When one is thinking about the “Swinging Sixties” look, the first image to come to mind might be Nancy Sinatra’s iconic high boot look and her song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”. Her iconic song propelled her into the spotlight in 1966, a decade after first performing on her father Frank’s variety show. The hit single came together as most of her subsequent hits of the sixties would, with singer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood writing and producing and Wrecking Crew member Billy Strange arranging and conducting. In 1968 this powerhouse trio would collaborate on the album Nancy & Lee, featuring a series of duets of both covers and original compositions. Despite hitting number 13 on the Billboard charts it has never been officially reissued on vinyl since 1968. As part of Light In The Attic’s Nancy Sinatra series, Nancy & Lee is finally being reissued fifty years after its release.
The album begins with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”, the signature song from The Righteous Brothers, with Hazlewood’s distinctive baritone vocals playing off Sinatra’s breathy, seductive vocals.
The duets continue on Hazlewood original songs like “Summer Wine” and “Some Velvet Morning,” which really showcase why Sinatra’s songs are considered synonymous with the “Swinging Sixties” sound. Another of the most recognizable covers from Nancy & Lee is the hit “Jackson” that was made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter the year before in 1967. The orchestral arrangements of Billy Strange really shine on tracks like “Storybook Children” and “Lady Bird” where the strings and brass sections add layer upon layer of instrumentation almost a voice unto themselves. Exclusive to the Light In The Attic reissue are two more covers from the session, “Tired of Waiting for You” by The Kinks and “Love is Strange”, originally recorded by Mickey & Sylvia and written by Bo Diddly under the name Ethel Smith.
As with each of the reissues in the Nancy Sinatra Archival Series, Sinatra is personally involved and the are newly remastered from the original analog tapes. For Nancy & Lee, Light In The Attic is pressing vinyl on black wax as well as clear, sundown, and sundown metallic gold wax. Nostalgic fans can also purchase the reissue on CD, cassette, and 8-track. The vinyl version is packaged in a gatefold jacket with a twenty page booklet that will include from Sinatra’s personal collection as well as an in-depth Q&A with Sinatra.
