The Hives collaborated with Cyndi Lauper back in 2008 on the rather splendid, funny – and not a little bitter ‘ A Christmas Duel.’ You can read the Hives’ Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist explaining about how the duet came together over on Rolling Stone here in a feature from November 2008. According to Wiki, the only place where this was a proper hit was in The Hives’ native Sweden, but you can still buy the track over on iTunes. please note: that link applies only to iTunes’ British store.

Meanwhile, next year will see Cyndi Lauper release her twelfth studio album, Detour in May. According to her website, the album was recorded in Nashville and showcases her signature takes on classic country songs from the 1950’s and 60’s. The album will also feature appearances by some of country music’s “most celebrated artists” [quotation marks mine]. Detour will be Lauper’s first album for Sire Records and will be executive produced by legendary Sire founder Seymour Stein, the man who signed the Ramones and Madonna, amongst others.

The first track to do the rounds is Lauper’s cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘Hard Candy Christmas,’ which originally appeared in the Parton film The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and was also covered by Tracey Thorn on her Christmas album Tinsel and Lights.