Chrissie Hynde unveils Duets Special, 13 intimate duets, due Oct 17

Chrissie Hynde is releasing a new album that spotlights intimate duets with a wide array of collaborators, presenting 13 stripped-back performances under the title Duets Special, also described in some materials as Chrissie Hynde Pals. The collection, due for release on October 17, will arrive through Rhino/Parlophone in digital format, on black vinyl, and on CD. The project’s lead single, a piano-led reading of Always On My Mind featuring Rufus Wainwright, is arriving alongside the announcement and sets the tone for a record built on steady, melodic performances rather than grand production.

Hynde describes the project as spontaneous and fun, recounting that the idea crystallized during a 2023 conversation with Rufus Wainwright’s husband, Jörn, when she mused that she and Rufus might collaborate. She says the concept quickly grew from a casual thought into a full set of duets, with Wainwright’s enthusiasm helping to catalyze the project. The tracklist reveals a cross-generational lineup, pairing Hynde with peers and friends across rock, pop, and alt-country, including k.d. lang, the late Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan, Cat Power, Debbie Harry, Shirley Manson, Julian Lennon, Lucinda...