Originally released in 1996, this is, for me, Marc's best piece of work.

It's a piece of pure autobiography. On 'Saint Judy', when you may be excused for thinking that he's singing about Judy Garland, he's describing his own drug-fuelled angst.

'There Is A Bed' & 'The Room Below' are mere updates of 'Bedsitter' from his Soft Cell days.

'The Sea Says' reflect on the times when, as a youngster in Southport, Marc found solace from the power of the tide.

'Champ' pretty much sums up Marc's disillusionment with fame and the fickle attitude of the record-buying public.

Fed up with the lack of airplay given to him by Radio 1 (despite this, both 'Ruby Red' & 'Melancholy Rose' threatened to break into the top 40), Marc released the title track, 'Mother Fist'. Based on a short story by Truman Capote called 'Nocturnal Turnings, or How Siamese Twins Have Sex', it is a song about masturbation. Hence the full title of the album - Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters. It's… more »

Originally released in 1996, this is, for me, Marc's best piece of work.

It's a piece of pure autobiography. On 'Saint Judy', when you may be excused for thinking that he's singing about Judy Garland, he's describing his own drug-fuelled angst.

'There Is A Bed' & 'The Room Below' are mere updates of 'Bedsitter' from his Soft Cell days.

'The Sea Says' reflect on the times when, as a youngster in Southport, Marc found solace from the power of the tide.

'Champ' pretty much sums up Marc's disillusionment with fame and the fickle attitude of the record-buying public.

Fed up with the lack of airplay given to him by Radio 1 (despite this, both 'Ruby Red' & 'Melancholy Rose' threatened to break into the top 40), Marc released the title track, 'Mother Fist'. Based on a short story by Truman Capote called 'Nocturnal Turnings, or How Siamese Twins Have Sex', it is a song about masturbation. Hence the full title of the album - Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters. It's alleged that, tongue in cheek, the single was released as a 12" only, which is perhaps a nod to John Holmes, the well-endowed porn star referred to in 'Saint Judy'.

Without wishing to sound like I'm name-dropping (which I probably am), I met Marc in a London nightclub shortly after the album was released, and he agreed with me when I said that I thought that it was his best work to date. That was in 1987, I think. I wonder if he still believes that.

I still do. I have to admit that I've been slightly disappointed with his latest albums. I think the reason may be that he's found a form of contentment in his life, and it's common for artists to do their best work when they're going through a more tortured period.

Whilst I'm pleased that Marc has sorted out his demons to a large extent, I can't help wishing that he were still trying to shake off the shackles of the fame that 'Tainted Love' thrust upon him so unexpectedly.

I'd much rather listen to the songs on this classic album than hear his karaoke versions of 'Strangers In The Night' or 'Dream Lover' that appear on his latest offering, 'Stardom Road'.

This may sound selfish, but some of us still like to wallow.