Somethin’ Stupid By Nancy And Frank Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra were the first father and daughter to both have number one hits. They would be joined by the Boones.

Nancy and Frank joined together in early 1966 and recorded a duet. It would be the only one of their careers together.

It proved to be a huge hit and on April 15, 1967, became the number one song in the United States, where it remained for four weeks.

Nancy would go on to have a series of top ten hits, including a number of duets with Lee Hazlewood. It would be the last top ten hit of Frank’s career.

These Boots Are Made For Walking By Nancy Sinatra

It didn’t hurt that you were the daughter of Frank Sinatra. And it really didn’t hurt that your father owned a record label.

Nancy Sinatra managed to create a career for herself that wasn’t dependent on her father, despite the advantages that it brought with it.

She managed to grab the brass ring twice during her career. The first was with “These Boots Are Made For Walking, which was one the early tough girl songs; “one day these boots are going to walk all over you.” For a week, beginning February 6, 1966, it topped the American music world.

I (Who Have Nothing) 45 by Terry Knight And the Pack

Tery Knight recorded with his band, The Pack, 1965-1967. They had a number of local hits in the state of Michigan. The closest they came to a national hit was “I (Who Have Nothing),” which reached number 46 on the BILLBOARD MAGAZINE Pop Singles Chart during late 1966.

They were basically a raw garage band that while energetic, was not smooth enough for wide commercial success.

Guitarist Mark Farner and drummer Don Brewer were members of his band for a spell. They would form the neclues for Grand Funk Railroad who would sell tens-of-millions of albums during 1970s. Knight would be their manager for a while until he was fired by his former band mates.

Lightning’s Girl 45 by Nancy Sinatra

Frank Sinatra’s little girl was a sexy superstar during the last half of the 1960s placing 21 singles on the BILLBOARD MAGAZINE pOP sINGLES cHART, 1965-1969.

Many of her songs projected a tough image to go along with her sex appeal. None more so than “Lightning’s Girl,” which is a sometimes forgotten song in her catalogue of hits. It was fairly close to a rock sound for Nancy and not as melodic as many of her hits. It reached number 24 on the BILLBOARD Singles Chart.

It remains a highlight of any of her many compilation albums.

In My Room EP by Nancy Sinatra

EP’s (Extra Play 45’s) never relly caught on in the United States but in Europe thay remained popular for years. EP’s were 45 type records that had four songs, (once in a while six), instread of the normal two. They were a cheaper alternative to a full length album.

“In My Room” by Nancy Sinatra was a French EP. In addition to the title song it contained “Bang Bang,” “My Baby Cried All Night,” and “Sorry ‘Bout That.”

The highlight was her sultry interpretation of the Cher hit, “Bang Bang.” The song can be heard in the KILL BILL movie.

Some Velvet Morning 45 by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood

Lee Hazlewood was the producer of Nancy Sinatra who found himself as her duet partner on four chart hits during the second half of the 1960’s.

He had had a small amount of success as a country singer but it turned out his bass voice was the perfect foil for Sinatra’s.

One of their memorable performances together was “Some Velvet Morning” which was released January 6, 1968. It would reach number 26 on the BILLBOARD MAGAZINE Pop Singles Chart during its 8 week stay.

While their duets together did not change the face of music, they were a fascinating part of the singles scene at the time.

Jackson 45 by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood

If it weren’t for Nancy Sinatra, Lee Hazlewood would be primarily remembered as a songwriter and the producer of many of Duane Eddy’s instrumental hits.

He became Nancy Sinatra’s producer during the mid-sixties and wrote some of her biggest hits. “These Boots Were Made For Walking,” “How Does That Grab You Darling,” and “Sugar Town” were all from the fertile mind and pen of Hazlewood.

His career took an unexpected turn when he became her singing partner on four songs that reached The American singles charts. His deep and somewhat ominous baritone was the perfect foil for Sinatra.

The their biggest hit was “Jackson” which reached number fouteen during June of 1967.

“Jackson” was originally recorded by The Kingston Trio in 1963. Johnny Cash and June Carter would win a Grammy Award with the song in 1968. It is the Hazlewood/Sinatra version, however, that remains the difinitive version.

Lee Hazlewood would go on to a moderately successful career as a producer and recording artist but it was his duets with Nancy Sinatra that remain his defining releases.

These Boots Are Made For Walking 45 by Nancy Sinatra

I was a high school student during 1966. (Yes I know, I am old). Frank Sinatra was one of the icons of the music industry. I had a few of his 45’s in my collection but being a rock kind of guy our musical paths rarely crossed.

Along came his little girl Nancy during early 1966. She was in her mid twenties and quickly became the fantasy of millions of teenage boys.

Her first big hit was “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” topped The United States charts for one week during Jan. of 1966. Let me tell you those boots never looked so good. The recording featured a sultry vocal and an odd but mezmerizing beat.

She would go on to place 21 songs on the charts from 1965-1969 but this remains one of her best.

Strangers In The Night by Frank Sinatra

Millions of words have been written about Frank Sinatra. He made his first appearance with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in January of 1940 and for the next half century plus he remained one of the superstars of American music.

I must admit that during my teenage years I thought of him mainly as the father of Nancy Sinatra, but as time passed and I aged a bit I came to appreciate his talent and ability to interpret songs. Many of his vinyl releases now adorn my record collection.

Strangers In The Night was released in 1966 during a very productive period of his career. It and the single of the same name would both top The American pop charts in the middle of the Beatles era. Yesterday …and Today would replace the album at number one and “Paperback Writer” the single.

This classic pop album has now returned as a Deluxe Edition complete with bonus tracks. It has been digitally remastered so the sound is crystal clear. Liner notes give a complete history of the albums development and the original notes by Stan Cornyn are also included.

The title song was a hurried affair. Jack Jones and Bobby Darin were preparing their own versions so producer Jimmy Bowen recorded it in a day and had it in the hands of radio stations the next. It would become one of the definitive performances of his career and a rare pop/easy listening hit during the mid-sixties.

Sinatra quickly went back into the studio to record an album to support the hit single. The song selection was not aimed at the teenage rock audience of the day. Instead Sinatra stayed true to his roots and chose songs which fit his style. It proved to be a wise decision as the album became one of the most commercially successful of his career and would win Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

The album is filled with standards which fit his musical comfort zone and his genius of interpretation. “My Baby Cares For Me” (1928), “You’re Driving Me Crazy” (1930), “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” (1925), and “The Most Beautiful Girl In The Word” (1935) were all given the Sinatra treatment and remain an excellent listen today.

Other than the title song my favorite track is “Summer Wind” which was a German tune with English lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It would top the Easy Liestening charts in The United States. The only real miss is his rendition of “Downtown.” Petula Clark’s hit version just cannot be beat.

The bonus tracks include live versions of “Strangers In The Night” and “All Or Nothing” which were recorded in Japan on April 18, 1985 and were previously unreleased. An alternate version of “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” from 1966 completes the album.

Strangers In The Night found Sinatra at the top of his form back in 1966. It’s return 44 years later should delight both his old and new fans.