Easy Come, Easy Go is the third album of Marianne’s to be produced by Hal Willner (the others being Strange Weather and Blazing away). Marianne and Hal have been close friends since they've met, back in 1982, and have worked together on many different projects over the years, (most recently on three songs from Marianne’s acclaimed last album "Before the Poison") but Easy Come, Easy Go is their first complete studio album since Strange Weather, more than 20 years ago. Like that earlier album, Easy Come Easy Go is a collection of songs written by others and interpreted by Marianne. When Strange Weather was released in 1987, it was quickly hailed as one of Marianne’s finest recordings, so this time around the challenge was really high: Marianne and Hal had to make an album that was at least as good. Both artists have risen to the challenge beautifully: they achieve a timeless recording, a masterpiece. All the songs have been chosen by Marianne and Hal, and range from Billie Holiday’s "Solitude" to "The Crane Wife" by current band The Decemberists. Other tracks are "Sing Me Back Home" by Merle Haggard, "Children of Stone" by Espers, the title track " Easy Come, Easy Go Blues" by Bessie Smith, Morrissey’s "Dear God Please Help Me", Dolly Parton’s "Down from Dover " and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s "Salvation". Easy Come, Easy Go also includes some interesting guest vocalists; Keith Richards appears on the aforementioned "Sing Me Back Home" Antony Hegarty on "Oo Baby Baby" and Jarvis Cocker on Sondheim’s "Somewhere". Other guest appearances on the album come from Rufus Wainwright who contributes powerful vocals to "Children of stone”' while his aunt and mother Kate and Anna McGarrigle enchant on the "The Flandyke shore". Warren Ellis plays his magic violin on 3 songs, and Nick Cave lends some vocals to "The Crane Wife". Sean Lennon and Teddy Thompson play guitar on a couple of the tracks, and Cat Power harmonizes on "Hold On, Hold On". The album was recorded live in the oldest recording studio in Manhattan the famous Sear Sound. The arrangements are by Cohen Bernstein and Weinberg Goldstein and were done specifically for Marianne. The String and Horn sections were led by L. Picket, and the band includes Marc Ribot, Greg Cohen, Rob Burger, Barry Reynolds and Jim White. Very few takes were needed; in fact some of the songs were done in a single take (London sound engineers in the 60s use to call her Marianne "one take Faithfull"). Infact there are very few overdubs on this recording.

I remain a fan of Hal Willner and Marianne Faithfull. I still listen to both Strange Weather and Blazing Away. A few years ago I drove to San Francisco to see her play the Devil in the Black Rider. She was(in my best James Lipton Via Will Farrell...) exquisite!

Somewhere in the Fresh Air archive is a great interview with her. I will be looking forward to this.

But of course, it's already out in Europe... so should I be counting this for my Best of 2008 list, or hold it over until next year?

By the way: why did they need two CDs for 18 tracks? Didn't they stand on one? Can some covers be that long?

Yeesh-- Amazon says this is coming out December 9th, Pitchfork says January 19, and Faithfull's publicist told me this morning it wouldn't be until March. I wish these people could get their story straight!

But of course, it's already out in Europe... so should I be counting this for my Best of 2008 list, or hold it over until next year?

You just create new categories. It can land in the general list for Best of 2008. Then, in 2009, create a seperate list for domestic reissues. Even if it only had one album, the problem is solved.