|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just bein' plain old Nancy!, July 7, 2002
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."
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|