Marianne Faithfull - Broken English (1979)
Tracklist front / back album art covers
🎤 Marianne Faithfull - Broken English (1979)
Released in 1979, Broken English marked Marianne Faithfull’s dramatic reinvention from a 1960s folk chanteuse into a dark, edgy post-punk and new wave icon. The album blends rock, punk, and electronic influences, reflecting her raw vocal style—raspy, haunting, and deeply expressive. Its themes explore love, addiction, politics, and personal turmoil, making it one of Faithfull’s most daring and critically acclaimed works.
🎶 Tracklist
- "Broken English"
- "Guilt"
- "Times Square"
- "What’s the Hurry"
- "Angel"
- "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
- "Intrigue"
- "Witches’ Song"
🎤 Album Credits
- Marianne Faithfull – vocals
- Barry Reynolds – guitar
- Steve York – bass
- Paul Buckmaster – string arrangements
- Producers: Mark Miller Mundy, Marianne Faithfull
- Recording Studios: Matrix Studios, London, UK
📝 Fun Facts
- Broken English marked Faithfull’s comeback after years of personal and health struggles, including addiction.
- The title track, “Broken English,” is a politically charged piece inspired by terrorism in Europe during the late 1970s.
- Faithfull’s raspy voice, resulting from years of smoking and lifestyle choices, became a defining element of her post-comeback sound.
📚 Trivia
- The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching top 20 charts in the UK and Europe.
- “The Ballad of the Broken English” style on the album influenced many alternative and post-punk artists in the 1980s.
- The album features innovative production for its time, using synthesizers and sparse, atmospheric arrangements to complement Faithfull’s haunting vocals.
💡 Did You Know?
- Broken English is often considered Marianne Faithfull’s definitive album, transforming her image from folk ingénue to dark, avant-garde rock icon.
- Faithfull co-wrote several tracks, including the title song, drawing inspiration from political unrest and personal struggles.
- Songs like “Times Square” and “Guilt” show her ability to merge deeply personal themes with a modern, edgy sound that resonated with late-70s audiences.
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