Tracks:
Broken English
Witches' Song
Brain Drain
Guilt
The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan
What's The Hurry?
Working Class Hero
Why'd Ya Do It
Witches' Song
Brain Drain
Guilt
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
What's the Hurry
Working Class Hero
Why D'ya Do It
Performer Notes:
- Personnel: Marianne Faithfull (vocals); Diane Birch, Frankie Collins, Jim Cuomo, Guy Humphries, Joe Mavety, Maurice Pert, Barry Reynalds, Terry Stannard, Darryl Way, Steve Winwood, Steve York.
- Recorded in 1979.
- Audio Mixer: Ed Thacker.
- Audio Remasterer: Jared Hawkes.
- Liner Note Author: Patrick Humphries.
- Recording information: Matrix Studios.
- Photographer: Dennis Morris .
- Widely considered Marianne Faithfull's best album, BROKEN ENGLISH has a hazy, bleary-eyed expressiveness that matches atmosphere with emotional impact. Throughout the 1960s and '70s Faithfull was generally considered a shooting star in the pop firmament, a passing flavor not to be taken seriously by serious music listeners. But 1979's BROKEN ENGLISH changed that with its stylistic curveballs and dark, disconcerting vibe.
- The album is steeped in the synthesizer sounds typical of the era; but where this tends to date most releases from the time, it works beautifully here. The pulsing surge of the synths balances nicely with Faithfull's sluggish, tattered-sounding voice (the title track is a perfect example). Other album highlights include the bluesy, off-kilter "Brain Drain," and her slicing cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero." While compilations will provide a comprehensive look at her work, BROKEN ENGLISH is the Faithfull studio album to get.
Professional Reviews: Rolling Stone (10/31/02, p.136) - Ranked # 30 in Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums"
Alternative Press (7/01, p.96) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Women's Rock Albums" - "...Her best album to date, backed by electro/new-wave sounds..."
Producer: Mark Miller Mundy
Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Guest Artist: Steve Winwood; Darryl Way; Maurice Pert
Release Date: 28 January, 2013
Label: Universal Uk
Dimensions: 12.6 x 1 x 14.3 centimeters (0.04 kg)