Joan Armatrading - Sleight of Hand

Joan Armatrading – Sleight of Hand (1986)

Sleight of Hand is the tenth studio album from British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, released in May 1986 by A&M Records. The album was recorded at Bumpkin Studios, Armatrading's own studio, and marks her first time producing her own album.

The album features tracks such as Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart), Reach Out, and Jesse, and has a pop-rock and AOR style with elements of funk3. Despite its experimental production, the album reached #34 on the UK Albums Chart, #70 on the Billboard 200, and #39 in Australia, and was certified Silver in the UK for sales exceeding 60,000 copies.

Musically, Sleight of Hand stands out with Armatrading's distinctive guitar playing, but some critics felt that the production was too heavy and characterized by the 80s style3. Nevertheless, the album has received recognition for tracks like Russian Roulette and Jesse, which demonstrate Armatrading's ability to combine strong melodies with profound lyrics.

For collectors of used vinyl in Østfold – Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, Moss, Halden, Rygge, and Rakkestad – Sleight of Hand can be an exciting addition to their collection.