Lee Hazlewood is "400 Miles From L.A."

Lee Hazlewood was one of the most creative artists to ever grace a recording studio or soundstage. The eclectic singer rose to fame through his work as a producer and songwriter for artists like Duane Eddy, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He’s perhaps best known for his work with Nancy Sinatra, for whom he wrote and produced the iconic song “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.” Hazlewood originally planned to record it himself, but Nancy convinced him to allow her to sing it, and the rest is history. The duo also recorded a trio of albums together, and the first, Nancy and Lee, is a bona fide classic, featuring such atmospheric tunes as the darkly sensual “Some Velvet Morning” and “Summer Wine” as well as an almost eerie cover of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” The pairing of Hazlewood’s rich baritone and Nancy’s tough yet tender vocals is perfectly in sync.

Hazlewood had a style all his own, a hard to categorize amalgam of country, folk, rock, pop and psychedelia. He made it all look and sound effortless, and radiated cool without even trying. Hazlewood’s introspective, wry lyrics displayed his off-kilter and ironic sense of humor. His distinctive vocals grabbed your attention from the moment the needle hit the record. Never content to stick to one genre, he recorded and produced music that was always unique. Hazlewood even did a wild, over the top album of pop, folk and soul songs with Ann Margaret, The Cowboy and The Lady. He continued to record and release eclectic, inventive records throughout his life, until his passing in 2007. He’s gained a loyal following and a dedicated cadre of fans over the years, with artists like Beck, The Pixies and Pete Yorn covering his songs, and citing him as an influence.

Cover Image Courtesy Light In The Attic Records

Light In The Attic Records, a label that has been re-issuing wonderful new editions of Hazlewood’s amazing catalog, is now celebrating what would have been his 90th birthday with the release of 400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56, a collection of his early recordings. The disc features demos and rough takes, many of which were subsequently featured on Hazlewood’s classic debut, 1963’s countrified concept album Trouble Is A Lonesome Town, as well as some of his later records. It’s a captivating look at the creative process, as you can really hear the beginnings of wonderful songs like “The Railroad Song” and “Cross Country Bus” in these embryonic takes. The flawed characters who inhabit striking tunes such as “Long Black Train” and “Peculiar Guy” are memorably etched by Hazlewood; he's a master storyteller. You’ll feel like you know these people and their hopes, dreams, sadness, and disappointments.

400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56 is a terrific compilation of songs by the “psychedelic cowboy” that were recorded during a time he was living in Phoenix, Arizona and shuttling back and forth to L.A. to try and break into the music business. These recently discovered recordings paint a clear picture of the innovative, fascinating work that we’d hear from Hazlewood in the years to come. The album will be released on September 13th, and I highly recommend it to fans and newcomers to the music of Lee Hazlewood. You could almost subtitle it “Lee Hazlewood Unplugged.” 400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56 also features extensive liner notes by Hazlewood expert Hunter Lea, and an interview with music historian John Dixon. I’ve only scratched the surface of the fantastic work and intriguing story of Lee Hazlewood in this post, so I encourage you to seek out his music, and learn more about him. You can check out the release by following this link: https://lightintheattic.net/releases/4957-400-miles-from-l-a-1955-56, and you can also view an animated trailer for the release by going here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnAlNilp48E&feature=youtu.be.