Marsha Hunt: Woman Child Album Review!
Music Review:
You’ll have to forgive if my review isn’t as sharp as previous music ones, it’s been a while since I last did one. My music reviews take me to a different level of writing and flow than my movie and book ones, so bear with me ‘til I get my mojo back on.
The term ‘multi-talented’ can’t be thrown around lightly, but for Marsha Hunt, it’s worth mentioning the fact. Aside from being a singer, she’s acted in a few known cult and horror flicks plus theatre, modelled, written novels, been an activist and at one point dated Mick Jagger. I know the latter isn’t a talent, but unfortunately that factor crops up way too much in any articles about her so let’s get it out of the way.
Yeah, she’s the huge-haired lady in Dracula A.D. 1972 (see review of Dracula A.D. 1972 here) as well as having roles in Britannia Hospital (the last of the If… trilogy), The Sender, and The Howling II. Balanced well into the mix is her debut LP, Woman Child. So late ‘60s and early ‘70s in sound, it is perfect and quite diverse in musical styles for that period. It deserves a listen because many of the sassy hot rock tunes will be the ideal backing for a smoke-filled living room sway with you and your friends in low light.
There’s a mish mash of remakes and Marc Bolan material (according to her autobiography he actually contributed musically to the album as well), all given a funked-up tempo with Marsha’s sexual vocals probably exciting a lot of young listeners at the time (her performances were supposed to be very erotic, showing breasts as lifting her arms, that kind of thing).
Starting with an Indian vibe spliced remake of Dr. John’s, Walk on Guilded Splinters off his Gris-Gris album. Martha does it proud adding more eerie magic to proceedings. She yells out some lyrics sounding like Tina Turner and makes it her own. After a brief and quickie interlude kind of spoofing her time in the infamous stage production of Hair, Hot Rod Pappa is up-tempo head-nodding and written by Marc Bolan, as is the following mellow almost late Beatles sounding, Stacey Grove.
One of the stronger moments on the album comes as No Face, No Name, No Number, a remake of a Traffic classic, and gives Martha time to really hit some strong notes, showing she can throw out a ballad and give you goosebumps. We just go pure big sound on, My World is Empty Without You. This one could have been a lead soundtrack tune, so of its time and filled with random choices of screams and instruments.
The album has blues, funk, a bit of psychedelic, ballads, country, and overall is a satisfying LP. It is difficult to find on CD format but springs up a fair bit on vinyl for various prices. It all ends with a loud hard-hitting dramatic version of Wild Thing. Martha whispers, moans, and screams. Her acting comes into her voice, she changes her delivery along with the ever-changing styles of music presented here.
Anyhow, here’s a live performance and the song, My World is Empty Without You to take you back to a long-lost era.
Album Info:
Band: Marsha Hunt
Album: Woman Child
Members: Marsha Hunt (Vocals) Pete Townsend, and others (Guitars) Ricky Fataar, Kenny Jones (Drums) Rick Wakeman Ian McLagan, and more (Keyboards)
Year: 1971
Country: UK
Recorded: IBC Studio
Produced by: Tony Visconi, Kit Lambert
Artwork: Mike Shaw, Bill Curbishley
Runtime: 40.00
Label: Polydor
Track Listing:
1. Walk on Guilded Splinters
2. Let the Sunshine in
3. Hot Rod Pappa
4. Stacey Groove
5. No Face, No Name, No Number
6. My World is Empty Without You
7. Moan you Moaners
8. Keep the Customer Satisfied
9. Long Black Veil
10. You Ain’t Going Nowhere
11. Woman Child
12. Desdemona
13. Wild Thing
