Joan Armatrading – “Down to Zero” (1976) Review | Zero Left Me for Another One
Kronomyth 3.2: Zero, the gay blade.
The opening track from Joan’s eponymous third album, Down to Zero is one of those songs that goes straight to my heart like an arrow. The theme is a familiar one—a spurned lover finds comfort in the arms of a friend—but Joan Armatrading plumbs it to an unfathomable depth. When she sings “down to the ground,” I feel laid low. Although it didn’t chart, “Down to Zero” remains one of her most recognizable songs and belongs to a handful of songs that have broken my heart. The B side, Like Fire, sounds like the second coming of Joni Mitchell with its unusual guitar changes and jazz-inspired freedom. I’d tell you these are two of the strongest tracks on Joan Armatrading; then I would tell you to buy that album if you haven’t already.
The Product
A1. Down to Zero (Joan Armatrading) (3:39)
B1. Like Fire (Joan Armatrading) (5:11)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single on January 28, 1977 in the UK (A&M, AMS 7270), the US (A&M, 1898-S) and Australia (A&M, K-6671). Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1976 in the US (A&M, 1898) feat. A stereo and mono versions.
