Lee Hazlewood - "13" (1972)

Somewhat an odd bird in Lee Hazlewood's catalog. The story behind the record is described in a two-sided, groovy, serie strip that comes with the album. The background is also described with more words in a text that is also found within the album. The story is as follows:

A man named Larry Marks worked as a producer at Hazlewood's record company (LHI) a few years before the release of the album. Larry liked Hazlewood's music, and had this project in which he chose his favorite songs with Lee, remade them in his favorite flavor - soul, funk & blues - and recorded it with himself singing. Top musicians from Los Angeles were brought in to the recording sessions. But the record company vanished, Lee moved to Sweden and the album was never released. In Sweden, maybe Lee didn't have a lot to do, so he started to go through what was hidden in the vault of his former label, and found this recording. So by re-recording the song with himself singing (and deleting Larry's song) he had an entire album with a minimal effort. I get a feeling one can discuss the morality in this. Anyway, the album was only released in Sweden and attracted not much attention.

Larry Marks

That background means that this sounds different from what Lee usually does. Of course, it's a lot more soul and funk, much more horns than usual. In addition, the music is recorded in a tone that is adapted to Larry's voice, not Lee's deep voice. It also means that this is a pretty fun and interesting album.

Actually, I like Lee better in his more "regular" version, with his own arrangements, but it's fun to break habits sometimes. It's a lot more uptempo here, and perhaps the closest one will get to a party album with Lee. Of course, I've bought a reissue, and with the LP comes a mp3 download as well. Here you'll find the original album, where Larry sings, and the outtakes for the album. Personally, I actually like the music better with Larry's song, maybe because the music is adapted to his voice, and that it actually is the musical style he loves. Perhaps it affects the performance in a positive way. It's really groovy stuff. The LP contains some extra tracks where Larry Marks sings, including some previously unreleased songs.

If you want a slightly different Lee Hazlewood album, with a lot of horns, a clear smell of the early 70's, this record might be something. Especially if you like soul. But one must have an open mind, it sounds different from what Lee usually does, even though his deep baritone nevertheless makes you feel at home. It sets its clear mark on the songs, as always. The photo on the cover is one of Lee's favorite photos, he though the dartboard looked like a halo, and the backrest like angel wings.


Tracklist

Page A
1. You Look Like A Lady 2:10
2. Tulsa Sunday 2:15
3. Ten Or Eleven Towns Ago 2:36
4. Toocie And The River 4:35
5. She Comes Running 2:26
6. Rosacoke Street 2:41

Page B
1. In Move Around 2:24
2. And I Loved You Then 3:30
3. Hej, Me I'm Riding 1:58
4. Cold Hard Times
5. Drums
6. The Start
7. Suzie