Saturday's post of Nancy Sinatra singing As Tears Go By and had me thinking of Marianne Faithfull and reaching for her definitive 1979 album Broken English on the Virgin label..
Previously somewhat notorious for her relationship with Mick Jagger and for being caught in a famous drugs raid on Keith Richards home.
For a number of years drugs took their toll but thankfully she came out the other end.
The years of alcohol and drug abuse had an effect on her singing voice albeit a positive effect in that her voice now sounds richer and more sultry.
Broken English was critically acclaimed but didn't really trouble the charts to any great extent.
The album contains her classic song The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.
She also does a version of John Lennon's Working Class Hero somewhat ironic given that she comes from aristocratic stock namely the Habsburg Dynasty.
Probably more famous for her lifestyle and associations she deserves some recognition for coming up with some pretty good songs over the years
Marianne Faithfull - The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
Marianne Faithfull - Working Class Hero
I love the Ballad of Lucy Jordan. She produced an album in the mid 80s called Strange Weather which is very good. I remember when I bought it in Round Sounds in Wishaw the guy behind the counter saying to me "really?" as he was used to me buying early house and hip-hop 12".
ReplyDeleteI love the Ballad of Lucy Jordan as well. It's a song written by Shel Silverstein and originally released by Dr. Hook and the Medecine Show - also worth to listen.
ReplyDeleteBroken English is a brilliant album - a return from the fog of drugs and time. Drew is right on the mark as well Strange Weather is a great album as well. I saw her twice at St. Anne's Church in Brooklyn in the 90's (I think - talk about the fog of time) and she was monumental on stage.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that I'm not to write that my partner detests this song
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid you're wrong there Jo
DeleteThe album cover was stunning too. Always made me stop in my tracks when I was thumbing through the stacks.
ReplyDeleteI walked past her in the King's Road around the time of the release of 'Broken English'. She oozed bohemian decadence.
ReplyDeleteHave you walked past her lately?
Deletehttp://www.spin.com/2013/08/marianne-faithfull-broken-back-cancels-shows/