Chrissie Hynde is set to release a new album of duets featuring an eclectic line-up of musical collaborators including Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry, Brandon Flowers, k.d. lang, Dave Gahan and the late Mark Lanegan.
Titled Duets Special and credited to “Chrissie Hynde & Pals”, the record is due out on October 17 via Parlophone and will feature 13 tracks reimagined in stripped-back arrangements.
The first single, a cover of Always On My Mind with Wainwright, is out today.
Hynde said the idea for the album began in 2023 during a phone conversation with Wainwright’s husband, Jörn Weisbrodt.
“I think we were recommending novels to each other and for some reason I said, ‘Hey, maybe Rufus and I should do something,’” she explained.
“I quickly scribbled out 10 songs off the top of my head… it started as a spontaneous and fun thing.”
Other pairings include Me & Mrs Jones with k.d. lang, Can’t Help Falling In Love with Lanegan, I’m Not In Love with Flowers, Love Letters with Shirley Manson and Try To Sleep with Harry.
Duets Special will be released on vinyl, CD and streaming platforms with the full tracklisting will be as follows:
- Me & Mrs Jones (feat. k.d. lang)
- Can’t Help Falling In Love (feat. Mark Lanegan)
- Sway (feat. Lucinda Williams)
- Dolphins (feat. Dave Gahan)
- First Of The Gang To Die (feat. Cat Power)
- Always On My Mind (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
- Every Little Bit Hurts (feat. Carleen Anderson)
- I’m Not In Love (feat. Brandon Flowers)
- It’s Only Love (feat. Julian Lennon)
- Try To Sleep (feat. Debbie Harry)
- County Line (feat. Alan Sparhawk)
- Love Letters (feat. Shirley Manson)
- (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration (feat. Dan Auerbach)
Hynde originally shot to fame in the late 1970s as the leader of The Pretenders, whose self-titled debut produced hits such as Brass in Pocket and Kid.
The band went on to enjoy global success with Back on the Chain Gang, Don’t Get Me Wrong and I’ll Stand by You, while Hynde also built a solo career with albums including 2019’s Valve Bone Woe and 2021’s Standing in the Doorway.
Her latest project comes less than a year after The Pretenders’ 2023 album Relentless, which was followed by a world tour and live record Kick ’em Where It Hurts.
Alongside her music, Hynde has continued her work as a painter, with her Hynde Sight II exhibition currently running at Harvey & Woodd in Edinburgh until 23 August.
