REMINDER: WASH YOUR FUCKING HANDS

Photo: Robert Mapplethorpe 1974

Marianne Faithfull checked herself into a hospital on Monday after self-isolating following a cold. She tested positive for Covid-19 and has contracted pneumonia. Yikes. You'll be forgiven if you don't know her work. For the longest time (if you call ten of fifteen years a long time) she lapsed into semi-obscurity. She's had one big hit in the states, "As Tears Go By" and that was about all anyone stateside knew of her (other than being the love interest of Mick Jagger for a short spell, and being in the Stones general orbit). Then in 1979 she released Broken English, a breakthrough album that revived her career. He voice had become coarser, but it fit her new music. Restrained, but not pretty pop fluff like her earlier work. I always associate that LP with the house I lived at at the time, because it was played a lot by myself and a few of the roommates. When we moved in there were nine people living there and that number grew until it was hard to figure out who was a roommate and who was a hangover straggler that just never left. As the record became more and more familiar she became like something of a cool older "seen it all" sister. She ws given due respect by those who had little respect for just about anything. So, my worries are for a cool older sister not some singer. I sure hope she makes it. Her website posted "She is stable and responding to treatment."

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~ 

Listen:
Marianne Faithful - As Tears Go By mp3 at Irina Palm 1965
Marianne Faithful - Come and Stay With Me mp3 at Rose Burlingham 1965
Marianne Faithful - This Little Bird mp3 at Keep the Coffee Coming 1965
Marianne Faithful - Sister Morphine (streaming) at YouTube 1969
Marianne Faithful - Strange Weather mp3 at Tumblr 1987
Video:
Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By at YouTube 1965
Marianne Faithfull - Something Better at YouTube 1968, from the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.
Marianne Faithful and David Bowie - I've Got You Babe at YouTube 1973
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English at YouTube 1979
Marianne Faithfull and Anita Pallenberg  on Absolutely Fabulous at YouTube 2001 Faithfull plays God and Pallenburg plays the devil.