Customer Reviews

Nancy Sinatra

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Nancy Sinatra - 60's pop icon (now in her 60's) meets Morrissey, a long time fan of her work. Fast friends (and later neighbours) she is keen to record one of his tracks, he provides her with his stunning Let Me Kiss You (from his You Are The Quarry album) and brokers her a record deal. Meanwhile, Nancy's daughter, AJ Azzarto (a musician herself) who has been trying to get her mother to record contemporary material since Sinatra posed nude for Playboy in 1995, recruits a bevy of famous fans to contribute to her mother's new album. Fans that include, amongst others, Jarvis Cocker, Thurston Moore, Bono & Jon Spencer (the fandom seems to be mutual as Sinatra has said that there is no one on this album that was not already in her record collection).

The result is a collection of songs that keep the essence of Sinatra's 60's sound but placed it in a modern context. The clean production fuses with the unique style to create something familiar yet fresh. Nancy's voice is immediately as arresting and unconventional as it was in the days of These Boots Are Made For Walkin'.

Nancy Sinatra opens with the excellent 'Burnin' Down The Spark' (written by Joey Burns of Calexico) and the stage is set with a Lee Hazlewood/Billy Strange-styled western mini-epic complete with Mariachi trumpets, pedal steel guitar. The album is bursting with great country and rock pop songs. There's also ballads (Morrissey's contribution Let Me Kiss You is even more stunning with Sinatra at the mike) and even a Vegas cabaret track originally written for her father by Bono & The Edge ('Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad'). 'Momma's Boy' places Sinatra in the context of a Sonic Youth song (it's good but perhaps the only track that doesn't make the most of her voice). Jarvis Cocker's tracks give Sinatra some feisty lyrics as she demolishes a cad to a friend ("he can kiss you where the sun don't shine").

Nancy Sinatra sounds less of a comeback and more of a revival, in this short review space I can hardly do it justice (and I could write for days about Sinatra's career and influence on modern artists - Robbie Williams for example). Suffice to say that Nancy Sinatra gives us back a great artist in a context that makes her totally relevant and more powerful than ever. The temptation is strong to create a wishlist of artists she should work with on the next album, apparently she has already been in touch with Billy Idol(!) Bring on the Magnetic Fields Stephin Merrit, Australia's Dave Graney, how about Nancy singing the song that ripped off her work, Milennium (there's irony...). Nancy Sinatra is superb.

I have to disagree with some of the negative reviews of this CD.
I was expecting to be bored out of my mind, as I was with Nancy's
"country" CD in the 90s. I find this album to be a pleasant
surprise, with Nancy sounding great for her age. Yes, there are
a few quick spots where she "wobbles" a bit, but for the most
part, these performances would have been right at home on her
60's records. I like the way the production has a modern sound,
but the overall feel is definitely retro. And by that I mean
good, concisely written songs that have some substance, as
opposed to the dreck that rules the airwaves these days. There
are one or two less-than-great moments, particularly "Momma's
Boy", a song that stands out like a sore thumb. But out of 11
songs, I'd say 7 or 8 of them are really good. Standouts for
me are "Burning Down The Spark", "About A Fire", and "Bossman".
If you are a fan of fun pop records, I'd say give it a try!

"Nancy Sinatra" - the self titled 2004 album by the "classiest rocker in rockdom" more than lives-up to the name and heritage we have come to rely on from the name, "Sinatra" . . . and particularly from a Sinatra named "Nancy"!

The opening track, "Burnin' Down The Spark" catches you and hooks you into its rockin' melody and mariachi . . .and you know that Nancy Sinatra hasn't ever gone away . . . she's here . . . and get ready to enjoy the ride.

"Ain't No asy Way" is so reminiscent of Nancy's duet work with Lee Hazlewood . . .you think that Lee just might be lurking around the corner and might "pop in" at any minute. :)

"Don't Mean Nothning" is one of those "pondering" songs which Nancy does so well . . . one of those sad conversatons that we hold with ourselves when thngs go wrong that should have gone so right

My favorite track on this album is "Baby's Coming Back To Me" -- it's classic Nancy. . . could have appeared on anyof her albums and it purrrrrrfectly! -- this song sounds like what might have happened if Nancy Sinatra became John Lennon and became the lead singer for a sixties "girl group" . . . if you could "imagine" that! :) neat!

The last of the eleven tracks is Bono's "Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad" -- picure Nancy, standing by a piano, late night, "saloon singer" as her dad Frank might call it, delivering this intimate reverie. I can actually "see" Frank standing there, smiling . .. waiting to sing his part . . . well, Frank, not to worry, Nancy has done it for you . . .and I know that you're proud . . . she's kept the tradition alive . . . "Sinatra Lives!" --- and Bono wrote the perfect song to capture the spirit and the mood.

Nancy Sinatra is "now" . . . she is contemporary . .. she is current . . . but she is also our past, our hertitage . . . she's "classic"

Thank you Nancy Sinatra for yet another album of songs we will isten to and cherish for years . . . and decades yet to come. :)

Got Nancy's new CD last Thurs in the UK - bad shop violated the street date. It's simply the best thing that she has ever done - well IMHO anyway. Just shows that with good production & a careful choice of modern day songwriters & songs the 'older lady' can still be meaningful & successful in 2004. Best tracks are 'Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad', 'Don't Mean Nothing' & Momma's Boy'. I can now add Nancy's name to those of Loretta Lynn & Marianne Faithfull who just seem to get better with age.

For those of us who do "get it", this album is fantastic! I love "Momma's Boy" - a brilliant and daring departure for Nancy and possible inspiration for another Quentin T movie as was her "Bang, Bang". There are so many great tracks on this album. Thank you, Nancy!

Purring, velvety vocals; shimmering production; pure pop songs--this is an amazing album! Nancy Sinatra has gathered a tremendous team to create a cool sound that's modern but that still supplies a few knowing winks to the 1960s. Great headphone stuff!

Back in the 1960's, when most girl singers and groups wanted to be Bobby's girl or were waiting till their Bobby got home, Nancy Sinatra was an anomaly, an Italian teen turned pop goddess (courtesy of bleach and an injection of attitude), she became the go-go booted, mini skirted, bad girl of popular music, more likely to knock your teeth down your throat than to sit tearfully waiting for you to telephone. Never properly recognised for either her influence on those who followed after or her talent, one thing she did share with her female singing contemporaries was a distictive voice, instantly recognisable, unlike many of the battery produced girl vocalists of the present day. Chiefly remembered for "Boots" she actually had a string of unique sounding, mid '60's pop hits both as a solo artist and duetting with her father and Lee Hazlewood. The hits never really dried up, rather Nancy took time out to raise a family, and in recent years she's only occasionally dipped her toe in the waters of the music business....until now that is. She's back...and while maybe sounding a bit more world weary than before she hasn't lost her Nancyness, this CD is fabulous, the most interesting project she's embarked on for a LONG time. Biased? Of COURSE I am, I'm a fan, but I'm not dishonest and if I hadn't loved this CD I wouldn't be posting this. Rather than me tell you how wonderful it is though why not buy it and find out for yourself, you won't be disappointed

SHE SINGS WITH PERSPECTIVE....SHE CAN SING ABOUT LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS AND ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT. IT'S NICE TO HEAR AN OLDER WOMAN SING INSTEAD OF THE EMPTY TEEN POPSTERS TRYING TO SOUND ALL GROWN UP AS IF THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

This self-titled CD NANCY SINATRA is a refreshing departure from the 60's style associated with the singer. The set features contributions from surprising sources in the contemporary world of pop and rock music (Morrissey, Bono, Jarvis Cocker and Calexico) resulting in a kaleidoscope of sound and style. The result is pure "ear candy". Production by AJ and Matt Azzarto is first rate.

I'm loving this CD! I was hooked from the first song BURNIN' DOWN THE SPARK. Haunting. Nancy sounds great. She sound like she has fun singing these songs. I got more than I was hoping for. Not only did I get the Nancy Sinatra I know, I got one I didn't know - like on MOMMA'S BOY. The vocals on LET ME KISS YOU are exciting. There's not a bad song on the disc but I think my favorite is ABOUT A FIRE. You gotta get this CD and hear for yourself. You won't be disappointed.