Discovered a great song – “It Could Have Been Better“- from Joan Armatrading‘s debut album that was included on a 1973 sampler album of A&M artists (in partnership with Altec sound equipment) entitled, Odyssey:
LP includes “Part Of The Union” by The Strawbs
“It Could Have Been Better” is said to have been one of Elton John‘s favo(u)rite songs at that time, according to (please don’t hit me) the Wikipedia entry for Joan’s 1972 debut album, Whatever’s for Us. Surprisingly, this song did not enjoy single release — even as a B-side:
Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper of Elton’s John’s band are said to have played on this album, along with Gerry Conway.
Whatever’s for Us was the only album recorded by Joan Armatrading and Pam Nestor, who together wrote over 100 songs in the space of three years. Cube records released the album as a Joan Armatrading work and attributed little credit to Nestor — a situation that ultimately sewed discord between the two writers.
LP’s inner sleeve
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LINK to Power Ballads on Zero to 180
