“…a life of its own…an energy of its own…”
That is how Nancy viewed the longevity of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” (Late Night With Conan O’Brien, April 12, 1995). Nancy’s insightful description is also applicable to the legacy of her collaborations with her arranger, producer, guitarist, and dear friend, Billy Strange (September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012). Even at the outset of their five-decade musical journey, Nancy recognized the significance of the Nancy and Billy combination. For the liner notes of Billy’s 1966 LP In The Mexican Bag (pictured later in this post), Nancy explained their connection, which would transcend time and media:
“Billy Strange is the unsung hero of the music business. He digs music inside and out. And he knows how to take even the most complicated things and put them into a language that everybody digs. Needless to say, he sure gets thru to this girl! He’s given me direction.
A SOUND!
”Billy’s like a short wave radio. He not only sends out his message loud and clear, but he receives everybody else’s. So when you ask Billy to write something, you can be sure that there will be a part of you in it too. Because he can pick up on you, like nobody else!
”He figured me out in a fast five minutes. I OWE HIM A LOT! AND I LOVE HIM A LOT!”
Nancy’s new “direction” began in 1965 with the guidance of Billy and producer/writer Lee Hazlewood. In a 2002 KUCI (Irvine, CA) radio interview conducted by Stacy Davies, Nancy recalled the day she met Billy and Lee, and was introduced to Lee’s song “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.”
