Her to Hymn: Chrissie Hynde announces album of Dylan covers

Chrissie Hynde has announced the release of a new album of Bob Dylan covers, the Pretenders singer announced on Monday. Entitled ‘Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan’, the album will be out very shortly on May 21st via BMG, a few days before Dylan’s 80th birthday.

Talking about how the album came to be, Hynde explained that she recorded the album during the Covid-19 lockdown with her Pretenders bandmate James Walbourne:

“A few weeks into lockdown last year, James sent me the new Dylan track ‘Murder Most Foul.’ Listening to that song completely changed everything for me. I was lifted out of this morose mood that I’d been in. I remember where I was sitting the day that Kennedy was shot — every reference in the song. Whatever Bob does, he still manages somewhere in there to make you laugh because as much as anything, he’s a comedian. He’s always funny and always has something to say. That’s when I called James and said, ‘Let’s do some Dylan covers’ and that’s what started this whole thing.”

Hynde and Walbourne collaborated on the album almost entirely via text message, Walbourne recording initial ideas for each cover on his phone before sending them to Hynde, who would then record the vocals. The tracks were mixed by Tchad Blake.

The album will be accompanied by a television special, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process for the album. Produced by White Light Film Productions and directed by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, it will premiere Monday May 24th (which incidentally is Dylan’s 80th birthday) on Sky Arts here in the UK (which if you don’t need reminding is now free).

Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan Tracklist

1. In the Summertime
2. You’re a Big Girl Now
3. Standing in the Doorway
4. Sweetheart like You
5. Blind Willie McTell
6. Love Minus Zero / No Limit
7. Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight
8. Tomorrow Is a Long Time
9. Every Grain of Sand