Something Special (1968)

MGM Records expected Lee Hazlewood to duplicate his success as a producer and songwriter when he stepped to the forefront as a solo artist, but his first two albums for the label -- 1966's The Very Special World of Lee Hazlewood and 1967's Lee Hazlewoodism: Its Cause and Cure -- were purposefully quirky efforts that had all but nothing to do with rock & roll and soon sank without a trace. Hazlewood's tenure with the label came to a close with 1968's Something Special, and despite the strength of the performances, this ... Read More

MGM Records expected Lee Hazlewood to duplicate his success as a producer and songwriter when he stepped to the forefront as a solo artist, but his first two albums for the label -- 1966's The Very Special World of Lee Hazlewood and 1967's Lee Hazlewoodism: Its Cause and Cure -- were purposefully quirky efforts that had all but nothing to do with rock & roll and soon sank without a trace. Hazlewood's tenure with the label came to a close with 1968's Something Special, and despite the strength of the performances, this sounds like a contractual obligation album if there ever were such a thing. Billy Strange's elaborate orchestrations were gone (except on the opening track, "Shades," a leftover from the Lee Hazlewoodism sessions), and instead Hazlewood was backed by a small combo (dominated by pianist Don Randi and bassist Chuck Berghofer) playing late-night blues changes with a jazz undertow, while Hazlewood's easygoing vocals, half hipster recitation and half rootsy twang, hovered over the top. As always, Hazlewood seemed to be doing just what he felt like at the moment, and though the scale is smaller, the execution clearly reflects his laid-back, crushed-velvet-on-denim persona, and Don Randi's gravel-voiced scatting (which suggests Tom Waits time traveling into Los Angeles in the late '60s) is a creative line in the sand that will either engage or alienate listeners. Something Special is too expert to sound tossed off, but it certainly doesn't sound fussed over, and the fact it was knocked out in four evenings sounds about right, though the skill of Hazlewood's accompanists allows this to sound expert and spontaneous at once. MGM saw little commercial potential in Something Special and didn't give it an American release in 1968, making it available only in Germany and Scandinavia, but it received a belated U.S. debut in the 21st century, and it's a modest but fascinating piece of the puzzle of Hazlewood's career as a headliner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi Read Less

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  The Yard Sale Store BEST Narrowsburg, NY, USA

  $11.95 $19.98 Add to Cart Add this copy of Something Special to cart. $11.95, good condition, Sold by The Yard Sale Store rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Narrowsburg, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Water Music Records.

  	Edition: 2007, Water Music Records CD, Good	Details: UPC: 646315720327 Discs: 1 Label: Water Music Records Released: September 18, 2007 Alibris ID: 17503947656	Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: $4.99 Trackable Expedited: $9.19 Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
  Seller's Description: Good in good packaging. Originally released: 1968. MUSIC CD with original printed insert withdrawn from the library collection. Some library markings. Some shelf wear to the case. We will polish the CD for a smooth listening experience. Ships in a cloth, drawstring bag. Enjoy this reliable Music CD performance.
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2007, Water Music Records UPC: 646315720327 CD See All from $11.95