Marianne Faithfull — the voice, the comeback, the songs
She recorded "As Tears Go By" at 17 and became a face of the 1960s scene. Marianne Faithfull didn’t follow a safe path. Her voice, life and art changed together: pop star, actress, public fall and a bold musical rebirth with the raw, confrontational sound of Broken English. If you want to understand why she matters, focus on the music and the stories behind it.
Faithfull’s early career linked her to the Swinging London crowd. She worked with top songwriters and lived at the centre of the rock world, but her later albums are where she reshaped her image. A rougher, huskier voice and frank lyrics made her a model for artists who mix autobiography and song. She’s as interesting for what she survived as for what she created.
Must-hear albums and songs
If you only listen to three tracks, pick these: "As Tears Go By" (the delicate 60s classic), "Sister Morphine" (raw and personal) and the title track "Broken English" (the song that changed her career). For albums, start with the 1979 Broken English — it’s the milestone. Then try Before the Poison for its modern collaborations and the later records that show how she turned struggles into art.
Why these? Broken English introduced a direct, unpolished Marianne. It’s the record most critics point to when they talk about her influence. "Sister Morphine" and songs written with rock contemporaries show how her life and music often crossed paths — sometimes painfully.
How to start listening and what to expect
Stream the essentials on any major platform — look for her name and the album titles above. Expect a voice that changes from breathy pop to gravelly confession. Some tracks are short and melodic; others are long, theatrical and intense. If you like singers who put their life into their songs — raw, honest and unafraid — you’ll find her records rewarding.
Want context? Read interviews and short biographies after you hear a few songs. The music hits harder when you know the background: the 60s rise, the personal crises, and the artistic comeback. But the songs stand on their own. Many listeners discover a new layer on a second or third listen.
Looking for something specific — film appearances, collaborations, or a good live recording? Start with her well-known screen role in Girl on a Motorcycle for a taste of her 60s image, then explore later live albums to hear how her stage presence evolved.
If you’re curating a playlist, mix a few early pop tracks with several pieces from Broken English and a couple of later, more experimental songs. That gives you the arc: youthful singer, hard-won comeback, then an artist comfortable with risk. Want more? Check music press features and documentaries that focus on her life and voice — they help make sense of the music without spoiling the emotional punch.
