Fully established as a dramatic, innovative singer with astonishing appeal … Read Full Bio ↴Fully established as a dramatic, innovative singer with astonishing appeal and energy thanks to her string of excellent '80s releases, Marianne Faithfull concluded her renaissance decade with Blazing Away, an excellent live album recorded in New York's St. Anne's Cathedral.
The crackerjack backing band deserves note in and of itself, including members ranging from the Band's Garth Hudson to Dr. John, plus regular collaborators Marc Ribot, Fernando Saunders, and her key partner Barry Reynolds.
Faithfull and the players fit hand in glove track for track, with the emphasis on subtler arrangements and performances suiting the hushed, striking atmosphere of the performance. When the band shows its muscle, as with the snarling strut of "Guilt," there's no question of this being anything like easy listening.
In general, though, the sense of cabaret meets modern nightclub dominates, with Faithfull's singing capturing the cracking tug of her vocals just so. The selection of songs ranges from the intriguingly obscure to the familiar enough -- "As Tears Go By" and "Broken English" take unsurprising bows, as does a lengthy brood on "Sister Morphine," "She Moved Through the Fair," and a commanding rip through the harrowing "Why'd Ya Do It?" There are two new numbers as well.
The title track is the one song recorded in studio, with Reynolds and Saunders, plus a number of other musicians; it's got a nice steel guitar twang to it, and Faithfull tries for the high lonesome sound in her own wonderful way. Other flat-out highlights include a grand take on "Times Square" and a slow crawl through "Working Class Hero" that seethes with fire, both from the musicians and Faithfull.
Credits
Don Alias - Percussion
Dougie Bowne - Drums
Kathleen Brennan - Composer
D. Browne - Drums
Chuck Cavanaugh - Technician
Dr. John - Guest Artist, Guitar, Piano
Charley Drayton - Drums
George DuBose - Photography
Marianne Faithfull - Composer, Liner Notes, Vocals
Joe Ferla - Engineer, Mixing
Garth Hudson - Accordion, Keyboards
Mick Jagger - Composer
John Lennon - Composer
Bob Ludwig - Mastering
Joe Maverty - Composer
Kooster McAllister - Engineer
Andrew Loog Oldham - Composer
Kevin Patrick - Executive Producer
Mac Rebennack - Guitar (Rhythm), Piano
Barry Reynolds - Associate Producer, Composer, Director, Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Marc Ribot - Guitar
Keith Richards - Composer
Michel Rivgauche - Composer
Fernando Saunders - Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Producer, Vocals (Background)
Kevin Savangar - Keyboards
Dana Shimizu - Design
Shel Silverstein - Composer
Lew Soloff - Flageolet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Terry Stannard - Composer
Tom Waits - Composer
Gib Wharton - Guitar (Steel), Pedal Steel
Larry White - Photography
Heathcote Williams - Composer
Hal Willner - Producer
Tony Wright - Art Direction, Cover Design
Steve York - Composer
The crackerjack backing band deserves note in and of itself, including members ranging from the Band's Garth Hudson to Dr. John, plus regular collaborators Marc Ribot, Fernando Saunders, and her key partner Barry Reynolds.
Faithfull and the players fit hand in glove track for track, with the emphasis on subtler arrangements and performances suiting the hushed, striking atmosphere of the performance. When the band shows its muscle, as with the snarling strut of "Guilt," there's no question of this being anything like easy listening.
In general, though, the sense of cabaret meets modern nightclub dominates, with Faithfull's singing capturing the cracking tug of her vocals just so. The selection of songs ranges from the intriguingly obscure to the familiar enough -- "As Tears Go By" and "Broken English" take unsurprising bows, as does a lengthy brood on "Sister Morphine," "She Moved Through the Fair," and a commanding rip through the harrowing "Why'd Ya Do It?" There are two new numbers as well.
The title track is the one song recorded in studio, with Reynolds and Saunders, plus a number of other musicians; it's got a nice steel guitar twang to it, and Faithfull tries for the high lonesome sound in her own wonderful way. Other flat-out highlights include a grand take on "Times Square" and a slow crawl through "Working Class Hero" that seethes with fire, both from the musicians and Faithfull.
Credits
Don Alias - Percussion
Dougie Bowne - Drums
Kathleen Brennan - Composer
D. Browne - Drums
Chuck Cavanaugh - Technician
Dr. John - Guest Artist, Guitar, Piano
Charley Drayton - Drums
George DuBose - Photography
Marianne Faithfull - Composer, Liner Notes, Vocals
Joe Ferla - Engineer, Mixing
Garth Hudson - Accordion, Keyboards
Mick Jagger - Composer
John Lennon - Composer
Bob Ludwig - Mastering
Joe Maverty - Composer
Kooster McAllister - Engineer
Andrew Loog Oldham - Composer
Kevin Patrick - Executive Producer
Mac Rebennack - Guitar (Rhythm), Piano
Barry Reynolds - Associate Producer, Composer, Director, Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Marc Ribot - Guitar
Keith Richards - Composer
Michel Rivgauche - Composer
Fernando Saunders - Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Producer, Vocals (Background)
Kevin Savangar - Keyboards
Dana Shimizu - Design
Shel Silverstein - Composer
Lew Soloff - Flageolet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Terry Stannard - Composer
Tom Waits - Composer
Gib Wharton - Guitar (Steel), Pedal Steel
Larry White - Photography
Heathcote Williams - Composer
Hal Willner - Producer
Tony Wright - Art Direction, Cover Design
Steve York - Composer
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