Grab Me Please, Thank You

Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10

I disliked the debut Nancy Sinatra album so much that I vowed to never to listen to her again. I broke that vow and re-evaluated that album a few days later and settled that it was merely "below par." That album did contain an annoying amount of bad covers (The go-go dancer version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" is a tough pill to swallow, you know). But this time, she covers songs that are more up her alley.

She covers beautiful ballads like "The Shadow of Your Smile" from the movie The Sandpiper, "Until It's Time for You to Go" by Native American folkie Buffy Sainte-Marie and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by Sonny Bono. Her frequent collaborator who wrote most of the non covers on Boots and much of the material afterwards, Lee Hazlewood, contributes in a less frequent but bigger way. He manages to write an excellent bluesy jazz tune "Not the Lovin' Kind," a stellar way to open the album. His "Sand" seems like an inspired take-off of lush The Beach Boys Pet Sounds style. And, he even manages to have quite a bit of fun with the quasi-novelty song "The Last of the Secret Agents."

Apart from a few of the Hazlewood songs, the arrangements aren't much to talk about ... but even that's to its benefit. Nancy Sinatra is a very good singer above all else, and the instrumentals should play second fiddle to her voice. They take that advice frequently here. However, the upbeat, more heavily instrumented tunes are much-appreciated to give the effort some diversity.

Yes, I like Nancy Sinatra here. The weak moments are few and far between, which is the opposite impression I got from Boots. I hope she kept up with that. (I have no idea as of this moment.)

Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (Oh, *now* I see why Nancy Sinatra is worth listening to.)

Average Song Score: 8.8 (That's quite a huge difference compared to Boots. There's a lot of nicely picked covers and a small handful of odd Lee Hazlewood compositions.)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (There's an uneven quality about this ... it's big enough to make a difference, but don't dwell on it.)

Artist Rating: 8.5 (Well, the off-the-rocker Hazlewood compositions are worth merit. And that Sonny Bono track is a little strange. The rest is pretty straight-forward.)

Track Reviews

Not the Lovin' Kind 9.5/10

This is a jazzy blues song that's done right. The only accompaniment to Sinatra's voice is a bluesy guitar that is kept rather quiet (delivering a few good licks every once in awhile). This gives Sinatra's voice to dominate ... it's a great and interesting voice so it's great. I like the melody, so everything here is grand.

The Shadow of Your Smile 9.5/10

Here's a cover of the brilliant Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webber composition. It would be difficult to screw up such a composition and these guys pull all the right strings. It suits Sinatra's husky voice, and she delivers a remarkably relaxing performance.

Sorry 'Bout That 9/10

This is an upbeat and fun tune at an opportune time. Yes, it has horn arrangements, but they're reserved and proper. (And the horns aren't present on every freaking song.) This is a rock song with a nice rhythm and a good melody. Sinatra's attitude in her determined vocals give the experience just the right mood.

Time 8.5/10

This has such a great chord progression. Actually, I'm a member of an amateur composition reviewing group, and a composition I judged used the same progression. Well, it worked then, and it works now. (You can't plagarize a chord progression by the way.) Anyway, more about the song. I like the melody and I think it's fitfully catchy. The song sounds a bit like an old cowboy song (with enough of a '60s vibe to give it the feeling of a Spaghetti Western). The big problem is that it's too samey from start to finish. It gets old after the two minute mark.

Sand 9.5/10

Composer Lee Hazlewood takes vocals here ... he's not a bad singer, but you can tell why he wanted to find a good singer to collaborate with. This is possibly the most interesting composition on the album ... Hazlewood takes quite a hint from what the Beach Boys were doing at the time (1966) with the heavy and jangly sound. (That drum is also very Beach Boys esque.) More interestingly, he inserts a rather distorted and ugly guitar solo, which isn't something the Beach Boys would ever do. Nicely done.

Cryin' Time 9/10

And now the return of the bluesy songs. It begins with Sinatra simply singing with a piano. This proves that minimalism is best when dealing with the soulful tracks. But, some vocal "oohs" and a drum soon pick up, and that's just fine with me. This is quite a tasteful song and it let's Sinatra's nice voice be the center of attention.

My Baby Cried All Night Long 8/10

Here is a Hazlewood composition, but it's probably one of the lesser ones on here. He is fond of those freaking horn arrangements, but instead of a full-blown arrangements that was strewn all throughout Boots, this is just one somewhat amused deep trumpet. The melody is fine but rather trite. Well, it's catchy at least. I do like that horn, though. For once.

Let it Be Me 8/10

This seems like it's been covered about eight billion times. Well, it's a good one. Again, this song is played slow, smooth and soulfully. Sinatra delivers another decent performance. The instrumentation is quiet and nice.

Call Me 8.5/10

Not the Blondie song! ... It was written by Tony Hatch and originally sung by Petula Clark. Nancy Sinatra is sure singing a lot of covers, but she's certainly been choosing good ones. I like this track, because it's melodic and upbeat. Who's not to like songs like that? The instrumentation is nice, organic and non-cheesy. Very important qualities if you ask me.

How Does That Grab You Darlin' 8/10

This is a Hazlewood composition, and it's alright. (Unlike the All Music Guide, apparently, I don't think he's the second coming of rock music...) This is an upbeat rock song and it's enjoyable. I do like it better when Sinatra's being soulful, which odd because I normally prefer the upbeat rock ditties compared to the slow contemplative ones. Well, I guess that's just the nature of Sinatra's voice. But this is a fun song, and I really like how it ends for some reason.

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) 9/10

This is credited to a songwriter called "Bono." I assume that's not the Irish singer from U2 but Sonny Bono? Who knows. This is certainly something he would write. This track was also apparently featured on the Kill Bill Vol. 1 soundtrack. I don't remember it! Well, this is a good song. It's just Sinatra singing with a rather distorted, quiet guitar. It again proves that Sinatra can hold her own without instrumentals and, in fact, she comes off better when she does.

The Last of the Secret Agents 9.5/10

This is a fun novelty number thrown in for good measure. Hazlewood wrote this song also, and I think he was having some fun with it. I think this is one of his better songs ... The thundering drums are pretty awesome and the horn arrangements (for once) are completely awesome. They mimick the famed James Bond score, and that's probably all it needed to do. It's an interesting song for people who like James Bond theme songs ... as you probably know, the only thing Nancy Sinatra ever did that was more famous than "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" is sing a Bond theme.

Until It's Time to Go 10/10

This is a beautiful song! Wow! It's an original from Native American folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie who I have only listened to casually before at the moment, but now I'm thinking I should hear more. (Sainte-Marie does have a rather odd voice that I'll have to get used to.) The instrumentation is subtle and sweet (with a light violin) and the ballad style of the music suits Sinatra's voice perfectly. Absolutely gorgeous. This is the album's best.

Lightning's Girl 9.5/10

I can tell the Hazlewood compositions without even looking at the All-Music Guide now ... He has such a distinct style. "Lightning's Girl" starts out to be a another typically thundering song that we've come to expect! Then there's an orchestral section featuring some dissonance and crazy glissandos. This song is fun and a little bit crazy, too. Hazlewood seems to be at his best when he does this...

Feelin' Kinda Sunday 7.5/10

Nancy's father Frank is brought in to do a cutesy duet It's not too different from the kind of things Frank would be recording at the times. (That is, it's not a rock song.) This song is so cutesy that it doesn't seem to fit, but they have to prove to the world that the Sinatra family is happy and they like to sing together. It's happy and pleasant, but I think it's one of the weaker efforts.

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