Linda Thompson Teams With Rufus Wainwright For Gripping Original Ballad “Darling This Will Never Do”

New York Album Release Show Set For June 30 At City Winery

Linda Thompson has returned today with a new original song, “Darling This Will Never Do,” which is given voice by the folk-rock icon’s longtime friend and collaborator Rufus Wainwright. The latest preview of Proxy Music - Thompson’s brilliantly-titled first album since 2013 - “Darling This Will Never Do” draws on Wainwright’s rich vocals to create a timeless jazz ballad about a romance where the protagonist has “lived a lifetime before we met.” Co-written and produced by her son Teddy Thompson, Linda says of the new release: “Rufus jumps out of the track from the first instant. He has the perfect voice for this throwback about a May/December romance.” It’s the type of collaboration that can only come from a lifetime of familiarity - Thompson was close friends with Rufus’ mother (and fellow folk music great) Kate McGarrigle, which has led to them working together many times over the decades.

Listen to “Darling This Will Never Do” here: https://youtu.be/d2mdxrTt8hk 

Pre-order Proxy Music here, out June 21 on StorySound: https://ffm.to/proxymusic

Similarly to “Darling This Will Never Do,” each of the eleven tracks on Proxy Music find Linda Thompson’s new original songs brought to life by a handpicked ensemble of her closest family, friends and admirers. These include Rufus and Teddy, as well as Martha Wainwright, The Proclaimers, John Grant, Dori Freeman, The Unthanks, Ren Havieu, Eliza Carthy and Linda’s daughter Kami Thompson. Despite vocal limitations, caused by a rare condition known as spasmodic dysphonia, Thompson—praised by Rolling Stone for possessing "one of rock and roll’s finest voices"—demonstrates her enduring songwriting prowess and versatility throughout.

The album's "proxy" theme extends seamlessly to its artwork, where Linda Thompson dons the iconic outfit from Roxy Music's debut cover, showcasing not only her musical depth and poignant compositions, but also her often-overlooked sense of humor. For his part, Bryan Ferry was quick to show support for the project - entering the YouTube comment section for “Solitary Traveler," Linda’s just-released collaboration with her daughter Kami Thompson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms79jat63Zg

Thompson will celebrate the release of Proxy Music with collaborators Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright, and John Grant who - along with friends Jill Sobule, Tammy Faye Starlite and Syd Straw - will perform at City Winery in New York City on June 30th, with Linda Thompson in attendance. Linda is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of her 1974 masterpiece with Richard Thompson -  I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight - which was released on April 30 of that year, and has gone on to be named among the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time by Rolling Stone and MOJO's 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made.

Find more information on the New York album release show visit: https://citywinery.com/new-york-city/events/linda-thompson-presents-proxy-music-teddy-thomps-cfupxt

Proxy Music Track Listing:

1. The Solitary Traveller - Kami Thompson

2. Or Nothing at All - Martha Wainwright

3. Bonnie Lass - The Proclaimers

4. Darling This Will Never Do - Rufus Wainwright

5. I Used To Be So Pretty - Ren Harvieu

6. John Grant - John Grant

7. Mudlark - The Rails

8. Shores of America - Dori Freeman

9. That’s the Way the Polka Goes - Eliza Carthy

10. Three Shaky Ships - The Unthanks

11. Those Damn Roches - Teddy Thompson

Follow Linda Thompson:

Website / YouTube