Broken English
Encyclopedia
Broken English is a 1979 album by singer Marianne Faithfull
. It is often cited as Faithfull's definitive recording; Faithfull herself describes it in her autobiography as "the masterpiece". The album contains some of her most famous songs, including the title track and "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
", and was notable for the controversy surrounding the final number "Why D'Ya Do It?".
and Faithless (which in fact shared some tracks), had been in a relatively gentle folk
or country and western style. Broken English was a radical departure, featuring a contemporary fusion of rock
, punk
, New Wave
and dance
, with liberal use of synthesizers. After years of drug abuse, Faithfull's voice was in a lower register, far raspier, and had a more world-weary quality than in the past that matched the often raw emotions expressed in the newer songs.
The album's title track took inspiration from terrorist figures of the time, particularly Ulrike Meinhof
of the Baader-Meinhof group. "Guilt" was informed by the Catholic upbringing of the singer and her composer Barry Reynolds. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
", originally performed by Dr Hook, was a melancholy tale of middle class housewife's disillusionment; Faithfull's version became something of an anthem and was used on the soundtracks to the films Montenegro
(1981) and Thelma & Louise (1991). "What’s the Hurry?" was described by Faithfull as reflecting the everyday desperation of the habitual drug user. Her cover of John Lennon
’s "Working Class Hero
", recorded as a tribute to her own heroes such as Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, David Bowie
and Iggy Pop
, and Lennon himself, was widely praised.
The last track, the six-and-a-half-minute "Why'd Ya Do It?", was a caustic, graphic rant of a woman reacting to her lover's infidelity. The lyrics began with the man's point of view, relating the bitter tirade of his jilted lover. It was set to a grinding tune inspired by Jimi Hendrix
’s recording of Bob Dylan
’s "All Along the Watchtower
". Poet and writer Heathcote Williams
had originally conceived the lyrics as a piece for Tina Turner
to record, but Faithfull succeeded in convincing him that Turner would never record such a number. Its plethora of four-letter words and explicit references to oral sex
caused controversy and led to a ban in Australia. Local pressings had grooves of smooth vinyl in place of the track and a 'bonus' 7" single of the extended version of "Broken English" as compensation. The ban did not extend to import copies, and the song was also played unedited on the Government-funded Double Jay
radio station. It wasn't until 1988 when Island re-released the album in Australia and "Why d'Ya Do It?" was finally included.
for the soundtrack of the film The Craft
.
An extended remix
of the title track (5:46) was released on 12" vinyl in 1979 and included as a bonus 7" with the Australian pressing. It remains unreleased on CD. An unofficial remix produced by Baron von Luxxury
led to the song being re-added to numerous DJ playlists, including BBC Radio 1, in early 2008.
The album is rated R13 in New Zealand and it contains offensive language, so in North America it has a Parental Advisory
sticker.
In October of 2010, a cover of the song "Broken English" was released on the CD titled "Diplomatic Dream" by Yitka Karlik of Hamilton ON Canada.
The recording features: Yitka Karlik (vocals,guitar), Ray Poirier (bass guitar), Joe Mavety (electric guitar), Steve Negus (drums). Recorded/engineered by Danny Z. at Blue Tilt Studio Hamilton ON Canada. Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray at Acoustech studio Camarillo CA U.S.A.
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
. It is often cited as Faithfull's definitive recording; Faithfull herself describes it in her autobiography as "the masterpiece". The album contains some of her most famous songs, including the title track and "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is a song by American poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein. It was originally recorded by Dr Hook and covered by the English singer Marianne Faithfull. Taken from her 1979 album Broken English, it was released as a single in November 1979. It is featured on the...
", and was notable for the controversy surrounding the final number "Why D'Ya Do It?".
Style and themes
Faithfull's immediately preceding albums, Dreamin' My DreamsDreamin' My Dreams (Marianne Faithfull album)
Dreamin' My Dreams is a 1976 album by singer Marianne Faithfull. It is Faithfull's first and only record of country music. The album was re-released two years later in 1978 as Faithless. The main difference between the albums is the album art, and some tracks are rearranged...
and Faithless (which in fact shared some tracks), had been in a relatively gentle folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
or country and western style. Broken English was a radical departure, featuring a contemporary fusion of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, with liberal use of synthesizers. After years of drug abuse, Faithfull's voice was in a lower register, far raspier, and had a more world-weary quality than in the past that matched the often raw emotions expressed in the newer songs.
The album's title track took inspiration from terrorist figures of the time, particularly Ulrike Meinhof
Ulrike Meinhof
Ulrike Marie Meinhof was a German left-wing militant. She co-founded the Red Army Faction in 1970 after having previously worked as a journalist for the monthly left-wing magazine Konkret. She was arrested in 1972, and eventually charged with numerous murders and the formation of a criminal...
of the Baader-Meinhof group. "Guilt" was informed by the Catholic upbringing of the singer and her composer Barry Reynolds. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is a song by American poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein. It was originally recorded by Dr Hook and covered by the English singer Marianne Faithfull. Taken from her 1979 album Broken English, it was released as a single in November 1979. It is featured on the...
", originally performed by Dr Hook, was a melancholy tale of middle class housewife's disillusionment; Faithfull's version became something of an anthem and was used on the soundtracks to the films Montenegro
Montenegro (film)
Montenegro also known as Montenegro - Or Pigs and Pearls is a Swedish black comedy film by Yugoslav director Dušan Makavejev.-Plot:Marianne Faithfull sings "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" over the opening credit sequence....
(1981) and Thelma & Louise (1991). "What’s the Hurry?" was described by Faithfull as reflecting the everyday desperation of the habitual drug user. Her cover of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
’s "Working Class Hero
Working Class Hero
"Working Class Hero" is a song from John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.-Theme:The song is a take on the class split of the 1940s and 1950s, and of the 1960s in which he was famous. The song appears to tell the story of someone growing up in the working...
", recorded as a tribute to her own heroes such as Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, and Lennon himself, was widely praised.
The last track, the six-and-a-half-minute "Why'd Ya Do It?", was a caustic, graphic rant of a woman reacting to her lover's infidelity. The lyrics began with the man's point of view, relating the bitter tirade of his jilted lover. It was set to a grinding tune inspired by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
’s recording of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
’s "All Along the Watchtower
All Along the Watchtower
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
". Poet and writer Heathcote Williams
Heathcote Williams
Heathcote Williams is an English poet, actor and award-winning playwright. He is also an intermittent painter, sculptor and long-time conjuror...
had originally conceived the lyrics as a piece for Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
to record, but Faithfull succeeded in convincing him that Turner would never record such a number. Its plethora of four-letter words and explicit references to oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
caused controversy and led to a ban in Australia. Local pressings had grooves of smooth vinyl in place of the track and a 'bonus' 7" single of the extended version of "Broken English" as compensation. The ban did not extend to import copies, and the song was also played unedited on the Government-funded Double Jay
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
radio station. It wasn't until 1988 when Island re-released the album in Australia and "Why d'Ya Do It?" was finally included.
Release and aftermath
Broken English made #57 in the UK album charts and #82 in the US. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" was released as a single simultaneously with the LP in October 1979. The title track was issued as a single in January 1980. Faithfull included five tracks from the album on her 1990 live recording Blazing Away: "Broken English", "Guilt", "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan", "Working Class Hero" and "Why D'Ya Do It?". In 1996, "Witches' Song" was covered by Juliana HatfieldJuliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield , is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter and author from the Boston area, formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies and Some Girls. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
for the soundtrack of the film The Craft
The Craft (film)
The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain...
.
An extended remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the title track (5:46) was released on 12" vinyl in 1979 and included as a bonus 7" with the Australian pressing. It remains unreleased on CD. An unofficial remix produced by Baron von Luxxury
Baron von Luxxury
Baron von Luxxury is a producer, songwriter, DJ and lead singer of the band Luxxury. Some of his best-known songs are "Drunk" which was used in commercials for Pontiac, "Sweet and Vicious" which was used on The Hills and "I Know There's Something Going On", a cover of a song by Frida from ABBA...
led to the song being re-added to numerous DJ playlists, including BBC Radio 1, in early 2008.
The album is rated R13 in New Zealand and it contains offensive language, so in North America it has a Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
sticker.
In October of 2010, a cover of the song "Broken English" was released on the CD titled "Diplomatic Dream" by Yitka Karlik of Hamilton ON Canada.
The recording features: Yitka Karlik (vocals,guitar), Ray Poirier (bass guitar), Joe Mavety (electric guitar), Steve Negus (drums). Recorded/engineered by Danny Z. at Blue Tilt Studio Hamilton ON Canada. Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray at Acoustech studio Camarillo CA U.S.A.
Track listing
- "Broken English" (Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
, Barry Reynolds, Joe Mavety, Steve York, Terry Stannard) – 4:35 - "Witches' Song" (Faithfull, Reynolds, Mavety, York, Stannard) – 4:43
- "Brain Drain" (Ben Brierley, Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) – 4:13 - "Guilt" (Reynolds) – 5:05
- "The Ballad of Lucy JordanThe Ballad of Lucy Jordan"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is a song by American poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein. It was originally recorded by Dr Hook and covered by the English singer Marianne Faithfull. Taken from her 1979 album Broken English, it was released as a single in November 1979. It is featured on the...
" (Shel SilversteinShel SilversteinSheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
) – 4:09 - "What's the Hurry" (Joe Mavety) – 3:05
- "Working Class HeroWorking Class Hero"Working Class Hero" is a song from John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.-Theme:The song is a take on the class split of the 1940s and 1950s, and of the 1960s in which he was famous. The song appears to tell the story of someone growing up in the working...
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) – 4:40 - "Why d'Ya Do It?" (Heathcote WilliamsHeathcote WilliamsHeathcote Williams is an English poet, actor and award-winning playwright. He is also an intermittent painter, sculptor and long-time conjuror...
, Reynolds, Mavety, York, Stannard, Faithfull) – 6:45- Original Australian pressings omitted this track for a bonus 7" of the extended version of "Broken English". However, "Why d'Ya Do It?" was included on the Australian re-issue of the album, which was re-released on Island in 1988.
Personnel
- Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
– vocals - Barry Reynolds – guitar
- Joe Mavety – guitar
- Steve York – bass
- Terry Stannard – drums
- Diane Birch
- Frankie CollinsFrank Collins (composer-singer)Frank Collins is a British composer, singer and arranger who was a leading light with the bands The Excels, Arrival, and Kokomo...
- Jim Cuomo – saxophone
- Isabella Dulaney
- Guy Humphries – guitar
- Morris PertMorris PertMorris David Brough Pert was a Scottish composer, drummer/percussionist, and pianist who composed in the fields of both contemporary classical and jazz-rock music...
– percussion - Darryl WayDarryl WayDarryl Way is a British rock and classical musician who was a founding member of Curved Air and co-writer of their only hit single, "Back Street Luv". He is best known as a violinist although he also played keyboards.He began his musical training at Dartington College of Arts, and later studied at...
– violin - Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
– keyboards - Bob Potter – engineer
- Ed Thacker – mixing engineer
- Dennis MorrisDennis MorrisDennis Morris is a British photographer best known for his images of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols.In 1979, he created the logo for the band Public Image Limited and the legendary and innovative Metal Box album packaging....
– sleeve photography