Album Review: Don't Walk, RUN To Get NANCY SINATRA KEEP WALKIN': SINGLES, DEMOS & RARITIES 1965 - 1978

Heigh Ho, dear lovely rainbow tribe, welcome back to Bobby’s CD sandbox where we offer our broken-down breakdowns of new music releases. So, strap in and get ready, as Bobby goes on the record ABOUT the record.

This week’s album entry in the BobbyFiles comes from that groovy goddess herself, Miss Nancy Sinatra.  Now, for all of you Bobby readers who think Bobby might just be about The Broadway and The Cabaret, let us tell you that when we were a wee one, we actually SAW Miss Nancy in concert as a family outing in Las Vegas and so we know just HOW groovy the Lady was and is.  Nancy Sinatra is a personal fave of Little Bobby’s and not just because of that classic radio hit about Boots.  Nancy Sinatra is remarkably evocative of an era that holds a lot of affection for a lot of people and with good reason - the Sixties were Awesome!  And with her blonde bouffant, shapely shades, mini-skirts, and yes, her boots, Nancy Sinatra embodied the decade.  She also happened to have one of the most unique and recognizable voices in the business - even today, if a Nancy Sinatra song came on the radio, it would be impossible to not know that you were listening to Nancy Sinatra.  She is the very living end, and so is her catalogue of music, and since everything retro is re-retro again, you all simply MUST jump on this bandwagon.

And Nancy Sinatra’s catalogue is spectacularly represented on the new release from the Light In The Attic label, KEEP WALKIN’.  This new release (out today, October 20th) is a collection of recordings from Nancy Sinatra’s career - some have been heard, some have been rarely heard, some have been almost forgotten, and SOME have been buried treasure, but all are delicious, dearlings, and worth the enjoyable time it takes to listen to them.  

Remastered by John Baldwin, these rare recordings are curated on KEEP WALKIN’ in chronological order, which is a wonderful way to experience the Nancy Sinatra journey with Nancy, the way she recorded it.  You can hear the changing sounds, as the years tick by from 1965 to 1978; the sounds go from being decidedly Sixties to experimental early Seventies to definitely established Seventies, and, as any savvy and dedicated artist would, Sinatra adapts to the changing times adeptly and adroitly.  First listens should really and truly be enjoyed like an old-fashioned record album to, at least once, get the full chronological experience.  No playlists or skipping about, my lovelies, on the first time out: treat yourself to The Nancy Sinatra Experience… especially because the very final track is a glorious, gorgeous surprise for all the Nancy Sinatra die-hards, and when it happens (almost immediately), it is impossible not to cry out, “Oh YAY!”

Now that Little Bobby has encouraged everybody to get the album, to listen to the album, and to relish the album, let us talk about some of our very most favoritest tracks on the album.

The first cut on the album, THE CITY NEVER SLEEPS AT NIGHT is a good place to start the collection because it was, after all, the B-Side on the single THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’ and it sets the tone for the record, but the second cut, THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS?, is to die for, dahlings!  This B-Side to HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU, DARLING? Is the Sixties as Sinatra, defined them and is sure to get you up on your feet and dancing The Pony, and pulling down your Goldfinger DVD, so infectious and perfectious it is.  As the album continues, that one-of-a-kind voice and those unmistakable Lee Hazelwood tunes/arrangements are like an audible time machine that will wash away your worries and stress, as your mind returns to a fun and festive time in music (and fashions, many of which can be seen in the extensive booklet, for CD and Vinyl buyers).   Even if you weren’t around for any of the lady’s oeuvre (yes! Bobby knows French words) these tracks can give the younger set a fab lookeeloo into an era that is staging another come-back. Track number 7, ROCKIN ROCK AND ROLL is the first track on the album that was originally unissued, and why it was is the big mystery because it is destined to become a favorite - if radio stations and disc jockeys were still the way we all got our music, it should, surely, go Top 40 today!  Tracks 8 and 9 are back-to-back captures of the 45 single TONY ROME/THIS TOWN (the liner notes list Tony Rome as the A-Side and This Town as the B-Side, but they appear on the album in reverse order).  Both songs are quintessential Nancy Sinatra but in completely different ways.  THIS TOWN is laid-back storytelling with the smooth, whispering, sultry Sinatra occasionally bringing the belt and then fading back into the sexy for the full storytelling range, while TONY ROME is all beats and horns, rhythms, and unexpected changes in melody that shouldn’t work but that do, especially when remembering that this was 1967!   It is far out, man.  Tack 13 is one for all the Broadway lovers - an unissued  Sixties disco arrangement of Stephen Sondheim’s DO I HEAR A WALTZ?!  What is this electric guitar, drum kit, and horns heaven?!  It is kitschy and krazy and everything Sinatra gold.  And speaking of drums there are some great beats to go with Nancy’s persistent performance on track 14, DRUMMER MAN.  As the album proceeds, though, there are discernible differences in the music and Nancy’s vibe with emotional and seductive covers of AIN’T NO SUNSHINE (1973) and EASY EVIL (1972), (the former having been released and the latter, unissued) captures those changing times.   By the time you get to tracks 22 (SUGAR ME) and 23 (KINKY LOVE), the Sixties sound is full-on Seventies radio and it is artistically satisfying to hear how Nancy Sinatra made concerted efforts to grow her artistry with the evolving times.  It also reminded Little Bobby of his own youth, something that we expect will happen with a lot of listeners that dive head first into this wonderful collection.

As far as that dive goes, KEEP WALKIN’ is available on CD and on vinyl (in a FAB rainbow of colors), and, if you’re just TOO TOO retro your pals can’t stand you, on 8 Track (WHAT?!), and with an insanely amazing booklet filled with photos from Nancy’s personal collection, as well as extensive interviews with Nancy and Don Randi conducted by album co-producer Hunter Lea.  Dear ones, this is album packaging at its very best… but this is an album that is worth all this rainbow effort.  It is, surely, no coincidence that KEEP WALKIN’ is being released just as the world goes into the December holidays because it has holiday gifting written all over it.  Get one for yourself and many for your music lovin’ loved ones because...
 

This one gets 5 Out Of 5 Rainbows
 

You Can See And Hear Everything About KEEP WALKIN’ On The Light In The Attic Webbysite: HERE

Jump In The Amazon & Put this one in your stream: HERE

All Photos Provided By Light In The Attic

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