LEE HAZLEWOOD/THIS IS LEE HAZLEWOOD 665.087 (-67) GERMANY/SWEDEN

As this blog mainly concentrates on stuff from the late fifties up to early seventies feel I have to do something on Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007), a today too often unsung hero of the American music scene that period. After serving during the Korean war he returned to US mid-fifties and almost immediately started a music carreer as DJ, producer and songwriter - among other things in team with Duan Eddy, with which he produced a number of million sellers early sixties and is also credited for the idea behind the "twangy" sound. Later in the sixties he wrote hits for prominent artists as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra. It was through the collaboration with her he got a public breakthrough - as writer and producer of hits like "These Boots Are Made For Walking" and "Summer Wine" and further by singing duets together in "Jackson" and "Some Velvet Morning", before producing Frank & Nancy Sinatra's Billboard #1 "Somethin' Stupid". In 1970 he moved to Sweden there working as writer and producer of TV-shows and albums, also collaborating with Swedish female singers as Nina LIzell and Siw Malmquist. He retired from the business late seventies and after that only pitching in up to his death 2007. Later years his music has reached a kind of cult status in some circuits as "cowboy psych" or "saccarine underground" and songs being covered by acts like Megadeath, Beck, Vanilla Fudge, Entombed and The Tubes. This issue combines songs fron two US MGM LP:s - "Lee Hazlewoodism" - It's Cause And Cure" (E/SE 4403) and "The Very Special World Of Lee Hazlewood" (E/SE 4362). I'm trying to listen with critical ears, but getting caught from the start. The partly rather dark lyrics and his murky vocals are well balanced by catchy melodies and cool arrangements, making it both important and soothing at the same time. His then g/f Suzi Jane Hokom adds a female vocal touch to three of the tracks and it's good. Most important cut would be first version of "These Boots Are Made For Walking", sung by him with about the same arrangements as the Nancy Sinatra version. The audio is excellent and to me it works fine both as background and for close listening. This copy was pressed in Germany for the Swedish market. It came with label as shown here and thin fully laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*) (FÄV*)