Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)

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"Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)"
Single by Joan Armatrading
from the album Sleight of Hand
Released21 April 1986
StudioBumpkin Studios
GenrePop rock
Length3:46
LabelA&M
SongwriterJoan Armatrading
ProducerJoan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading singles chronology
"Love by You"
(1985) 		"Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)"
(1986) 		"Reach Out"
(1986)

"Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)" is a song written and recorded by the British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, released on 21 April 1986[1] as the lead single from her tenth studio album, Sleight of Hand (1986). The single entered the UK Singles Chart for just one week, peaking at No. 81. It also reached No. 37 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Background

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In a 1986 interview with the Dallas Times Herald, Armatrading said about the song, "[It's] a bit of observation – quite a bit of what happened to me – which addresses people who appear to be trustworthy or at least tell you they are, and aren't. They tell you they're looking out for you, and they turn out not to be very nice people at all."[2]

Critical reception

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Upon its release, Jim Whiteford of the Dundee Evening Telegraph wrote, "Set on a thumping bass line, this up-tempo throbber should restore Joan to the top twenty pretty quickly... it'll also bring her great success in clubland. A hot production, with her distinctive vocal work adding that extra touch of class."[3] Alan Poole of the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph stated, "Any Armatrading is good Armatrading, but this is the best – a lively, funky feel with Steve Lillywhite's mix ensuring a minimum of distractions from the lady's splendid voice."[4] A reviewer for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner described the song as being "Joan almost at her cynical and economic best". They added that it "deserves to be a hit, but probably won't be".[5] Chris Eary of the Reading Evening Post summarised, "A change of mood for the lady who exercises her tonsils over a rocky backing. Good stuff."[6] A reviewer for the Newark Advertiser noted that Armatrading "sounds butch on this ditty, achieved mainly because the backing is so raucous". They continued, "Heavy drums and a bull-frog-base predominate. Synthesizers are there, too, but their contributions are minimal in the mainstream. They do feature more strongly in the breaks."[7]

Simon Schofield, writing for the Yorkshire Evening Press, commented on the "familiar Armatrading musical ground" and noted that it "meanders quite sweetly but takes a long time to get not very far".[8] The Greenock Telegraph considered it to be a "predictable slice of paranoia from the archetypal unlucky-in-love lady", but noted the "rockier backbeat than usual".[9] David Alpin of the Halifax Evening Courier called it "enthusiastic but average".[10] The Lancashire Evening Telegraph felt it was "forgettable" and a "most disappointing release from an occasionaly brilliant artist", with a "poor" chart chance.[11] Roger Holland of Sounds was negative in his review, writing, "A voice shaped for slight perfections and quiet observations hurls itself to the dogs in some kamikaze plunge for chart action. A big booming sound, fake funk and a pointlessly brutal guitar-rending. Whatever happened to delicacy?"[12]

Track listing

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7-inch single (UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australasia, South Africa and Japan)[13][14][15][16][17][18]

  1. "Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)" – 3:50
  2. "Figure of Speech" – 3:28

12-inch single (UK, Europe, US and Australasia)[19][20][21][22]

  1. "Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)" (extended mix) – 6:45
  2. "Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart)" – 3:50
  3. "Figure of Speech" – 3:28

Personnel

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  • Joan Armatrading – lead vocals, electric guitar
  • Alex White – keyboards
  • Steve Greetham – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mel Gaynor – drums ("Kind Words")
  • Geoff Dugmore – drums ("Figure of Speech"), backing vocals
  • Ray Cooper – percussion
  • Jim Ross – backing vocals

Production

Other

Charts

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Chart Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[23] 99
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 81
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[25] 37

References

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  1. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 19 April 1986. p. 30. ISSN 0265-1548.
  2. ^ Kronke, David (30 August 1986). "Shy performer prefers to talk through her music". Anchorage Daily News. p. D9. Retrieved 27 September 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Whiteford, Jim (9 May 1986). "The Record! - Singles". Dundee Evening Telegraph. p. 15. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ Poole, Alan (26 April 1986). "Rock/Pop: Singles". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. p. 20. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 3 May 1986. p. 14. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Eary, Chris (10 May 1986). "Singles". Reading Evening Post. p. 21. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Leisure Extra". Newark Advertiser. 2 May 1986. p. 48. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ Schofield, Simon (14 May 1986). "Fast Forward: Records". Yorkshire Evening Press. p. 8. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Singles". Greenock Telegraph. 8 May 1986. p. 12. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Alpin, David (26 April 1986). "Pop: Singles". Halifax Evening Courier. p. 3. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ J.C. (10 May 1986). "Reviews: Singles". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Holland, Roger (24 May 1986). "Singles". Sounds. p. 17. ISSN 0144-5774.
  13. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (UK 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. AM 315.
  14. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (European 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. 390 096-7.
  15. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (US and Canada 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. AM-2837.
  16. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (Australasia 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. K 12.
  17. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (South African 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. AMRS 1509.
  18. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (Japanese 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. 7Y3009.
  19. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (UK 12-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. AMY 315.
  20. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (European 12-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. 392 096-1.
  21. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (US 12-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. SP-12184.
  22. ^ Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) (Australasian 12-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1986. X 14295.
  23. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 10. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  24. ^ "Joan Armatrading: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Joan Armatrading Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
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