Marianne Faithfull: Greatest Hits

iTunes Review

At the onset of her singing career in the mid-‘60s, Marianne Faithfull possessed a voice nearly virginal in its execution. A protégé of Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Odlham, Faithfull played up her teen-idol status with an unusual sense of class and sophistication despite the wide-eyed innocence of her public persona. While “As Tears Go By” attempts to reflect a life lived, it’s actually the sound of a young girl just getting started. The irresistible song hooks made for seductive pop and her excellent choice in material — “This Little Bird,” “Summer Nights,” “Come Stay With Me,” “With You In Mind,” and “In My Time of Sorrow” — make this a collection of succinct and action-packed examples of a naive era. It all comes to a harrowing close with her scary drug admission, “Sister Morphine,” where her pop ebullience is replaced with the sobering realities that would haunt her in the coming decade. Throw in a few hits of the day — “Yesterday,” “Monday Monday” — and you’ve got an eclectic sampling of the era.