Customer Reviews

Nancy Sinatra - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

World Stars: "NANCY SINATRA Greatest Hits" with tracks of duets with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood is a collection of pure Nancy Sinatra magic!

I have all of these tracks scattered throughout other cd's and albums . . . but this collection brings together so many great pairings of Nancy with Lee Hazlewood . . . plus that marvelous recording of the Bobby Darin song "THINGS" with a voice one wants to always remember - Dean Martin and then "SOMETHING STUPID" with nancy's dad, Frank!

Too bad none of Nancy's work with mmmmmmmMel Tillis are included. :(

nancy was and is a great solo artist and performer, but she has a miraculous ability to interact and inter-play with whoever is sharing the limelight with her in any song performance . . . and one can "see" her smile and laugh and giggle as she plays with and off her song partner. Nancy doesn't just "sing" but she becomes present in the song . . . she becomes "the song" . . . there is "theater" in her delivery but you can sense her realness and honesty as well.

This is a great collection of Nancy Sinatra tracks . . . and even if you own these tracks on other albums or collections, it is worthwhile to also have THIS one (and as a bonus you get the cover art of the photo of Nancy in the company of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Lee Hazlewood -- nancy keeps great company!) ha! :)

Thank You Ms Nancy Sinatra for being a major part of the musical soundtrack of our lives . . . and for STILL making MORE music even now! :)

I did NOT assign just 3 stars to this compilation because I agree with another reviewer who regards her as the "queen of mediocrity." Rather, it's due to the complete lack of liner notes, some questionable sound quality, and the omission of some pretty significant hits in favour of obscure cuts.

Emanating from CNR Records of Belgium, tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 16 were NOT hits - not on this side of the Atlantic anyway. They may have been in Europe, but of course there are no liner notes to tell us this. "Sand" was the B-side of Lady Bird, a # 20 Billboard Pop Hot 100 duet with Hazlewood in late 1967.

Her other three hits with Lee (who passed away on August 4, 2007) are: Summer Wine (# 49 flip of Sugar Town in the spring of 1967; Jackson (# 14 Hot 100/# 39 Adult Contemporary (AC) in summer 1967); and Some Velvet Morning (# 26 in February 1968). It's also interesting to note that he also wrote the following solo hits for Nancy which are included here: So Long Babe, her first hit which only made it to # 86 in October 1965; These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (# 1 in the early part of 1966); How Does That Grab You Darlin'? (# 7 in late spring 1966); Friday's Child (# 36 in July 1966); and Sugar Town (# 1 AC/# 5 Hot 100 in late 1966).

Her biggest hit, of course, was the duet with her illustrious dad on Somethin' Stupid which soared to # 1 on both the AC and Hot 100 charts in the spring of 1967, spending nine full weeks at the top AC position and four at the Hot 100 top spot.

Rather than those non-hits mentioned above, this album would have been made somewhat better with the inclusion of: In Our Time [# 46 in the fall of 1966 and also written by Lee]; Love Eyes [# 15 Hot 100/# 30 AC in late spring 1967 and another Hazlewood composition]; Lightning's Girl [# 24 Hot 100 in October 1967]; 100 Years [# 29 AC/# 69 Hot 100 in April 1968]; Happy [# 18 AC/# 74 Hot 100 in August 1968]; Good Time Girl [# 65 Hot 100 in December 1968]; God Knows I Love You [# 40 AC/# 97 Hot 100 in April 1969]; Here We Go Again (# 19 AC/# 98 Hot 100 in June 1969); Drummer Man (# 98 Hot 100 in September 1969 featuring Hal Blaine on drums); How Are Things In California? (# 17 AC in December 1970 with The Baylor Brothers); and Feelin' Kinda Sunday (# 30 AC in January 1971 and another duet with father Frank).

Of course, those alone wouldn't turn this into a 5-star compilation unless the sound was vastly improved as well. On track 18 for example - at least on my copy - her voice only emanates from one side which is disconcerting, while the others are only "OK" in terms of sound quality. The best to be said about this CD is the inclusion of her first charted hit from 1965.

As for her ability as a singer, I don't buy into that mediocrity slight. Granted, she was no Aretha Franklin, nor did she have her dad's unique way with a song, but nevertheless she had 21 Billboard Pop Hot 100 singles, six of which went Top 40 WITHOUT Lee Hazlewood. In addition to those two AC-only charters she even had three Country hit duets with Mel Tillis in 1981 - Texas Cowboy Night (# 23), and the double-sided hit Play Me Or Trade Me, and Where Would I Be (both # 43). Not too shabby a singing career, I'd say.

Nancy made many excellent records, as this compilation shows. All the essential tracks are here, including These boots are made for walking *an international number one hit), How does that grab you darling, Highway song and Sugar town. Among Nancy's other solo tracks is the James Bond song, You only live twice.

Nancy also had several big hits via duets with Lee Hazelwood. Did you ever was a British hit, while Summer wine, Jackson and Some velvet morning were American hits. Ladybird was a hit in both countries. Nancy's most famous duet is the one she did with her father, Something stupid.

This is a great introduction to her music, but does not display the full range of her talent - for example, she did a superb country album (Country my way) which is not represented on this collection.

Twenty songs. Three I had not heard before. One of those I liked. Wish Hutchinson Jail and Lightning's Girl were included. The bass was a little overpowered on Boots and she sounded a little far from the mike at the beginning of Friday's Child. Otherwise, all the songs were as I remembered them. Nancy was never a great talent but she was and still is fun to listen to. This looked like the best available grouping of her work on one CD.

This is one of the finest collections of Nancy's songs. It includes the #1 hit "Something Stupid" with Frank Sinatra as well as classics as "Some Velvet Morning" and "Summer Wine" with Lee Hazelwood. It also includes a nice bonus, with Nancy singing "Things" with Dean Martin on her TV special "Movin' With Nancy."
This is a hard-to-find CD, because most stores usually carry her
Sundaze CD's. IT's great to see that... sells it!

i orginally ordered the CD because I really loved "Something Stupid." I wore out the 45. When the CD came, I found that I liked all the music, and I especially liked Lee Hazelwood. I was impressed that he wrote most of Nancy's songs, and his voice was kind of rough, like Kris Kristofferson. At any rate, I really like the CD and am so happy that I could obtain it.

I had the 8-Track and cassette of the 'Nancy and Lee' album. Never could find a CD version. But at last, here are all the great songs from that album and all of Nancy's hit singles as well. Also, a fine duet with Dean Martin doing 'Things'. Thank goodness for import versions of this old material. All selections have been digitally remastered and sound great. Also, all are original versions, no remakes.

There's some kind of production problem with this CD. (At least there was with the one I received.) The last two tracks (Lady Bird & So Long Babe) won't play or burn. It's an import CD, labeled "Made in Sweden" so maybe it was pressed on the cheap.

Anyway, that's a good reason to consider purchasing "Essential Nancy Sinatra" instead. It's about the same price, it has all three of Nancy's iconic chart-toppers (ie, Something Stupid, Boots Made For Walkin', Sugartown), PLUS it also has the track "Bang Bang" which this CD does not. ("Bang Bang" is well known to current audiences as being part of the "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" soundtrack.)

The tracks you get here -- but WON'T get with "Essential" -- are Summerwine, Things, Elusive Dreams, Storybook Children, Sand, Sundown,Sundown, I've Been Down So Long & Theme From "Tony Rome."

Of those listed missing, the best are probably (1) Things (a duet w/ Dino from the 1967 "Movin' With Nancy" TV special), (2) Elusive Dreams (a cover of the 1967 #1 chart-topper from Tammy Wynette & David Houston) and (3) Theme from 'Tony Rome' (not a great song, but the film's plenty memorable with Ol' Blue Eyes in the lead role as a tough P.I.)

All of the other five that are missing are country-tinged duets with Lee Hazlewood.

Of course, if you don't mind the extra bucks and the duplications, just snag 'em both.

The best Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood songs are on this CD. The way the two voices play one to another reminds me of some of the old Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong 78s. Great stuff!

This record encompasses some of the greatest hits recorded in the past by Nancy Sinatra alone (These Boots Are Made for Walking) or in duo with Lee Hazlewood (Summerwine - which is superb -), her father or Dean Martin (only one song with each) and many other songs which are not outstanding. Thus, no surprises, but a very good general impression. The price is too high!