The Weakness in Me

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"The Weakness in Me"
Joan Armatrading The Weakness in Me.jpeg
7-inch Netherlands vinyl single
Single by Joan Armatrading
from the album Walk Under Ladders
B-side "Crying"
ReleasedNovember 1981 (1981-11)
Length3:33
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Joan Armatrading
Producer(s) Steve Lillywhite

"The Weakness in Me" is a song by Joan Armatrading, from her seventh album Walk Under Ladders , released as a single in the US and Netherlands in November 1981. Despite not charting, the song has become one of Armatrading's better-known songs. Armatrading has said "it's about somebody who has an affair and they've fallen for the person that they're having the affair with, but they love the person they were with whilst they were having the affair." [1]

Contents

B-sides

The single featured as its B-side the original songs "Dollars" and "Crying", which remained unreleased on an album until the reissue of her 1981 album Walk Under Ladders in 2010. [2]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single in the US, Cash Box wrote, "In her distinctively deep and resounding voice, Armatrading creates a plaintive and poignant musical message in her own inimitable way. Producer Lillywhite surrounds the simple woodblock-piano accompaniment with a gripping bass-synthesizer sound." [3] Record World praised it as "one of Joan's strongest lyrical efforts", which "deals with temptation and what it means to have a fickle heart". They concluded, "Joan's pointed lyrics and stirring vocal colors are bonuses for any format." [4]

Track listings

7": A&M / 2381-S (US)

  1. "The Weakness in Me" – 3:32
  2. "Crying" – 3:28

7": A&M / AMS 9190 (Netherlands)

  1. "The Weakness in Me" – 3:32
  2. "Dollars" – 3:29

12": A&M / AMS 12.9191 (Netherlands)

  1. "The Weakness in Me" – 3:32
  2. "Dollars" – 3:29
  3. "Crying" – 3:28
  4. "Shine" – 3:49

Personnel

Cover versions

References

  1. Songfacts. "Joan Armatrading: Still Not A Protest Singer : Songwriter Interviews". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. "Joan Armatrading - The Weakness In Me". Discogs. 1981. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. "Reviews: Singles". Cash Box . Vol. 43, no. 24. 31 October 1981. p. 15. ISSN   0008-7289.
  4. "Single Picks". Record World . Vol. 18, no. 1788. 7 November 1981. p. 12. ISSN   0034-1622.
  5. "Joan Armatrading Albums". www.softshoe-slim.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. "the weakness in me | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.