Marianne Faithfull

The release of British singer Marianne Faithfull's album "Easy Come, Easy Go" is the latest touchstone of a career spanning more than four decades, which has veered from her being the vibrant epitome of Swinging London to suffering from drug addiction, before making a remarkable artistic comeback.

Pop Sensation At 17

Born in Hampstead in December 1946, Faithfull was a folk singer whose chance meeting with the manager of the Rolling Stones led to her recording "As Tears Go By" by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1964. The single landed the 17-year-old on the U.K. and American charts. A string of hit singles and two debut albums followed.

Marianne And Mick

After marrying and having a child with artist John Dunbar, she left him and began an affair with Jagger. "I was a very undisciplined, temperamental little girl," Faithfull says today. She is seen here with Jagger at Heathrow Airport in London, Aug. 14, 1967.

Mod Rockers

Mick and Marianne became one of swinging London's most photographed couples. But in February 1967 British police barged into a party at Keith Richards' home. The Rolling Stones were found with drugs; Marianne was found naked, wrapped in a fur rug. Charges were later dropped, but Marianne's angelic image was disgraced.

Charged

Mick Jagger, 25, and Faithfull, 23, are shown here appearing at Marlborough St. Court for possession of marijuana, in London, June 23, 1969.

Chekhov

Faithfull's first professional stage role was in a 1967 adaptation of Chekhov's "Three Sisters" at the Royal Court in London, co-starring Avril Elgar (left), Glenda Jackson (center), George Cole and Alan Webb.

Caught On Film

She recreated her stage performance as Ophelia opposite Nicol Williamson in the 1969 film "Hamlet" (left). She also played herself in Jean-Luc Godard's "Made in U.S.A.," and appeared in "I'll Never Forget What's 'is Name," "Girl on a Motorcycle" (right), "Lucifer Rising" and Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette."

Rock And Roll Circus

In December 1968 Faithfull appeared singing "Something Better" in "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus," an event featuring such acts as The Who, Jethro Tull, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Taj Mahal, and of course the Stones. Though filmed for the BBC, it was not released until nearly 30 years later.

In Her Own Words

In her 2000 autobiography, Faithfull writes of her descent into drug addiction and suffering a miscarriage when she was eight months pregnant with Jagger's daughter. Soon after, she swallowed 150 sleeping pills. After six days in a coma, she recovered but her relationship with Jagger did not. Her addiction also cost her custody of her son.

Weill And Brecht

Faithfull starred in a Dublin production of The Threepenny Opera in 1973. She later recorded "The Seven Deadly Sins" by Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht.

"Broken English"

Faithful has called her 1979 album "Broken English" her masterpiece. It was a departure from her previous work, fusing rock, punk, dance and new wave. Her voice, now in a lower register, projected a quality matching the raw emotions of songs like "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan," "Why D'Ya Do It?" and a cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero."

Saturday Night Live

Faithfull performed "Broken English" and "Guilt" as a musical guest on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," February 9, 1980.

"Paris je t'aime"

Faithfull and American director Gus Van Sant arrive for the screening of "Paris je t'aime," at the 59th International film festival in Cannes, Thursday, May 18, 2006.

"Marie Antoinette"

Jason Schwartzman, Kirsten Dunst, director Sofia Coppola, French musician Thomas Mars, actors Steve Coogan and Marianne Faithfull, producer Ross Katz, and French actress Aurore Clement arrive for the screening of "Marie Antoinette," at the 59th Canne Film Festival, May 24, 2006.

Honor Of A Lifetime

British singer Marianne Faithfull kisses her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Womens World Awards Gala in Vienna, Austria on Thursday, March 5, 2009.

"Easy Come, Easy Go"

For her 22nd album Faithfull reteamed with longtime friend and collaborator, producer Hal Willner. The album, subtitled "18 Songs for Music Lovers," features songs written by Faithfull as well as her renditions of other classics, including Billie Holiday's "Solitude," Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home," and other songs by Bessie Smith, Morrissey, Dolly Parton, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Decemberists.

A Survivor

Having survived addiction, suicide attempts, breast cancer and other tragedies, Faithfull says she now appreciates her "pretty extraordinary life." "I really do. I think I've been unconscious for a very long time. And only now have I begun to 'get it.' As long as I got it before I croaked, I think that's the main thing."

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan