Few times in my life have I ever been as enraged as I was when I read the iTunes reviewer's disgusting words about this album. His pitiful half-ass excuse for an opinion read: "Unexceptional debut album built around "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" and covers of contemporary rock and pop hits, with a couple of other Lee Hazlewood songs." I seriously doubt this turd even listened to any of the songs past the 30-second preview mark before scribbling down his whopping sentence of a review; I mean, that Nickelback isn't gonna listen to itself, ya know!? This is an absolutely incredible piece of work. It's very apparent that no one was holding a gun to Nancy's head saying, "Cover these songs, or else!!" There's some real soul here. Aside from her voice being sickeningly beautiful, it's dripping with love and respect for these already amazing songs. The music on the record is also amazing; the studio super group known as The Wrecking Crew worked with Hazelwood and backed Sinatra to help sculpt these gems. Covering pop songs while they were still fresh-outta-the-dryer was definitely not uncharted territory in the late '60s, but these selections were not cut from that same cloth. While mundane barely-altered versions were the norm in those days, Sinatra, Hazelwood and The Wrecking Crew did just the opposite on most of these songs. They created rich, vibrant, and barely-recognizable variations of these previously unmistakable hits. The Rolling Stones' own the writing credits to the first track on Boots, but Sinatra and friends take "As Tears Go By" to a new level making it one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The Beatles' "Day Tripper" has the next slot on the album; the rendition here is extremely similar to the original. The fun difference is that the guitar has been replaced by a horn section, while a stand-up bass, simple piano, and lively percussion pound out the accompanying music. "I Move Around," the first of the Lee Hazelwood originals on Boots, is an extremely impressive, deep, and somber cut. Nancy almost speaks rather than sings on the song, but triumphant trumpets and some wonderful backing vocals by Sinatra make this one of my favorites. Next comes a cute cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe," followed by the jam "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Vance-Pockriss's "In My Room" is pounded out next and definitely holds the title for most epic track. The Knickerbockers' "Lies" is next, then Hazelwood's second original song "So Long, Babe" dazzles us. Beginning the wind-down of the record is a really great cover of The Statler Brothers' "Flowers On The Wall." Next to last on the album comes the lovely Rilo Kiley-ish "If He'd Love Me," then a jazzed-up version of The Beatles' "Run For Your Life" closes the whole thing out. There is no getting around the quality and strength of this record. It's just plain great - and so deserving of your time and attention.
Monday, December 20, 2010
#7/1000: Nancy Sinatra "Boots" (1966)
Few times in my life have I ever been as enraged as I was when I read the iTunes reviewer's disgusting words about this album. His pitiful half-ass excuse for an opinion read: "Unexceptional debut album built around "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" and covers of contemporary rock and pop hits, with a couple of other Lee Hazlewood songs." I seriously doubt this turd even listened to any of the songs past the 30-second preview mark before scribbling down his whopping sentence of a review; I mean, that Nickelback isn't gonna listen to itself, ya know!? This is an absolutely incredible piece of work. It's very apparent that no one was holding a gun to Nancy's head saying, "Cover these songs, or else!!" There's some real soul here. Aside from her voice being sickeningly beautiful, it's dripping with love and respect for these already amazing songs. The music on the record is also amazing; the studio super group known as The Wrecking Crew worked with Hazelwood and backed Sinatra to help sculpt these gems. Covering pop songs while they were still fresh-outta-the-dryer was definitely not uncharted territory in the late '60s, but these selections were not cut from that same cloth. While mundane barely-altered versions were the norm in those days, Sinatra, Hazelwood and The Wrecking Crew did just the opposite on most of these songs. They created rich, vibrant, and barely-recognizable variations of these previously unmistakable hits. The Rolling Stones' own the writing credits to the first track on Boots, but Sinatra and friends take "As Tears Go By" to a new level making it one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The Beatles' "Day Tripper" has the next slot on the album; the rendition here is extremely similar to the original. The fun difference is that the guitar has been replaced by a horn section, while a stand-up bass, simple piano, and lively percussion pound out the accompanying music. "I Move Around," the first of the Lee Hazelwood originals on Boots, is an extremely impressive, deep, and somber cut. Nancy almost speaks rather than sings on the song, but triumphant trumpets and some wonderful backing vocals by Sinatra make this one of my favorites. Next comes a cute cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe," followed by the jam "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Vance-Pockriss's "In My Room" is pounded out next and definitely holds the title for most epic track. The Knickerbockers' "Lies" is next, then Hazelwood's second original song "So Long, Babe" dazzles us. Beginning the wind-down of the record is a really great cover of The Statler Brothers' "Flowers On The Wall." Next to last on the album comes the lovely Rilo Kiley-ish "If He'd Love Me," then a jazzed-up version of The Beatles' "Run For Your Life" closes the whole thing out. There is no getting around the quality and strength of this record. It's just plain great - and so deserving of your time and attention.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment