Compiled by Nancy herself and with new and exclusive photographs from her archives. Also features a new, previously unreleased track 'Machine Gun Kelly'. Features her massive hits 'These Boots are Made for Walking', 'Bang ... more »Bang', 'Somethin' Stupid' (with father Frank Sinatra). Includes collaborations with Morrissey on 'Let Me Kiss You' and 2005's #3 hit 'Shot You Down' with Audio Bullys. Liberty/EMI. 2006« less
Compiled by Nancy herself and with new and exclusive photographs from her archives. Also features a new, previously unreleased track 'Machine Gun Kelly'. Features her massive hits 'These Boots are Made for Walking', 'Bang Bang', 'Somethin' Stupid' (with father Frank Sinatra). Includes collaborations with Morrissey on 'Let Me Kiss You' and 2005's #3 hit 'Shot You Down' with Audio Bullys. Liberty/EMI. 2006
CD Reviews
A Fine Listen...an "Essential" for Any Collection!
PJ | Midwest, USA | 07/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was probably playing with dolls when Nancy Sinatra had her big hit with "Boots". But while I've always liked that song with its catchy music and straightforward "this is how it is, buster!" lyrics--along with "Somethin' Stupid" which she recorded with her Dad, I never gave much thought or knew a lot about her other work. After seeing her on "Entertainment Tonight" recently where she mentioned this new release of some of her past recordings, I was intrigued enough to purchase it. All I can say is, it's an "easy on the ears" collection of tunes by a fine singer! On "Bang, Bang", I think Nancy's reading gets to the heart of the lyric and is tremendously more effective than the usual, more popular tempo. "Drummer Man", "Kind of a Woman" (a catchy single girl's anthem if there ever was one!), and "Here We Go Again" (a touch of Nashville) are other favorites here. Nancy can sing anything...pop, country, jazzy tunes...she weaves her style around them all. (And who knew she recorded a theme featured in a Bond movie?!) There's a little bit of everything represented on this CD. There's even some more recently recorded tunes near the end. So, perhaps the best thing I can say is that Nancy Sinatra proves you can have tunes recorded over 30 years ago which are still relevant and "good listening", as well as, today, be over 50 and still have an affecting (and surprisingly youthful sounding!) voice that effortlessly interprets more current music. I do wish she had included "Summer Wine", a popular recording she did with Lee Hazelwood, but I guess there wasn't room for everything. Overall, a fine representation from a talented singer. Keep singing and recording Nancy!"
Finally
Paul J. Tomlin | edmonds, WA USA | 02/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kudos to Nancy Sinatra for overseeing the production of a CD that sounds
great and is a lot of fun to listen to. She is cultural icon of the 60's
whose music on this CD finally gets the treatment it should. All the
hits are here except "Summer Wine". (Don't know why). If you are a
Nancy Sinatra fan, this is the one for the best sound."
The Lolita of 60's Rock and Pop
Robert Strom | San Francisco Bay Area | 08/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nancy Sinatra has been a favorite of mine ever since I saw her sing "These Boots are Made for Walking" on American Bandstand and/or The Ed Sullivan Show. All that blonde hair, 60's make-up, the mini skirt and the infamous boots.... She is an icon of that era.
As for this CD... this is a great CD for new Nancy fans. Another would be Nancy Sinatra You Go-Go Girl! (check out the groovy cover photo). Here are some of my favorite tunes on The Essential Nancy Sinatra: All of them!
Seriously: "Bang, Bang," "Sugartown," "In Our Time" and "You Only Live Twice". If anyone thinks Nancy can't sing rock have them listen to "Friday's Child". All of her duets with Lee Hazlewood are great. My only complaint is that their duet of "Summer Wine" is not included.
One of my all-time, top 10 favorite songs is "Something Stupid," which, in case you've been living under a rock, is a duet with her daddy. I always play this one 2 or 3 times. There's something about the guitar (guitars?) at the beginning that sends me.
If you are a true fan and you find the CDs California Girl and Nancy/Lee 3 buy them no matter what the price is... you won't regret it. California Girl has "Saturday in the Park," "99 Miles from LA," and "Cuando Calienta el Sol" (With those guitars... Guitar + Nancy = Heaven). The best song on California Girl? "Hotel California".
(In my opinion) Nancy/Lee 3 has some of their best recordings. It is also the their last studio album. It's hard to find, but it is worth every penny. I had the great pleasure of seeing Nancy and Lee perform at the Fillmore in San Francisco (1995).
Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!"
Nancy sure could turn the tables on the guys--and wow, how s
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 07/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nancy Sinatra has really put out some really fine songs; and this album gives us a lot of her music to enjoy over and over again. Nancy is in excellent form on these songs; she doesn't falter and her voice is strong yet very feminine at once. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and I like that artwork, too.
The album begins with Nancy and Billy Strange doing a fine rendition of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)." The music fits in perfectly with the lyrics; Nancy never misses a note and she plays with the tempo a bit to place her own stamp on this ballad. Great! "Sugar Town" is easy on the ear; and I really like Nancy's duet with her father entitled "Somethin' Stupid." "Somethin' Stupid" is absolutely charming and heavenly; father and daughter make this a major highlight of this album and it's also one of Nancy's finest ballads ever.
"Kind of a Woman" features Nancy squarely front and center which is quite all right by me! Nancy's voice is as clear as a bell and I love it. "Did You Ever?" has Nancy collaborating with Lee Hazlewood; "Did You Ever?" has a fine country flavor to it that could never go out of style. I love to hear Nancy and Lee do this to perfection--and beyond! In addition, "Drummer Man" sounds so good; Nancy and Hal Blaine deliver "Drummer Man" with lots of heart and soul. I think you'll like this tune if you haven't heard it before.
"Lady Bird" is easy on the ear even if the lyrics aren't all that happy; and "I Love Them All (The Boys in the Band)" just plain sounds good. "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a classic Nancy Sinatra song; she does this better than anyone ever could have and that's grand. What a fine melody--that percussion and guitar work enhance the arrangement all the more. "How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?" has a `60s country flavor to it that I love; and there's yet another gem in "Jackson" which has Nancy teaming up with Lee Hazlewood another time--great!
"Hook and Ladder" is very well done; and listen for "So Long, Babe" with that fantastic music that gives Nancy the perfect accompaniment to her singing! "God Knows I Love You" is pretty awesome, too; and I love that country sound of "Here We Go Again." Nancy delivers this without a single superfluous note and I'm very impressed. "Let me Kiss You" is something Nancy did with Morrissey and it boasts some terrific guitar and organ music. "Machine Gun Kelly" is quite strong, too. I could have done without the final number on this disc; but the rest is so good I can overlook it.
Nancy Sinatra will always have a special place in my heart because she clearly gave her all to make each and every song she sang nothing short of her very best; and I admire that. This is a great CD for Nancy's fans and newcomers to Nancy's magical artistry will not be disappointed."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1