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"Broken English" stands as the remarkable seventh studio album by the esteemed English songstress Marianne Faithfull, hitting the airwaves on November 2, 1979, courtesy of Island Records. This album marked a triumphant return for Faithfull after grappling with years of drug addiction, homelessness, and battling anorexia. Widely hailed as her "definitive recording," Faithfull herself lauded it as her "masterpiece."

 

Following her tumultuous relationship with Mick Jagger and the loss of custody of her son in 1970, Faithfull's career plummeted as she spiraled into heroin addiction, finding herself destitute on the streets of London. Severe laryngitis and substance abuse during this dark period left Faithfull's once-soaring voice permanently altered, imbued with a raw, cracked texture and a lower pitch. Her attempted comeback in 1976 with "Dreamin' My Dreams" yielded only modest success. However, her collaboration with musician Barry Reynolds breathed new life into her career, resulting in the creation of standout tracks like "Broken English" and "Why D'Ya Do It?". These demos caught the attention of Chris Blackwell, who promptly signed Faithfull to Island Records.

 

"Broken English" garnered widespread critical acclaim, ascending to number 82 on the Billboard 200, marking Faithfull's first album to chart in the United States since "Go Away from My World" in 1965, and earning her a coveted nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. The album also achieved considerable success globally, reaching number 57 in the United Kingdom and cracking the top five in Germany, France, and New Zealand. With platinum certifications in Germany and France, "Broken English" sold over one million copies worldwide. The album spawned two singles, with "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" peaking at number 48 on the UK Singles Chart. Notably, it found a place on NME magazine's esteemed list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and earned a spot in the revered book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."

Marianne Faithfull - Broken English

SKU: 602435863214
£25.00Price
  • 1 Broken English

    2 Witches' Song

    3 Brain Drain

    4 Guilt

    5 The Ballad of Lucy Jordan

    6 What's The Hurry

    7 Working Class Hero

    8 Why'd Ya Do It

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    Next Day: [Royal Mail Special Delivery, next day delivery.] 

Novel Sounds is an independent record shop based in Maldon, Essex. We sell new and secondhand vinyl, turntables, band t-shirts and prints. Order online or in store.

 
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