Customer Reviews

Nancy

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As the decade drew to a close, America was facing a host of tumult in the form of Vietnam, the student movements, the Nixon administration, and the Manson murders. It was also one of Nancy's latter albums, and its sound was a deep contrast to the voices of anger and frustration rising to a fever pitch.

After doing two genre albums, what's next? How about a summary of what Nancy Sinatra is all about? That is why the title Nancy is so apropos, as this album of various styles reflects who she is. There's pop ("Light My Fire"), blues ("Big Boss Man"), country ("Here We Go Again"), and torch songs ("Just Bein' Plain Old Me"). This is her mellowest album, which means her voice is at its best here, especially on the sentimental songs such as "God Knows I Love You," "I'm Just In Love" and "Memories." Yes, sweet and sentimental is the way I'd describe this album.

"Memories" that old standard "sweetened through the ages just like wine," is my big pick here. "Of lollipops and red brigades and twilights trimmed in purple haze" sums up some of the 1960's. There was the inoffensive, noncontroversial pop culture (lollipops), the more militant movements (red brigades), and the acid-psychedelia movement (purple haze).

"Just Bein' Plain Old Me" means just what it says. She's content being who she is: "You'll never gonna hear me crying because I can't reach the sun./You'll never see me trying to change places with anyone"

Other notes: "Long Time Woman" shows her loving and patient side, saying that all these one-night stands are nothing compared to the one who'll stay faithful forever. "Nice 'N' Easy" could've belonged to Sugar as a B-side single. "Old Devil Woman" shows her doing a touch of jazz with bass accompaniment. "Happy" is accompanied by a Doors-like organ and funky bass.

The slavery or chain-gang blues of "Big Boss Man" about a sadistic boss is worth its entire five minutes, especially with the blues guitar and harmonica in the middle. So for those of you with bad supervisors, tell them "You ain't so big, you just talk, that's all."

Hardcore Doors fanatics will probably want to hang her from the nearest tree and set fire to it when they hear what she did with "Light My Fire." It's been substantially slowed down, with piano and strings backing. Well, guess what? While nothing compares to the original version, I am also a Nancy Sinatra fan before being a Doors fan so lay off the matches, haters!

There isn't too much variation in her version of Dusty Springfield's "Son Of A Preacher Man." Hardly surprising, as she covered "Wishin' And Hopin'" a few albums back.

Tying with "Memories" for best song here is "Home." This stark tearjerker is her song for the soldiers in Vietnam, wondering if "there'll be a tomorrow/and will they ever see their home and their family/oh will ever be back home?" This is just Nancy singing, accompanied only by a guitar. The poignant final verse of this song captures just how many casualties incurred in that terrible conflict. "And every day some young man dies. And every night some young girl cries. He'll never hear his baby's laughter. He'll never ever see, his home and his family. Or what he's done for you and me. But I guess he's on his way back home."

By 1969, Nancy Sinatra's boots had plenty of walkin' and it was time for a new direction. Casting aside her "tough/cool" image for "lounge-cool", Nancy Sinatra recorded what is perhaps her finest album. Lee Hazelwood and Sinatra parted ways for this set and under the guidance of producer Billy Strange, Nancy displayed some of her most intimate vocals. From the haunting "Memories",to the lounge-cool classic "For Once In My Life", to country-pop splendor of "God Knows I Love You", Nancy showed she had the vocal muscle for any material. Nancy even pays tribute to her father and mother in this set, with the poignant "My Dad" and "My Mother's Eyes". A rare and wonderful album for every fan, old and new!

This was Nancy Sinatra's last album for Reprise Records. Her career had taken a downturn at this point; it had been over a year since her last hit (which did turn out to be her LAST hit). One is tempted to say that the end of her working relationship with Lee Hazlewood caused her downfall, but the last two singles Hazlewood produced for her weren't hits, either. This album was produced by Billy Strange, who was probably best known for doing the arrangements of the songs for Elvis Presley's Comeback Special. The album has an eclectic mix of song styles; with country, rock, pop and blues. Yes, Nancy Sinatra sings the blues with "Big Boss Man", and actually does a credible job. There were two singles released from the album; "God Knows I Love You" and "Here We Go Again". Both songs barely cracked the bottom of the Hot 100, although they both were good songs, with the former being a great song. The album overall is very good with a handful of original songs and some well chosen covers of recent songs (plus the not-so-recent songs "My Dad" and "My Mother's Eyes", recorded as tributes to her parents). The CD adds four bonus tracks, which were all non-LP singles. I particularly like "Home", which is a touching song about lonely soldiers in Vietnam.

It would be the last album she gave us solo till 1972's Woman and after that her music was even more scarce. This was part of Nancy's peak in output and like past albums-it has excellent originals and great covers. A Nancy fan must own!

From the romance and drama of the opener "God Knows I Love You" to her cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire" thru to Elvis' "Big Boss Man" this CD packs a heavy-lidded wallop. I would say it's Nancy's most assured record(odd since she had separated from music-partner Lee Hazelwood). Must be her choice of songs, which really show off Boots to her best advantage: story songs with intensity and passion. Some of my friends didn't care for the Doors cover, but it was never meant for the same audience. This is Nancy S. on her terms, and I just love it over & over again.

The parting of Sinatra and Hazlewood seems not to have hurt the fine music found here. True, it is a "different flavor" than heard before, but Nancy's voice has never been in better form than found on this CD. The cover photo, (where do they keep finding these fabulous photos) is a sexy, cool looking Nancy with those incredible eyes looking righ through you, and the tracks inside are sure to melt your heart. "Memories" will make you travel through your own past loves to bring a smile or tear to your eyes, while "Big Boss Man" will make you want to turn the lights down and get out the whips and chains. "Son of A Preacher Man" is a version that gives the incredible Dusty Springfield a run for the money. This is one of the BEST NANCY CD's to date, so if you are a new Nancy fan and looking for something to add to your collection after BOOTS, you won't go wrong here. If you are a seasoned fan, then be sure to walk, no, RUN to your nearest store and pick up Nancy...Twelve Ways (total No. of tracks)

1969's "Nancy" is vastly different then any of Nancy Sinatra's original Reprise albums. The tough-talkin' Nancy Sinatra that appeared on all previous albums took a back seat for a more mellow, laid-back Nancy on this album. Originally called "Nancy - Twelve Ways," this album lacks any original material by producer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood (that is, because at the time of this album, they had parted company). So, the songs are a bit different than ones on previous albums. Each songs tackles a different genre and Nancy covers many popular songs of the day. Highlights include: "God Knows I Love You," "Memories," "I'm Just In Love" and "Long Time Woman." Nancy's sweet and soulful take on the Doors' "Light My Fire" is a trip, as is "Son-of-a-Preacher Man."