Search - Marianne Faithfull :: Rich Kid Blues

Even at Her Worst Moment Marianne Could Still Amaze

Randall E. Adams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/07/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is certainly a candidate for honors as Marianne Faithfull's single weakest album, cut during a time of extremely heavy drug use when almost nobody who knew her had any use for her. She does not recall this album fondly in her autobiography.Nonetheless, this very flawed collection earns three or even three and a half stars. This is the first album on which Marianne's now-famous whiskey and cigarettes rasp appeared. Her versions of Dylan's songs are absolutely convincing. In particular "Visions of Johannah" is one of Marianne's truly great moments on record. On "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," it really sounds like it IS all over. Marianne never sounded so junked out.The material selected draws from some of the typical 70s material including James Taylor's "Mud Slide Slim" which is so-so and George Harrison's "Beware of the Darkness," also so-so. Cat Stevens' "Sad Lisa" doesn't really thrill me either. The unimaginative arrangements are a significant source of the mediocrity on some of these songs. On the other hand Phil Ochs' "Chords of Fame" rings very true and the simple arrangement doesn't interfere while Tim Hardin's "Southern Butterfly" is charming in its gentle fractured way.For Marianne Faithfull fans, this album is definitely worthwhile. Seriously, "Visions of Johannah" is worth the entire price. For the merely curious, I recommend the Island anthology."

Underrated Halfway House?

Ian Burns | Swansea,Wales | 01/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album,which is one of my own favourites by any artist,has an air of real melancholy about it.Don't let that put you off,considering the conditions it was apparently made under,it was almost inevitable,but there is also a feeling of real hope apparent throughout the album as well.

Such are the sparsity of most of the arrangements,this album could almost be subtitled,"Marianne Faithfull/Unplugged".For me,this adds to the charm of the thing and it still features the woman with the most gorgeous voice since the advent of sound recording.I've described this release as an underrated halfway house,which it probably is in terms of this lady's career,but also its a stop off point between the two "voices" of Marianne Faithfull.Most people will have heard the choirgirl voiced Marianne of her early pop hits,most will have heard the more lived in version of that same voice during her "Broken English" period.Well this album occasionally features both.Both are wonderful."Rich Kid Blues" features twelve cover versions of songs by the likes of George Harrison,Bob Dylan,Tim Hardin and Cat Stevens.Marianne Faithfull adds something to each and every one of them and for me,her Dylan covers are preferable to the originals.As you can see,I really like this record.In the right mood,if you give this collection a chance,you might too."

Living on a wall in Soho

A. A. van Heuvel | The Netherlands | 01/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is from 1971. The title Rich Kid Blues is a sort of joke, because Marianne Faithfull wasn't rich at that time. She was a junkie and living on a wall of a destroyed house in Soho in London. This cd is a bridge between her folk lp's in the sixties and her new start as a singer at the end of the seventies. The cd contains the beautiful song Visions of Johanna, written by Bob Dylan."