Broken English (album)

For other uses, see Broken English (disambiguation).

Broken English
Studio album by Marianne Faithfull
Released	October 1979 (1979-10)
Recorded	Matrix Studios, 1979
Genre	Rock, New Wave
Length	37:18
Label	Island
Producer	Mark Miller Mundy
Marianne Faithfull chronology
Faithless (1978) Broken English (1979) Dangerous Acquaintances (1981)

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?".

Style and themes

Faithfull's immediately preceding albums, Dreamin' My Dreams 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.

Release and aftermath

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	A−
Rolling Stone
Spin Alternative Record Guide	(9/10)
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

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 Hatfield 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 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

1. "Broken English" (Marianne Faithfull, Barry Reynolds, Joe Mavety, Steve York, Terry Stannard) – 4:35
2. "Witches' Song" (Faithfull, Reynolds, Mavety, York, Stannard) – 4:43
3. "Brain Drain" (Ben Brierley, Tim Hardin) – 4:13
4. "Guilt" (Reynolds) – 5:05
5. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" (Shel Silverstein) – 4:09
6. "What's the Hurry" (Joe Mavety) – 3:05
7. "Working Class Hero" (John Lennon) – 4:40
8. "Why d'Ya Do It?" (Heathcote Williams, 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.

Charts

Chart positions

Chart	Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart	27
Austrian Albums Chart	3
Canadian RPM Albums Chart	28
Dutch Mega Albums Chart	37
French SNEP Albums Chart	3
New Zealand Albums Chart	2
Swedish Albums Chart	4
UK Albums Chart	57
U.S. Billboard 200	82
West German Media Control Albums Chart	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Position
Austrian Albums Chart	11
French Albums Chart	6

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)	Platinum	70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	100,000^
Germany (BVMI)	Gold	250,000^
France (SNEP)	Gold	271,000
^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Personnel

• Marianne Faithfull – vocals
• Barry Reynolds – guitar
• Joe Mavety – guitar
• Steve York – bass
• Terry Stannard – drums
• Diane Birch
• Frankie Collins
• Jim Cuomo – saxophone
• Isabella Dulaney
• Guy Humphries – guitar
• Morris Pert – percussion
• Darryl Way – violin
• Steve Winwood – keyboards
• Bob Potter – engineer
• Ed Thacker – mixing engineer
• Dennis Morris – sleeve photography

References

• Marianne Faithfull with David Dalton (1994). Faithfull: An Autobiography