Nancy Sinatra
Boots - Reprise 1966
Tracks: 1. As Tears Go By / 2. Day Tripper 3/ 3. I Move Around / 4. It Ain't Me Babe / 5. These Boots Are Made for Walkin' / 6. In My Room / 7. Lies / 8. So Long, Babe / 9. Flowers on the Wall / 10. If He'd Love Me / 11. Run for Your Life / 12. The City Never Sleeps at Night* / 13. Leave My Dog Alone / 14. In Our Time*
Comments:
After Nancy Sinatra's big breakthrough in December 1965, at the age of 25 with "These Boots are Made for Walkin'", there was naturally a demand for a full album. Actually, "Boots", which was released in March 1966, is her second album, as she had released the unnoticed album "Think of Me" as early as 1961.
"Boots" was released on her father Frank's Reprise label, and with such a skilled producer and songwriter as Lee Hazlewood, it is in fact an exciting, if slightly uneven, album.
In addition to the classic hit, Hazlewood has written two other songs, both of which are among the album's highlights. "I Move Around" is a very nice pop song; perhaps, like most of the album, a little unnecessarily overproduced. "So Long Babe" is also a great melodic song.
In addition to these Hazlewood originals, there are cover versions of contemporary radio hits from The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. These are not necessarily very successful, although Nancy's vocals are fine. To varying degrees, they have received a jazzy MOR treatment, which does not really suit them very well.
In fact, I think much better of lesser-known songs such as the slightly sentimental ballad "If He'd Love Me" written by M. Eddy and the fine pop song "Flowers on the Wall" written by Lewis DeWitt.
Among the four bonus tracks you will find the great B-side "The City Never Sleeps at Night" also written by Lee Hazlewood, and which I clearly remember from the "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" single. Two other Hazlewood songs from an another early single can also be found; none of these, however, of notable quality. Finally, the single version "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" is included, but it is not strikingly different from the album version.
"Boots" is not a perfect album, but absolutely worth listening to, and it is at the same time typical of the time and, by virtue of Hazlewood, pretty original.
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