Kitsch Korner

I heard Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Summer Wine’ on the radio yesterday and that had me digging through my record collection and a pile of mp3s to bring you these gems.

In his musical lifetime Lee Hazlewood did it all, and is still doing it all to this day (thanks, Jackson!). You can find out loads about him if you fancy going from blog to blog. Suffice to say he must be one of the most blogged of all musicians and his influence reaches far and wide, with artists today from Jarvis Cocker, the Tindersticks, Primal Scream and many more owing him a huge debt. Not only did he invent Duane Eddy’s twangy guitar sound, he had the best baritone voice in the business and was a shit-hot arranger/producer on many recording sessions. He wrote loads of hits for Nancy Sinatra, including her most famous/overplayed song (delete where applicable) ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’. Here is his demo version. At least, I think it’s a demo. It’s the backing track you are more than familiar with, with added brass/trumpet stabs and him singing/talking over the top in that big voice of his. You put on your boots and I’ll put on mine and we’ll sell a million records any old time! Brilliant.

Next up, two Nancy tracks. Her version of Day Tripper is just on the right side of camp. All brass stabs and ‘ba-ba-ba’s’ where George Harrison’s guitar riff should be. There’s even a wry nod to ‘These Boots…’ at one point. It is the true sound of swinging London, even if it was recorded in California.

Lastly is Nancy Sinatra’s Coca Cola jingle. Somebody requested this in an email to me. And as promised, here it is, in all it’s kitsch innocence. “Now Nancy Sinatra with a word to the wise”

You’ve been out 6 nights this week and  I don’t know where you go. Tonight you’re staying home with me there’s things that you don’t know. Like groovy things and other things and boy it’s time you knew. We’ll mess around do lots of things and drink a Coke or two.

Cos, things go better with Coca Cola, things go better with Coke. Life is much more fun when you’re refreshed. And Coke refreshes you best!