Chrissie Hynde has shared a track-by-track guide to her star-studded new covers album, ‘Duets Special’, where she talks about how Brandon Flowers was the “perfect fit” for the project and more. Check it out exclusively on NME below.
The new record from the Pretenders frontwoman is set to arrive tomorrow (Friday October 17) via Parlophone (pre-order/pre-save here). Comprising 13 tracks, the project boasts team-ups with the likes of The Killers‘ frontman, Blondie‘s Debbie Harry, Depeche Mode‘s Dave Gahan and Garbage‘s Shirley Manson.
‘Duets Special’ also features the late Mark Lanegan on a rendition of Elvis Presley‘s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’, as well as collaborations with Dan Auerbach, Cat Power, Alan Sparhawk and more.
She explained in the Q&A that she didn’t get the chance to meet Lanegan before his death in 2022, and talked about why she decided to cover a Morrissey classic with Power, as well as revealing her “highlight” of the LP and which collaborator she has an “odd thing in common” with. Read in full below.
Let’s talk about the collaborations on ‘Duets Special’. The album opens with ‘Me And Mrs Jones’ with k.d. lang. You first crossed paths with k.d. on the ‘Tame Yourself’ album for PETA, is that right?
“I met k.d. on a tour we did. Very early days. It was up in Canada and we bonded right from the start because of our mutual interest in animal welfare. PETA stuff followed.”
Your performance at the ‘Mark Lanegan 60’ concert last year was symbolic of how special a person and artist Mark was. What was it like singing Elvis‘ ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ with him?
“I never got to meet him. I read his book Sing Backwards And Weep and only then got familiar with his music. Then I realised what I had been missing. A great, great singer and songwriter. We emailed, and I was so looking forward to meeting him. But fate had other ideas.”
Of all the Rolling Stones‘ songs you could have chosen, what led you and Lucinda Williams to sing ‘Sway’?
“I always dug the song, and so did Lu.”
Next up is ‘Dolphins’. You interviewed Tim Buckley when you were working for the NME. Was it important to include one of his songs on ‘Duets Special’?
“Well it’s a Fred Neil song, but Tim did the definitive version. He was one of my favourite all-time singers.”
Tell us about your friendship with Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power. You have toured together and spoken to Chan for Interview Magazine. What does ‘First Of The Gang To Die’ mean to you both?
“She’s a mate. We did a tour together and I’m a huge fan. She has such a distinctive voice and style. We both loved the song. Morrissey being one of our best ever songwriters.”
‘Always On My Mind’ is another song most people associate with Elvis. What does Elvis’ music mean to you and Rufus?
“I’m pretty sure Elvis’ music means a lot to any artist. He was the King.”
How did you first come to connect with Carleen Anderson? There’s a great photograph of you, Carleen and Lalah Hathaway together at a Billie Holiday tribute in 2004. Together, you’ve chosen Brenda Holloway’s ‘Every Little Bit Hurts’…
“That’s when I met Carleen. We discovered that day that we had a mutual friend, the guitar player Donnie Baker. A Cleveland guy. Then I became pals with Carleen who is the best soul singer alive.”
What drew you to 10cc‘s ‘I’m Not In Love’? Why was that song right for Brandon Flowers?
“I’m mates with Kevin Godley, a good friend. I think I must have seen Kevin recently around the time, and was thinking about him. Great song. Brandon was the perfect fit with his beautiful voice.”
You chose a John Lennon song from The Beatles‘ catalogue, ‘It’s Only Love’. What was it like to sing John’s lines with his son Julian?
“I’ve met Julian and seen him perform. He is so talented. I didn’t know if he’d be up for singing one of his father’s songs. But he obviously was, and it was a highlight to sing along with him.”
Why did you choose a Low song, ‘Try To Sleep’, to sing with Debbie Harry? This is an exciting and unexpected surprise.
“I loved Low – one of my all-time favourite bands. I toured with Debbie in Australia and thought her voice would suit it. I love her low-key, dignified approach. A great surprise that I got to sing with her!”
Your performance with Alan Sparhawk on ‘County Line’ is beautiful…
“I love it too. It was Benji’s idea. I originally had in mind for Mimi Parker to sing it but then Mimi died. So I sheepishly approached Alan, and he agreed to do it. I love his voice.”
How did you and Alan meet?
“I saw Low play and hung around after, as I was dying to meet them. I struck up a conversation with Mimi and told her Deb and I were doing her song for a duets album, and she stopped me in my tracks when she said point-blank, ‘Why didn’t you ask me to sing one with you?’ My excuse was that I didn’t know her – which was the truth – but I did after that night and sent her the song.
Tell us about working with Shirley Manson on ‘Love Letters’. You’ve known each other for a long time…
“Shirley and I have an odd thing in common. She’s from South Queensferry, Scotland, where I’ve spent time. Not many people can say that who aren’t from there. I’ve been a fan since the first Garbage album.”
The Pretenders covered ‘Little Latin Lupe Lu’, and here you return to The Righteous Brothers with The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach. What does their music mean to you?
“I didn’t even know they did ‘Little Latin Lupe Lu’. I only knew the Mitch Ryder version. But I sure remembered The Righteous Brothers singing ‘You’re My Soul’. I’ve worked with Dan, and he’s one of my guitar heroes. He’s such a great producer and songwriter, and I wondered if those talents overshadow what a great singer he is. So I wanted to get his voice to highlight the fact.”
The tracklist for Chrissie Hynde’s ‘Duets Special’ is:
‘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)
Speaking previously about the origins of ‘Duets Special’, Chrissie Hynde explained that she’d “never thought” about doing something like it before. “I think the idea came about in 2023,” she said.
“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’ follows on from Hynde’s second full-length solo album ‘Valve Bone Woe’ (2019) – a jazz-inspired covers collection – and 2021’s ‘Standing In The Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan’.
In 2015, Brandon Flowers was joined by Hynde at a London gig for a performance of ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’. The following year, The Black Keys’ Auerbach appeared on stage with The Pretenders on The Late Show.
This summer, Hynde attended one of Oasis’ Live ’25 reunion shows at Wembley Stadium in London earlier this month, alongside the former Smiths guitarist and his daughter Sonny, as well as Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne.
Chrissie Hynde & Pals’ ‘Duets Special’ is out tomorrow (Friday October 17) via Parlophone (pre-order/pre-save here). She is performing in the BBC Radio 2 Piano Room tonight (October 16).
