Blazing Away

Rating

Album: Blazing Away
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Les Prisons Du Roi Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:53
2)	Strange Weather Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	5:19
3)	Guilt Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:59
4)	Working Class Hero Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:13
5)	Sister Morphine Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:38
6)	As Tears Go By Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	4:27
7)	Why'd Ya Do It Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:43
8)	When I Find My Life Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	3:07
9)	Ballad Of Lucy Jordan Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	5:17
10)	Times Square Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	4:56
11)	Blazing Away	More Info...	4:12
12)	She Moved Through The Fair Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	2:14
13)	Broken English Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:39

Album: Blazing Away
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Les Prisons Du Roi Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:53
2)	Strange Weather Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	5:19
3)	Guilt Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:59
4)	Working Class Hero Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:13
5)	Sister Morphine Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:38
6)	As Tears Go By Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	4:27
7)	Why'd Ya Do It Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	6:43
8)	When I Find My Life Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	3:07
9)	Ballad Of Lucy Jordan Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	5:17
10)	Times Square Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	4:56
11)	Blazing Away	More Info...	4:12
12)	She Moved Through The Fair Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	2:14
13)	Broken English Live "Blazing Away" Version	More Info...	7:39

Performer Notes

Recorded live at St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Fully established as a dramatic, innovative singer with astonishing appeal and energy thanks to her string of excellent '80s releases, Faithfull concluded her renaissance decade with Blazing Away, an excellent live album recorded in New York's St. Anne's Cathedral. The crackerjack backing band deserves note in and of itself, including members ranging from the Band's Garth Hudson to Dr. John, plus regular collaborators Marc Ribot, Fernando Saunders, and her key partner Barry Reynolds. Faithfull and the players fit hand in glove track for track, with the emphasis on subtler arrangements and performances suiting the hushed, striking atmosphere of the performance. When the band shows its muscle, as with the snarling strut of "Guilt," there's no question of this being anything like easy listening. In general, though, the sense of cabaret meets modern nightclub dominates, with Faithfull's singing capturing the cracking tug of her vocals just so. The selection of songs ranges from the intriguingly obscure to the familiar enough -- "As Tears Go By" and "Broken English" take unsurprising bows, as does a lengthy brood on "Sister Morphine," "She Moved Through the Fair," and a commanding rip through the harrowing "Why'd Ya Do It?" There are two new numbers as well. The title track is the one song recorded in studio, with Reynolds and Saunders, plus a number of other musicians; it's got a nice steel guitar twang to it, and Faithfull tries for the high lonesome sound in her own wonderful way. Other flat-out highlights include a grand take on "Times Square" and a slow crawl through "Working Class Hero" that seethes with fire, both from the musicians and Faithfull. ~ Ned Raggett

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (5/1/90) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...one of rock's most moving vocalists."

Spin (7/90) - "...BLAZING AWAY is the answer to your prayer. If this sort of thing doesn't make sense to you, rock'n'roll as attitude must be the furthest thing from your mind."

Q (8/95, p.140) - 3 Stars - Good - "...this is Faithfull the vocalist, ever-faithful to her history."

Down Beat (8/90) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...This album is one courageous autobiography...a rare singer who deserves the title chanteuse extraordinaire."