Recorded 1981 Producer Mark Miller Mundy Release date September 1981 | Length 36:44 | |
 | ||
Released 1 September 1981 (1981-09-01) Studio Matrix Studios (London, United Kingdom) Similar Marianne Faithfull albums, Rock music albums | ||
Marianne faithfull truth bitter truth
Dangerous Acquaintances is the eighth studio album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. It was released on 1 September 1981 by Island Records. The album was seen by reviewers as a disappointing follow-up to Faithfull's Broken English, as the album trades the angry and controversial alternative new wave arrangements of the previous one for a more mainstream rock texture, using over a dozen session musicians and, for some, giving a certain anonymous feel to the songs. The title is a reference to the Pierre Choderlos de Laclos 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses.
Contents
- Marianne faithfull truth bitter truth
- Marianne faithfull sweetheart 1981
- Background and recording
- Critical reception
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
The main singles of the album were "Intrigue", penned by the singer's then-husband, Ben Brierley, and "For Beauty's Sake", written by Faithfull and Steve Winwood.
Marianne faithfull sweetheart 1981
Background and recording
Marianne Faithfull described the album's recording as a long and arduous process, marked by numerous instances of miscommunication between herself, the instrumentalists, and the producer. She particularly commented that bassist Steve York and drummer Terry Stannard did not gel properly, and that producer Mark Mundy made inappropriate production decisions, such as the inclusion of horns on "Intrigue". She was also unhappy with the way Mundy interacted with the performers: "We went through some amazing scenes. He was treating the band like they couldn't play and didn't know what they were doing - and in a way, me too, but particularly the band. It was a divide and conquer trip. I don't think he meant to do it. He just did it naturally."
Critical reception
In their retrospective review, Allmusic repeatedly criticized the album for backing down from the musical and lyrical boldness of Broken English in favor of more conventional and accessible material.
Personnel
with:
Songs
1Sweetheart3:18
2Intrigue4:32
3Easy In The City3:19