A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology

Who could have predicted in the '60s that Marianne Faithfull, at the time Mick Jagger's beautiful and scandalous actress girlfriend, would one day emerge as our greatest interpretive singer? The evidence can be heard on this extensive two-disc retrospective. It covers the period from Faithfull's 1979 comeback BROKEN ENGLISH--which reintroduced a confidently gritty singer thoroughly rooted in folk and rock--to A SECRET AFTERNOON, a spooky 1995 collaboration with film composer Angelo Badalamenti. It was 1987's Hal Willner-produced STRANGE WEATHER that finally showcased Faithfull's versatili Includes liner notes by Ann Powers. Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves. Compilation producers: Bill Levenson, Jerry Rappaport. Engineers include: Bob Potter, Don Wershba, Joe Ferla. Personnel: Marianne Faithfull (vocals); Barry Reynolds (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Wally Badarou (vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards); Mac Rebennack (guitar, piano); Fernando Saunders (guitar, background vocals); Chris Spedding, Carmine d'Amico, Keith Richards, Marc Ribot, Peter Maunu, Robert Quine, Ron Wood, Bill Frisell (guitar); Gib Wharton (steel guitar); Michael Levine , Nancy McAlhany, Marshall P. Coid, Marin Alsop, Laura Seaton, Gene Orloff (violin); Sue Pray, Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Ron Lawrence , Mary Helen Ewing, Ann Barak, Caroline Levine, Kenneth Fricker, Mitsue Takayama, Christine Ims, Harry Zaratzian, Al Brown, Juliet Haffner, Richard Sortomme (viola); Mark Orrin Shuman, Beverly Lauridsen, Julie Green, Richard Locker, Clay Ruede, Mary Wooten, Frederick Zlotkin (cello); Albert Regni, Pamela Sklar, Lawrence Feldman (flute, alto flute); Chris Hunter (flute, alto saxophone); Garth Hudson (accordion, keyboards); William Schimmel (accordion); Paul Brady (recorder); Angelo Badalamenti (clarinet, keyboards); Alex Foster (clarinet); Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet); Sherry Sylar, Shelley Woodworth (oboe, oboe d'amore); Jim Cuomo (woodwinds); Pee Wee Ellis (saxophone); Steve Slagle (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Rich Perry (tenor saxophone); Lew Soloff (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Marshall , Mark Isham, Glenn Drewes (trumpet); Robert Carlisle (French horn); Conrad Herwig, Birch Johnson (trombone); Sharon Freeman (piano); Kinny Landrum, Mikey Chung, Carter Cathcart (keyboards); Dougie Bowne, Thunder Smith , Tony Smith, J.T. Lewis, Anton Fig, Terry Stannard, Charlie Drayton, Charlie Watts (drums); Don Alias, Rafael de Jesus, Kurt Wortman (percussion). Audio Mixers: David Greenberg; Ed Thacker; Gary Chester ; Joe Ferla. Liner Note Author: Ann Powers. Recording information: Matrix Studios; Mediasound Studios, New York, NY; Sigma Sound Studios, New York, NYRussian Hill Recording. Photographers: Gered Mankowitz; Adrian Boot; Sheila Rock; Firooz Zahedi; Colm Henry; George DuBose. Unknown Contributor Roles: Chris Stainton; Morris Pert; Darryl Way; Denis Haines; Jo Mavety; Peter Veitch; Fuzzy Samuels; Clifton Morrison; Pickford Sykes; Guy Humphries; Steve York; Diane Birch; Martin Droves; Dyane Spenner; Julian Diggle; Jim Cuomo; Mel Collins; Neil Hubbard; Steve Winwood; Jim Leverton. Arrangers: Chris Spedding; Bill Frisell. Personnel includes: Marianne Faithfull (vocals); Ben Brierley (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Mac Rebennack (guitar, piano, electric piano); Fernando Saunders (guitar, bass, background vocals); Mikey Chung (guitar, keyboards); Barry Reynolds (guitar, background vocals); Chris Spedding, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Robert Quine, Keith Richards, Ron Wood (guitar); Shankar (violin); Garth Hudson (accordion, keyboards); William Schimmel (accordon); Mark Isham (saxophone, trumpet, electronics); Kevin Savanger (keyboards); Lew Soloff (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wally Badarou (keyboards, background vocals); Don Was (bass); Terry Stannard, Anton Fig, Charlie Drayton, J.T. Lewis, Dougie Bowne (drums); Rafael De Jesus, Don Alias (percussion). Producers: Mark Miller Mundy, Barry Reynolds, Hal Willner, Mark Isham, Angelo Badalamenti.Spin (12/98, p.179) - "...a cabaret fetish past perfection; she's bitterness' sweetheart..." CMJ (12/21/98, p.30) - "...Marianne Faithfull's dark, raspy voice was the bridge between cabaret queen Edith Piaf and modern pop, and this anthology reminds us of its expressive power..."