LONDON — The haunting voice of Marianne Faithfull, the 1960s icon whose life danced between brilliance and chaos, will resonate once more with the release of four new tracks this summer, her son announced Friday. Faithfull, who passed away in January at 78, left behind a legacy as vibrant and raw as the era she helped define.
Best known for her wistful 1965 hit As Tears Go By, Faithfull lived a life that mirrored the wild pulse of London’s Swinging ‘60s—a former flame of Mick Jagger, she navigated fame, addiction, homelessness, and later, cancer. Yet her creative fire never dimmed: 21 solo albums, a Grammy nod, and roles in films like Girl on a Motorcycle cemented her as an artist who defied easy labels.
The new songs, recorded over the last year, draw inspiration from her earliest albums, circling back to the folk-pop roots that first launched her into the spotlight. Originally slated for release last month, the project was delayed after her death, according to Decca Records. The EP, titled Burning Moonlight after its lead single, dropped its first track Friday—a melancholic nod to the opening line of As Tears Go By. The full digital release hits on June 6.
“”Her rhythm never faded—music was her pulse,” Nicholas Dunbar said.. “These songs were her final gift, a way to close the chapter on her extraordinary journey.”
Faithfull herself reflected on the project shortly before her passing. “Looking back feels right now,” she told Decca. “I’m not one for nostalgia, but there’s something grounding about seeing the full arc of it all.” Her words, like her music, linger with the weight of a life fully lived.
