As one of the most prominent female musicians of the 1960s British Invasion, Marianne Faithfull rubbed elbows with countless rockstars. Big egos, larger-than-life personalities, and a propensity for debauchery were all part of the music industry deal. But surprisingly, Faithfull had some of the highest praise for a rocker typically associated with the epitome of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Four new songs recorded by Marianne Faithfull in the year prior to her death are to be released for Record Store Day on 12 April. Burning Moonlight was due for announcement in February, but postponed following Faithfull’s death on 30 January at the age of 78.

The singer and actress, who embodied the Swinging Sixties and performed for decades afterward, exuded an effortless cool.

Those who first glimpsed Marianne Faithfull in the 1960s as Mick Jagger’s angelic girlfriend, or the winsome singer of As Tears Go By, probably did not imagine she would go on to forge a career of more than 50 years as a songwriter and recording artist in her own right. Faithfull, who has died aged 78, released 22 solo albums and collaborated with many big names in music. She also had some success as an actor. All of it was achieved against a backdrop of addiction and personal struggles that she did not hide.

Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, her spokesperson has said. Born in Hampstead in December 1946, she was known for hits like As Tears Go By, which reached the UK top 10 in 1964, and for starring roles in films including 1968's The Girl On A Motorcycle. Faithfull's long-time friend, the BBC Radio 2 presenter Bob Harris, called her an "encapsulation of the sixties". He said while she initially was known for being Mick Jagger's girlfriend, through her "people began to see her as an artist, as a creator".