This October, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders releases all-star duets album

Chrissie Hynde has relayed details of a new album as Chrissie Hynde & Pals titled Duets Special, due for release digitally as well as on black vinyl LP, and CD on October 17 via Rhino.

The album consists of 13 duets featuring k.d. lang, the late Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan, Cat Power, Brandon Flowers, Debbie Harry, Shirley Manson, and more. The first single, "Always On My Mind (Feat. Rufus Wainwright)," is streaming everywhere, and the album is available for pre-saves and pre-orders now.

LISTEN TO "ALWAYS ON MY MIND (FEAT. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT)"

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE DUETS SPECIAL

Speaking about the origins of the Duets Special album and "Always On My Mind," Hynde says: “I never thought about doing a Duets album before. I think the idea came about in 2023. I was talking to Jörn, Rufus Wainwright’s husband, on the phone. I think we were recommending novels to each other, and for some reason, I said Hey, maybe Rufus and I should do something, and quickly scribbled out 10 songs off the top of my head. So Jörn asked Rufus, who was up for it, and that’s how it started. A spontaneous and what I thought would be a fun thing.”

Duets Special isn't just Chrissie Hynde's fourth studio album under her own name. It follows the Pretenders’ latest studio album, Relentless, which resulted in the new live record, Kick 'em Where It Hurts. 

Outside of the studio, painting has become an inseparable part of Hynde's creative life. In the last seven years, her artwork has been exhibited to acclaim in London, New York, and Massachusetts. It has also graced the sleeve of her 2019 album of cover versions, Valve Bone Woe, as motifs on garments in Vivienne Westwood’s Spring-Summer 2021 collection, and most recently through a new exhibition of paintings titled Hynde Sight. The latest installment, Hynde Sight II is currently open at Harvey & Woodd, Edinburgh, until 23 August www.chrissiehynde.art.

Track listing:

01. Me & Mrs Jones (feat. k.d. lang)

02. Can’t Help Falling In Love (feat. Mark Lanegan)
03. Sway (feat. Lucinda Williams)
04. Dolphins (feat. Dave Gahan)
05. First Of The Gang To Die (feat. Cat Power)
06. Always On My Mind (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
07. Every Little Bit Hurts (feat. Carleen Anderson)
08. I’m Not In Love (feat. Brandon Flowers)
09. It’s Only Love (feat. Julian Lennon)
10. Try To Sleep (feat. Debbie Harry)
11. County Line (feat. Alan Sparhawk)
12. Love Letters (feat. Shirley Manson)
13. (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration (feat. Dan Auerbach)