Joan Armatrading is one of rock's more compelling female artists and she’s is a very courageous song writer who doesn't seem to be afraid to tackle about any subject. Producer Steve Lillywhite (U2) wraps Armatrading's voice in sophisticated synthesizers played by Larry Fast and punchy rock arrangements with talented studio musicians like Talking Head’s Adrian Belew on electric guitar, King Crimson’s Tony Levin on bass and Police drummer Stewart Copeland. ‘The Key’ maintained her artistic frequencies with a sound sharply drawn on post-punk, pop-rock voltage (“Call Me Names,” “The Key”) and soul-pop sourced from reggae and light blues influences (“Everybody Gotta Know,” “What Do Boys Dream”). ‘The Key’ remains an ageless masterwork.

1. (I Love It When You) Call Me Names
2. Foolish Pride
3. Drop the Pilot
4. The Key
5. Everybody Gotta Know
6. Tell Tale
7. What Do Boys Dream
8. The Game of Love
9. The Dealer
10. Bad Habits
11. I Love My Baby