Promotional video for “Summer Wine” (Hazlewood 1966) performed by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra for Nancy’s 1966 album: Nancy in London.
Lee could do it all: write, sing, perform, and produce. But just being able to do the full gambit of record-making doesn’t cut it. You’ve got to have the inner pulse, the inner hep cat or amusing devil inside to inspire something fine, something that will stand up to the test of Ol’ Man Time and kick him in the teeth.
Lee Hazlewood achieved that goal by building songs like great American automobiles. They were made to last. If he had done nothing more than write “Boots” we’d still be talking about him:
Nancy Sinatra performing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (Hazlewood 1966) on Hullaballo.
If you’re reading up on Lee or if you’re already a fan of his work you’ll know he was one of the first deejays to spin Elvis records (and almost got fired for the pleasure), worked with guitar legend Duane Eddy, Hal Blaine (greatest drummer in the business), of course Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Dino, Desi, & Billy, as well as maintaining his own personal recording career that spanned from 1963’s Trouble is a Lonesome Town to the 2006 album: Cake or Death.
Here’s a 2006 interview with Mr. Hazlewood while out there promoting his new album:
You can listen to some of the tracks off Cake or Death at the Lee Hazlewood myspace page: www.myspace.com/leehazlewood
There’s just no doubt about it, this “psychedelic cowboy” went out with his pistolas a-blazin’.
Much love and eternal peace be with you, Lee.
Bradley Mason Hamlin, August 2007, Mystery Island.
