Is It Tom Waits?
Is it Yma Sumac?
Is it Bob Dylan?
At least an honourable mention should be given to Lee Hazelwood who also sported one of music’s less likely Zapata moustaches as modeled above.
Lee’s grotty growl is most widely associated with a series of incredible duets with the daughter of the Chairman of the Board Nancy Sinatra in the late 60s that provided Reprise (Frank’s own label) with a sequence of unlikely pop hits and some classic recordings. No “uber cool” record collection is right without the much covered “Some Velvet Morning” and the covers range from the sublime (Rowland S Howard and Lydia Lunch) to the delicious outsiders (Gabor Szabo) to the “did they really have to?” (Kate Moss & Primal Scream).
I wasn’t so aware that Lee (who was also the owner of his own label which gave Gram Parsons his first recording deal as well as a DJ, filmmaker, roué and songwriter) had also dueted elsewhere like the rounder he undoubtedly was. And his choice for the amazingly titled album of bar room jazz country “The Cowboy and the Lady” was none other than Elvis’ partner in heinous movie crime and rumoured lover the beautiful Ann Margaret pictured below.
And while you enjoy this picture (yes she was that hot!) and this bizarre cover to the rather rare album with Lee (actually it’s the back insert)
Hit play on the music below and enjoy the wonderful duet “Am I that Easy To Forget”
After hours honky tonk jazz?
He still can’t sing but he picked a pretty good duet partner.
-Tony H
(BTW to hear Ann Margaret with her other famous duet partner check this out and then see what the wife thought here)
