So Long Marianne Faithfull
Sister Morphine is gone, but remembered here with Bowie, Godard, and Cooder, and covering Dylan, Lennon and Cohen. Plus today's cartoons.
The ‘60s icon, heroin survivor and comeback queen Marianne Faithfull has died at 78. She co-wrote and was first to record “Sister Morphine,” was then screwed out of her credit by the Stones when they tried it, and credit only later restored. (Jagger today: “I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull. She was so much part of my life for so long. She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress. She will always be remembered.”) Here are a few songs to remember her by, plus today’s political potshots below. You can still subscribe for free here:
Her 1969 “Sister Morphine,” with the great Ry Cooder on slide. She later said she’s only tried smack once when when she wrote but by the time the Stones covered it she WAS Sister Morphine.
Great cover of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.”
A vocal-only version of her hit “As Tears Go By” via Godard.
She never covered Leonard’s “So Long, Marianne,” but she did visit his “Tower of Song.”
And a great live version of Lennon’s “Working Class Hero.”
A rather famous video of her, as a nun, doing “I Got You Babe” with Bowie.
Her comeback hit, “Broken English,” live.
Van’s “Madame George”
And another fine Leonard Cohen cover, “Going Home.”
Such a unique voice! Loved her.
I'm sorry to hear this; we shared a birthday.