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Marianne Faithfull - 20th Century Blues (1996)

Track listing:
  1. Alabama Song 4:18
  2. Want to Buy Some Illusions 3:58
  3. Pirate Jenny 4:58
  4. Salomon Song 3:43
  5. Boulevard of Broken Dreams 3:34
  6. Complainte de la Seine 4:09
  7. The Ballad of the Soldier's Wife 4:08
  8. Intro 1:12
  9. Mon Ami, My Friend 2:25
  10. Falling in Love Again 2:22
  11. Mack the Knife 3:32
  12. 20th Century Blues 3:20
  13. Don't Forget Me 3:40
  14. Surabaya Johnny 5:15
  15. Street Singer's Farewell 3:22

Notes

As the liner notes to this intriguing release tell, Faithfull had a long-simmering interest in German cabaret, particularly the work of Kurt Weill. It came fully to life via her role as Pirate Jenny in a staging of The Threepenny Opera in Dublin as translated by Frank McGuinness and her attendance at a workshop organized by Allen Ginsburg. After a series of initial performances with pianist Paul Trueblood, Faithfull took her revue of many classic songs from the mid-century, titled "An Evening in the Weimar Republic," to the road. This particular recording is from a performance in Paris in 1996, showcasing both a smart selection of songs to work with and Faithfull's own dramatic, interpretive skills with them. Kicking off with the aggressive-then-smooth bite of the Brecht/Weill standard "Alabama Song," Faithfull and Trueblood show they make a great team — her distinct vocals seem almost born for the material, while Trueblood is a sure hand on the keys, both playful and polished. Weill remains the centerpiece of the show, in both his various collaborations with Brecht — standout tracks include withering versions of "Pirate Jenny," "Salomon Song," and "Surabaya Johnny" — and with other partners, including "Complainte de la Seine" and "Mon Ami, My Friend." Friedrich Hollaender gets the nod twice, with a take on the eternal classic "Falling in Love Again" almost rivaling Marlene Dietrich's original interpretation. The title track, a noted Noel Coward number, gets a fine performance, as does the one nod to more contemporary times, a rendition of Harry Nilsson's "Don't Forget Me." One nod to Faithfull's previous recording past appears via a new version of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," originally covered by her on Strange Weather. Faithfull throughout introduces songs with humor and reflection, a perfect MC for her own performance.