LEE HAZLEWOOD - CAKE OR DEATH | FLY

Hazlewood is best known for his work in the Sixties with Nancy Sinatra. His list of admirers is suitably long for this veteran who was ‘rediscovered’ in the 1990s, notably Beck, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth and Nick Cave. And you can hear all these contemporary artists on these songs.

Perhaps you won’t hear that much Sonic Youth, but Jarvis’ favourite, Serge Gainsbourg is in here with some strange Leon Cohen at the comedy store to a Radio 2 jukebox. As you’d guess from the man most famous for ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’, the production is stunning; particularly the Mexican trumpets of ‘She’s Gonna Break Some Heart Tonight’ sung by Tommy Parsons. Parsons is an old friend who apparently saved Lee’s life, literally.

‘Sacrifice’ is very Cohen in his (French) accordion period while ‘Fred Feud’ is a waltz in the classical musical hall of fame nuthouse. The vocals of Bela B are like a German Nick Cave with rockabilly twangy 60s guitar of ‘The First Song Of The Day’.

Bela B introduced Lee to Lula, who’s on the opener ‘Nothing’ and ‘It’s Nothing To Me’, she hits all the Johnny Cash with strings buttons.

Looking for an alt. ‘Anthem’ for the USA? This is a suitably anti-Republican party demo song. Added to the insight of ‘White People Thing’, these two will get up the backs of some folks back home.

The original version of ‘Boots’ finds Hazelwood on a twangy guitar jazz tip (time to get out the Trost album again). Old mama Hectic was a fan of Nancy’s version which inevitably meant I hated it but this is the version. Any show that has half-a-sixities theme will be playing this and it’s ideal for the Xmas party.

The version of ‘Some Velvet Morning’ included here should only be heard by his close family. ‘T.O.M (The Old Man)’ will either bring tears to your eyes or shouts for the sick bucket.

But let’s forget that as the man can write and produce some great tunes and wear a mean ‘tash to boot. So it’s ‘Boots’ for me.

Reviewed: Lee Hazlewood — Cake Or Death (Four Music) Cat. No. BPX1992 Release Date: 4th December 2006
Tracklisting:
1. Nothing feat. Lula & Lee
2. Baghdad Knights feat. Lee
3. Please Come To Boston feat. Ann Kristin Hedmark & Lee
4. She’s Gonna Break Some Heart Tonight — Tommy Parsons
5. Sacifice feat. Lee
6. Fred Freud feat. Lee
7. The First Song Of The Day feat Bela B & Lee
8. It’s Nothing To Me feat. Lee
9. Anthem feat. Lee
10. White People Thing feat. Lee
11. Boots (Original Melody)
12. Some Velvet Morning feat. Phaedra & (Grandpa) Lee
13. T.O.M. (The Old Man) feat. Lee

Lee Hazlewood sounds just as he looks: very very cool, and rather old.

The old-time rock and roller who wrote ‘Boots’ (you know, the ones Nancy Sinatra wanted to walk all over you in) is back. His brand of pop is infectious, catchy, and all delivered with a gravelly voice that sounds as though he’s telling you you have only minutes left to live.

As a whole Cake or Death will surprise you, and be a worthwhile additional to anyone’s music collection. ‘Bagdhad Knights’ is dry, witty and as any song about Iraq as I’ve heard while ‘Fred Freud’ investigates ‘neurotic afflictions’, interposed with Bach, Wagner and Mozart. There are appearances from veteran rockers Duane Eddy and Richard Bennett as well as lesser-known of Hazelwood’s friends, Scandinavian jazz singer Ann Kristin Hedmark and German actor and singer Bela B.

The highlights of the album are the duet with Bela B ‘The First Song of the Day’ with its great treble-heavy guitar riffs and chopped hammond organ, and his original - and rather more sinister - ‘Boots’.

Announced as his final album, Cake or Death is poppy in the best sense of the word.