Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - "Nancy & Lee" (1968)

The duo's first album together, and what can you say? Of course it's good. Lee's deep voice combined with Nancy's more fragile voice, it can't become anything else than successful. They are in a sense each other's opposites, both in voice and appearance. But it works.

But if we study the album more carefully, not all is that great, to be honest. Lee on his own is generally a bit more interesting, more dark humor and more surprising compositions. Together with Nancy, it becomes a little too sugary sweet sometimes. Nancy & Lee has a number of those, such as You've Lost That Loving Feeling or Storybook Children. They are just too cheesy. The albums with both of them together, I think became more commercial products than Lee's solo production.

This, however, is by far outweight by the album's groovier songs, like the psychedelic classic Some Velvet Morning. This song alone makes the record worth buying. I read in an interview with Lee that he was impressed by the band during the recording of this song since they were able to play it straight through.  Lee thought this would be difficult as the song jumps from the verses' 4/4 time signature to the chorus' 3/4. No problem for the musicians. According to me, one of the psychedelic era's greatest compositions.

Another one of my favorites is Sundown, Sundown, with its mighty horn and string arrangements. It sounds better the higher volume you have. So far, no neighbors have complained. Other groovy and well known songs from the album the 60s connoiseur will know: Summer Wine, Sand and Ladybird.

Absolutely an album to recommend even though some of the songs drip with sugar sweetness. One can not say the sound is timeless, you'll absolutely hear that it was recorded almost 50 years ago. But I think that's pretty nice.


Tracklist

Side A
1. You've Lost That Lovin 'Feelin' 3:23
2. Elusive Dreams 3:12
3. Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman 2:35
4. Summer Wine 3:39
5. Storybook Children 3:10

Side B
1. Sundown, Sundown 2:35
2. Jackson 2:46
3. Some Velvet Morning 3:45
4. Sand 3:41
5. Lady Bird 3:00
6. I've Been Down So Long (It Looks Like Up To Me) 2:49