Customer Reviews

Nancy in London

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Remember, the pop ideological conflict going on in the 1960's, whether it be mods versus rockers or hipsters versus the squares? Well, on her third outing, Nancy Sinatra veers more to the squares corner, as evidenced from the opener, "On Broadway" and "The End." Lots of horns and strings there.

"Step Aside" is a humorous number about an obnoxious jerk of a boyfriend. Dig the latter part of the chorus: "Step aside and let me through/or I may walk right over you." And this bit here: "You have made it plain to see/what you really think of me/I don't want to hear another word you say/cuz, if I listen anymore/you might be talking from the floor." That's tellin' him, Nancy! Remember, those boots are still made for walkin'!
A cousin of this song might be Blondie's "Just Go Away."

Favorite songs are the lush "I Can't Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree," her duet with Lee Hazlewood on "Summer Wine," "Friday's Child," "100 Years," and the incomparable "You Only Live Twice."

"Peaches" has as its message that love is for those who seek it and how impossible it is for someone who's full of love to give to someone who doesn't want it. Sample lyrics: "Love is an illusion that must end in sad confusion/if that's what you feel/that's just how it will be." and "for you can't be loved unless you want to be."

She seems to be some kind of siren on "Summer Wine," with Lee Hazlewood the cowboy who's overcome by the title beverage, losing his silver spurs and $1.10. What is summer wine? "Strawberries, cherries, and an angels kissing spring/My summer wine is really made from all these things." She only sings the chorus while Lee sings the verses. Great one, there.

The depressing bluesy-soul of "Friday's Child" is one of my favorite Nancy Sinatra tunes. "Friday's child/Hard luck is her brother, Friday's child/her sister's misery, Friday's child/her daddy they call hard times." The second verse has personal parallels with me: "Friday's child/born a little ugly, Friday's child/good looks passed her by, Friday's child/makes something look like nothing." A more refined version is on Movin' With Nancy.

On "100 Years," Nancy sings how she'll hold out for her ideal mate. A summary of this song is in the closing lyrics: "For me true love could be 100 years away, and if it is, I'll wait."

As for "You Only Live Twice," it's the best James Bond song hands down, with its beautiful strings and the words explaining the title track, "One life for yourself and one life for your dreams." I have major beef with Robbie Williams for sampling such a lovely song like "You Only Live Twice" for his piddling song "Millennium." "Twice" and "Peaches" are the two best reasons for buying this album.

Other bits: she does a decent cover of Dusty Springfield's "Wishin' And Hopin'." And there's yet another duet with her "dear old Dad." While I like "Life's A Trippy Thing" better than "Somethin' Stupid," it clearly shows her to be on the non-hip "goodies" side. "Getting stoned on sunshine, getting high on air." is clearly a dig at the hippie scene. She'd be marching along with Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, and Lulu. "Shades" and "Hutchison Jail" play a little on the country side.

A change of style for Nancy, but made wonderful by her singing them so well and coming out on her own instead of being eclipsed by her famous father.

"Nancy In London" (1966) is perhaps Nancy's most overlooked album. The reason may be that the "hit" it was based around was "Friday's Child," which only charted as high as #36 on Billboard. However, it deserves a second look, if not a first, as this album proves Nancy's sensational musical ability and versatility. Each track tackles different genres and Nancy glides through each with tremendous ease. "On Broadway," the lead-off is a bright and brassy '60s gem, which is followed by the soft "The End." Within these first two tracks we hear Nancy's incredible abilities, switching from loud, bright vocals to a more delicate, softer arrangement. The country flavored "Step Aside," is next and is a delight. This is followed by"I Can't Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree," which may be one of Nancy's most overlooked songs. There aren't enough words to describe the brilliance of the next track, "Summer Wine," a duet with Lee Hazlewood. "Wishin' & Hopin'" (the Bacharach-David tune) and "This Litte Bird" are great. "Shades," the next track is a bit of a downer, but picks right up with the next song "The More I See You." Switching back to country, "Hutchinson Jail" comes next, but falls short of the excitement of the previous country number "Step Aside." "Friday's Child," (noted by Nancy many times as a personal favorite) is a beautiful '60s power-ballad. The version contained on such hits packages as Rhino's "The Hit Years," is a vibrant rendition whereas the album version is more subdued, and screams '60s pop. However, in some aspects the album version is better, but lacks the powerful vocal ability of the single version. "Nancy In London," from the first listen proves to be a delight and the four bonus tracks included on the CD match the excitement of the original album. "100 Years" is an emotional, beautiful power-ballad and "You Only Live Twice" is perhaps the BEST James Bond theme ever. Nancy's relaxed vocals behind the brassy arrangement are mesmerizing. "Tony Rome" (another movie theme from the same-titled film starring dad Frank) is fun, yet corny, but not so much as the last track "Life's A Trippy Thing," a duet with dad Frank. One has to wonder what Nancy and Frank were thinking when they agreed to record a song which exclaims "I'm proud to be a ding-a-ling." Uh, ok. It's goofy, but OH so much fun and "Nancy In London" is pure '60s magic!

This lp/cd has long been a Nancy Sinatra triumph in my book. It strikes a common chord with it's pop/country tinges,and Sinatra's alto fits most of the tunes perfectly.
The hit "Fridays' child" is a morose almost comical bitter tune about a misbegotten girl,tough as nails and morbid to boot!
Nancy's sweet version of "THe end" has a simplicity that delivers it's sweet paen to endings.."Shades" reminds us that above all Nancy is the queen of cool sixties..She scores again with the poignant "I can't grow cherrys on an apple tree. A song that reminds us of ur emotional desires and their limits.
The cover of this cd/lp is pure carnaby street...but the recordings have little to do with London..but it's fashionable!!
This cd,and Country my way are two of Nancy's best.Buy it if you like simple straight-shooting pop music!!

Don't let the first two tracks throw you-this album is still classic Nancy even while she does Barbra style tracks such as On Broadway. The End is a beautiful ballad but the album gets fun by Step Aside. I can't grow peaches on a cherry tree is a swingy tune that does have a bit of that London feel. Wishin and Hopin is such a good song and this may not be the best version but Nancy makes it her own. This Little Bird when compared to Marianne Faithfull's version is not as successful as her as tears go by cover was, Nancy uses her deep voice and I would have prefered her to have been softer with it. However the next track and the one after that more than makes up for this flaw-The More I See You has to be one of Nancy's best songs-the arrangement is great and she sounds beautiful. Huthinson Jail is a country influenced ditty which is fine filler. This does not contain the better version of Friday's child which is also on her Hits album.
100 years is excellent, The next two songs are from soundtracks and Life is a trippy thing is a dated yet still fun to listen to duet with her dad.
Overall another excellent pop album!

"Nancy In London" . . .ahhh . . . put this cd on your cd-player and enter a truly magical time . . . London in the sixties . . . yet "always now" and aways contemporary and always "the present".

Nancy delivers a most moving rendition of the Earl Grant song, "The End" -- this cd would be worth owning even if that were the only track on it . . . but Nancy Sinatra draws you in to so much more.

She hits you right in the face withher edgy, "Step Aside" (you're standin' in my way . . . " -- and when Nancy sings it, you know you'd darn well better step aside . . .and you'd better add "excuse me" to our vocabulary in response! ha! :) (Dominatrixes Beware!) ha!

She simgs the haunting "I Can't Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree" . . . a kind of lament that a love so much dreamed, wanted, and desired an never be what it should be . . . resignation tinged by disappointed hopes.

Nancy brings her own "charm" to Dusty Springfield's "Wishin' And Hopin'" . . . Nancy's more mellow-blue eyed soul delivery fts the song just the way it should.

She does a great version of the Marianne Faithful classic, "This Little Bird" . . . it sounds like it had been written specifically for Nancy . . . she can add a sad/hauntin/longing feel to her voice that very few others can.

"Shades" -- I love this song . . . "These shades can't hide a broken heart . . . these shades i'll keep on wearin' . . . as long as i'm still carin" . . . " - one of Nancy's all time best tracks ever!

. . . And Lee Hazlewood . . . Nancy sings his country thang: "Hutchinson Jail" - (it's cold cold Cold COLD . .. it's cold in the Hutchinson Jail." and the one which received a lot of radio play and is a Nancy-Classic: "Friday's Child"! (that's me!)

(there are also added bonus tracks accompanying this "original album reissue".

All of Nancy Sinatra's albums are well worth buying and owning and listening to . . . but be sure to not pass-up this "Nancy In London" cd! -- You will be more than happy that you have it . . it may never leave your cd changer!

Thank You Ms Nancy Sinatra for all of your great music and recordings . . . and a very very special "thank you" for "Nancy In London"! :)

With 15 tracks to this wonderful album, consisting of many Lee Hazlewood written songs, Nancy displays great talent in delivering the gold. Nancy proves once more that her talents are endless.

As a Nancy Sinatra fan, this is one of my more favorite albums that I have as of right now - there are a lot of good songs.

The favorites of mine on here are "Summer Wine" (Written by L.Hazlewood) - a catchy song, delightful lyrics, the right blend of sass, very scandalous.

"Wishin' and Hopin" (Not a Hazlewood song) - catchy indeed. Nancy tells women how to please their men by treating them right.

"Friday's Child" (L.Hazlewood) - a great display of singing talent and great lyrics by the mentor himself.

"100 Years" (L.Hazlewood) - one of my more favorite songs, it has a nice beat and nice lyrics. It tells about a girl not wanting to live a false love life and tells how she's not falling in love until 100 years away when she finds true love.

"Tony Rome" (L.Hazlewood) - this song is very catchy. I'm pretty much guessing that this Tony Rome guy is a real lady's man and has an irresistible charm - then ends up using women and stealing their hearts.. and jewelry. Mothers, lock your daughters in!

"You Only Live Twice" (L.Hazlewood) - Lee Hazlewood truely shines in his lyrics - and Nancy shines in her singing. This song is the theme to the 1967 James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice." This is a very nice love song with elegant lyrics and Nancy delivers the song with her attractive voice.

Overall, 5/5 on this album. Nancy and Lee sure did a great song stringing this album together. It's well worth a listening too.

Nancy in London was Nancy's 3rd album released on the Reprise label in 1966. I first heard this album when I got the CD. Most of the songs I love so much. The bonus tracks are great as well. Back in 2000, I found a copy of this album on LP at a flea market, and was very glad to see that it was still in excellent condition. My uncle had a copy of this album years ago (he got it as a birthday present back in '66 or in '67). A few years ago, he gave me his copy because he knew that I am a big fan of Nancy. The copy he gave me was so worn he had played it to death over the years, and it didn't have its back cover. Didn't matter to me, because I knew that I already had one that was in better condition. Anyway, regarding the tracks on the album that I like, On Broadway has a nice sound to it, done Nancy's way (George Benson had released a version of this song in the '70s, having a more soulful groove). Step Aside is what I consider to be somewhat relatively similar to her smash hits These Boots are Made For Walkin' and How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?, because of the lyrics, but this one has a milder and softer sound to it, while those previous two songs had a rock-oriented sound and a greater amount of warning and sass to the man telling him to watch himself. I Can't Grow Peaches.... is a great song, but has a sad lyric to it. Summer Wine is a great one, too, she and Lee Hazlewood dueted on this one. Friday's Child is excellent, where the subject of this song is in regards to a girl with difficult issues. The bonus tracks are a joy. 100 Years has a western-like sound to it, with a couple of loud moments to it. You Only Live Twice, which is from the James Bond movie of the same title, is another one of her best known hits. This one has a classical music-like sound to it. Life's a Trippy Thing is full of happiness and joy. She and father Frank were great singing together on it. There are several other songs on this album that I like as well, but my review here is fine enough. All I can say is that this album title should be a part of everyone's music library.

I have a special fondness for "Boots," Nancy Sinatra's debut album, but "Nancy in London" is probably her best album, although none of the songs especially prove the title in any significant way. This remastered version makes this point obvious by tacking on four additional tracks including her title songs for the films "You Only Live Twice" and "Tony Rome" along with "Life's a Trippy Thing" the "other" song with Daddy Dearest (and "100 Years" is probably the best of that bunch anyway). Nancy Sinatra always tried to sing a lot of different songs, which explains why you get from "On Broadway," and "I Can't Grow Peaches on a Cherry Tree" on the same side of the album. "Summer Wine" is the second best of her duets with Lee Hazzlewood (after "Some Velvet Morning") and "Friday's Child" is one of her best vocal works (compare it with the "Wishin' and Hopin'" to see the contrast and what the lady could do when she put her mind to it). The other thing I came away from listening to this album again was the realization that Lee Hazzlewood wrote lots of her songs besides their duets: "Friday's Child," "100 Years," "Tony Rome," and "The Last of the Secret Agents" from just this album alone. I always liked their duets best of all, but now I am impressed with his abilities as a songwriter of such a wide variety of songs. How come I never noticed this before? Could it have something to do wtih those white go-go boots Nancy was always wearing? Yeah, that is probably it...

This was Nancy Sinatra's third album. Instead of recording in Los Angeles as she previously did, she traveled to London to make this album. That proved to be a mistake. Instead of recording with hip young Los Angeles session musicians, she recorded with middle aged (or older) orchestral musicians. Of course, these older gentlemen were talented musicians, but their style was wrong for Nancy. There were some good songs recorded at these sessions, but they are relatively "lifeless" when compared to her other recordings. I'm probably not the only person who feels that way, because this was the worst selling album Nancy recorded for Reprise Records. The CD contains four bonus tracks, which are all non-LP singles.