’ the DVD audio and CD soundtracks.  It would have made for a more engaging watch, if that had been left in.

So in what isn’t an overly visual performance, the DVD doesn’t add much to the CD soundtrack, and you might be better looking elsewhere – for example, Live At The Royal Albert Hall DVD – if you want to enjoy Joan’s company from the comfort of your favourite armchair.  ***

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply