Richard BodinA Triumphant Return After Years of Hardship
In 1979, Marianne Faithfull made a powerful comeback with her most iconic album, Broken English. It was her first major release since Love in a Mist (1967), following a tumultuous decade. The 1970s had been unkind to her—an understatement, to say the least. She had endured unimaginable hardship. Shortly after splitting with Mick Jagger, she lost custody of her son, attempted suicide, and ultimately ended up living on the streets, struggling with heroin and cocaine addiction.
During this period, she recorded a country album, Dreamin’ My Dreams, which was later re-released as Faithless with a few additional tracks. Surprisingly, this release managed to reach the top of the charts in Ireland.
Determined to regain control of her life and career, Faithfull decided to go on tour, find herself again, and write new material. In an interview with Glenn O’Brien following the release of Broken English, she explained:
“First of all, I needed some money, so I said I had a band. I went out and got some gigs, and then I got the band, then we did the gigs, then we wrote some songs, then we did the record deal, and then we made the record.”
The band she assembled included guitarists Barry Reynolds and Joe Mavety, bassist Steve York, and drummer Terry Stannard.
A New Sound for a New Era
By this stage, years of drug and cigarette abuse, compounded by a severe bout of laryngitis, had left her voice deeper and far raspier. However, this change added new depth and emotional range to her singing. Producer Mark Miller Mundy invited Steve Winwood to the recording sessions to contribute synthesizer parts. While Faithfull initially leaned toward a rock-oriented sound, the combination of her altered voice and the synth elements gave the album a distinct new-wave, gothic vibe.
Broken English: A Powerful Political Statement
The album’s title track, Broken English, addresses terrorism. Faithfull was inspired by Ulrike Meinhof of the Baader-Meinhof gang after watching a documentary about the group, in which she noticed the subtitles “broken English… spoken English.” The single received widespread critical acclaim, with praise both for Faithfull’s bold new musical direction and the politically charged subject matter. Although it failed to chart in the UK or the US, it reached the top 40 in several countries, including Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand.
The Haunting Beauty of The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
The first single, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, became one of Faithfull’s highest-charting songs. Originally written by American poet Shel Silverstein and released by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show in 1974, the song tells the story of a middle-class housewife yearning for something more. Faithfull’s version is hauntingly powerful—a true new-wave gem, featuring obsessive basslines and intertwining synth melodies. It later gained further recognition after being featured in Thelma & Louise.
Building to a Boiling Point: The Explosive Last Tracks of Broken English
Another highlight of the album is What’s the Hurry?, a track that reportedly reflects the everyday desperation of a drug user. With an introduction reminiscent of Blondie, the song builds into an extraordinary new-wave experience, culminating in an overpowering guitar solo.
The album’s penultimate song is a striking cover of John Lennon’s Working Class Hero. Faithfull saw this as a tribute to her musical idols—Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and, of course, Lennon himself—all self-made legends, much like herself. Tragically, Lennon was assassinated shortly after the album’s release, but Yoko Ono later confirmed that he had listened to Faithfull’s version and approved of it.
The last song is also the most controversial one. The reason why EMI, refused to press and distribute the album as they usually did for Faithfull’s label Island. The song that led the Australian version of the album to be released without it. Written by Heathcote Williams, the lyrics weren’t even destined to be for Marianne Faithful, but for Tina Turner. The English woman convinced the American writer that Tina would never go for it, and let her have it instead.
Why D’Ya Do It is about a scorned woman reacting to her husband cheating on her. The lyrics are written from the point of view of the husband relating his wife’s disgusted rant using very crude depiction of sexual acts or physical aspect of genitals. Six minutes and a half of an excellent blend of reggae-like rhythm, and punk riffs and attitude.
A Perfectly Crafted Masterpiece
From start to finish, Broken English is a masterpiece. Featuring three tracks co-written by Faithfull herself, the album explores difficult topics with remarkable artistry. The music, ranging from new-wave and punk rock to electronic influences, is impeccably arranged and produced. The album’s progression is seamless, making for an unforgettable listening experience. It marks the triumphant return of a fallen icon, reclaiming her artistry after years of turmoil and self-doubt.
When Broken English was finally released in November 1979, it was met with instant critical acclaim. No one had expected Faithfull to return with such force. She fully embraced the punk ethos of the era, shedding the image of the delicate 1960s icon she had once been.
Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone wrote:
Broken English is a perfectly intentional, controlled, unique statement about fury, defeat, and rancor. It isn’t anything we’ve heard before from anyone. As far as Faithfull goes, there is a gutsiness here, a sense of craft, and a disruptive intelligence that nothing in her old records remotely suggested. Broken English is a triumph.
Faithfull herself has acknowledged the raw energy captured in the album. In a 2005 interview with Mojo, she reflected:
The thing about Broken English, it’s this sense, this energy, that ‘Fucking hell, before I die, I’m going to show you bastards who I am.’ … I can’t repeat it. Because I actually realised, obviously, I’m going to die, but not yet…
The Legacy of Broken English
More than four decades after its release, Broken English remains a landmark album—one that redefined Marianne Faithfull’s career and cemented her place as one of music’s most fearless and resilient artists. It was more than just a comeback; it was a bold statement of survival, reinvention, and raw emotional power, proving she was far more than just a relic of the 1960s.
