Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Nancy & Lee 3 (2004)

The third and final chapter of the Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood trilogy was released three years prior to Hazlewood’s 2007 passing. While it would be easy to be dubious about classic artists pining for past glory, Nancy & Lee 3 reveals the duo’s musical chemistry to have aged quite well. The opener “Goin’ Down Rockin’ introduced Sinatra’s sultry singing style (her voice having aged like a good wine) before Hazlewood’s grizzled growl pipes in (his voice having aged like top shelf scotch). “Gypsies & Indians” really taps into the duo’s penchant for infusing classic country and western tunes with well-arranged baroque pop and an instantly likeable duet sung over the top. The bittersweet “Strangers, Lovers, Friends” is a beautiful ballad punctuated by lilting piano notes, sweeping strings and Spanish guitar. They give Shelly King’s “Texas Blue Moon” all the elegance of a Phil Spector mix while “Pack Saddle Saloon” recalls Hazlewood’s 1969 collaboration with Ann- Margret