The title of this compilation represented pretty much the best of Marianne Faithfull’s work at that point in time. In her personal life, though, the world of Marianne Faithfull was not a pretty one – not even close. 1969 would see the dramatic demise of her four year love affair with Mick Jagger and her near death as a result of an overdose while in Australia with Jagger, who was shooting yet another Ned Kelly movie down under. Mick wrote “Wild Horses” about the episode and eventually moved on; meanwhile, Marianne took a turn for the worst and ended up a strung-out junkie living on a wall in Soho.

This remained her last official release until she was persuaded back into the studio in 1977 to record Dreamin’ My Dreams. As a compilation, it is rather sparse at only eleven tracks, but at the same time, none of the fluff she had occasionally recorded was included to flesh it out either.  Various compilations over the years have been released, and it’s easy to lose track of which are the originals and which were slapped together and marketed as “new” albums like Faithfull Forever and Faithless.

All of the essential hits are here, as well as some stellar album tracks lifted from her first five LPs. The Jagger/Richards gem “As Tears Go By” is the first track and is a clear standout; it never gets boring that one. Other hit singles for her were “Come And Stay With Me” and “This Little Bird.” An interesting interpretation of “Scarborough Fair” (from 1966's North Country Maid) is a welcome addition, with Marianne offering a slightly eerie take on the lyric. 

“Summer Nights” and a faithful cover of The Mamas and The Papas’ “Monday Monday” add some light and each hold their own here. Two more gems follow with the enchanting “Is This What I Get For Loving You” and “Tomorrows Calling,” both of which represent the glorious folk singer Marianne had worked so hard to become. Her dreadful cover of The Beatles’ classic “Yesterday” is here (and I’m sure only because it was a Beatles’ song). The hideously overblown arrangement killed the beautiful sentiment that made the original so touching.

The collection closes with the spell-bounding “In My Time Of Sorrow” and one of her very first hits in the elusive “Go Away From My World.” Both are among the best singles of Marianne’s early career and they still hold up to her fantastic more recent material. Overall, this is one of the few true “best of” Marianne Faithfull compilations.

Rating: A-

User Rating: Not Yet Rated

Comments