Original Photos of Nancy by Stephen Wayda
Since Nancy’s return to the recording studio and concert stage in 1995, a new generation of artists has expressed its appreciation for Nancy, with an eclectic set of tribute recordings.
Song:
Just Like Nancy (Girl In Boots) (1999)
Artist:
DM3
Writer:
Dom Mariani
Lyrics:
She’s got everbody talkin’
Wearin’ boots that were made for walkin’
She kinda looks like Nancy Sinatra
A little taller with her hair a touch darker.
Nancy is the muse for power pop trio DM3′s lead singer Dom Mariani in this ode to a “girl in boots” who reminds him of Nancy. The 1999 version has had several releases: DM3′s Just Like Nancy (Girl In Boots) EP (Rocket/Phantom 9320881100233 [1999]) and Italian Style!: Garage Sale, Vol. 2 CD (Citadel CITCD 554 [2003]), as well as Dom Mariani’s Popsided Guitar Anthology: 1984-2004 (Citadel CITCD 559 [2004]). (Mariani’s 2010 solo version is featured later in this post.)
Dom Mariani and the Stems, one of his previous groups, reformed to appear with Nancy, and several other artists, at Little Steven’s Underground Garage Festival on Randall’s Island, NYC on August 14, 2004. The event is documented in 3D by director Chris Columbus in the concert film 3D Rocks.
This photo of Nancy with the Gore-Gore Girls (in boots) at the festival was originally posted by Nancy on her News & Blog page (August 18, 2004).
Song:
Nancy Sinatra (1999)
Artist:
The Bottle Rockets
Writers:
Dan Baird and Brian Henneman
Lyrics:
She’s so cute
Drop all of my loot
Just to see her standing in a
Go-go boot…
She’s stone-cold, outta sight.
The Bottle Rockets show their admiration for Nancy in this rockin’ and amusingly fun tribute, which has become a staple of the alternative/country-rock band’s live shows.
Front cover of the promotional-only CD-single (Doolittle/Mercury 9049-2A):
Back cover (inlay card):
Front covers of the advance album CD and the Brand New Year commercial release (Doolittle/Mercury 359049), both of which include the song:
Song:
Papa Was A Rodeo (1999)
Artist:
The Magnetic Fields (vocals by Stephin Merritt and Shirley Simms)
Writer:
Stephin Merritt
Lyrics:
Papa was a rodeo,
Mama was a rock ‘n’ roll band,
I could play guitar and rope a steer
Before I could stand.
In an interview [source] conducted by LD Beghtol, the author of The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs: A Field Guide, singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt, the creative force behind The Magnetic Fields, reveals his inspiration for this haunting song:
“‘Papa Was a Rodeo,’ as should be explained in the box set book, is (in my mind) sung by a man, who resembles a Lee Hazelwood [sic] character, to a woman named Mike, as Nancy Sinatra’s character was called in ‘Wild Angels.’ It is thus explicitly a Lee & Nancy tribute, with an actual lyric reference, however roundabout, which is more than I usually do.”
Shirley Simms as “Mike” can be heard at 4:11 in the track.
The recording is included as track 17 on 69 Love Songs, Volume 2 (Merge MRG 167), and as part of the 69 Love Songs CD box set (Merge MRG 169). A limited edition vinyl version (1,000 copies) was released in 2010. The box set and the book which offers a history of the album are displayed below.
“Papa Was A Rodeo” has also been recorded by Kelly Hogan and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts on the Beneath The Country Underdog CD (2000) and by Bright Eyes for the Score! 20 Years Of Merge Records CD (2009).
Song:
I Kissed Nancy Sinatra (2000)
Artist:
★★★★Volcanic [pronounced "Four-Star Volcanic"]
Writer:
AD Soutar
Lyrics:
She got on stage with much fanfare
Still pretty face and golden hair
Big brown eyes and killer hips
Black go-go boots and pouty lips.
Alternative rock band ★★★★Volcanic’s atmospheric “I Kissed Nancy Sinatra” recounts Nancy’s 1998 New Year’s Eve performance at the grand re-opening of the Viper Room in L.A.
From the L.A. Times, December 31, 1998:
The recording is available on ★★★★Volcanic’s 2000 Fluffer CD (Rut Records RR004).
Front cover:
Back cover (inlay card):
The song can be heard in the jukebox on the “Sound and Vision” page of Nancy’s website.
CD:
Pickin’ On Nancy Sinatra: A Bluegrass Tribute (2005)
Artist:
Dennis Caplinger (all instruments) with Sharon Whyte (accordion)
Songs:
You Only Live Twice
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
Bang Bang
Let Me Kiss You
Some Velvet Morning
How Does That Grab You, Darlin’?
Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad
Hello L. A., Bye Bye Birmingham
Summer Wine
Somethin’ Stupid
This 2005 instrumental tribute to Nancy gives a bluegrass treatment to many of her hits. A surprisingly effective adaptation of “Let Me Kiss You” and a rousing rendition of “Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham” are among the collection’s highlights.
The inclusion of Mac Davis and Delaney Bramlett’s “Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham” on this CD is especially welcome. As one of Nancy’s finest recordings, it is a prime example of her interpretive powers. Check out Nancy’s own version with her world-weary reading of the line, “But that’s the way it goes when you ain’t got dough to make bail.” Nancy’s take on the song is available in its original mix as a bonus track on the Country, My Way CD, and in its remixed form (with greater emphasis on the Bahler Brothers’ and the Blossoms’ background vocals) on the California Girl CD.
Front Cover of Pickin’ On Nancy Sinatra (CMH 8902), with the “File Under” shrink wrap sticker (Both the shrink wrap sticker and the notes on the back of the inlay card misidentify “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” as “These Boots Were Made For Walking”):
Back Cover (inlay card) (In addition to the “Boots” error, the notes credit Lee Hazlewood [whose name is misspelled as "Hazelwood"] as Nancy’s arranger instead of Billy Strange):
Song:
Nancy Sinatra (2008)
Artist:
JJ Voss with Duane Steele
Writers:
Dan Baird and Brian Henneman
Canadian musician JJ Voss faithfully covers The Bottle Rockets’ tribute to Nancy, on his debut release, Hillbilly Storybook.
Song:
Just Like Nancy (Girl In Boots) (2010)
Artist:
Dom Mariani
Writer:
Dom Mariani
For his 2010 Rewind And Play CD (Liberation BLUE1682), Dom Mariani reinterprets the song he originally recorded with DM3.
This solo version of “Just Like Nancy (Girl In Boots)” was chosen by Mariani to be heard as part of an article in issue #3 of Salt Magazine.
To hear the song by directly accessing the article’s jukebox, click here.
I can’t find I KISSED NANCY SINATRA anywhere, after trying for years!