Some Velvet Morning

This article is about the song. For the band, see Some Velvet Morning (band). For the film, see Some Velvet Morning (film).
"Some Velvet Morning"

Cover of the 1967 US single
Single by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
from the album Movin' With Nancy
B-side Oh, Lonesome Me
Released December 1967 (1967-12)
Format 7"
Recorded 1967
Genre Psychedelic pop
Length 3:39
Label Reprise
Writer(s) Lee Hazlewood
Producer(s) Bob Gaudio
Nancy Sinatra singles chronology
"Tony Rome"
(1967)		 "Some Velvet Morning"
(1967)		 "Things"
(1968)
Music sample
"Some Velvet Morning"

"Some Velvet Morning" is a song written by Lee Hazlewood and originally recorded by Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra in late 1967. It first appeared on Sinatra's album Movin' with Nancy, the soundtrack to her 1967 television special of the same name, which also featured a performance of the song.

Although "Some Velvet Morning" is one of the more famous duets Hazlewood and Sinatra recorded together, it is considered a departure from their usual fare, as it is decidedly less influenced by country and western music. The single peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1968.[1]

In 2003, London's The Daily Telegraph called the song, "One of the strangest, druggiest, most darkly sexual songs ever written - ambitious, beautiful and unforgettable."[2] As with many psychedelic songs, its overall meaning is somewhat obscure. The lyrics consist of the male part describing a mysterious, powerful woman named Phaedra, who "gave [him] life … and ... made it end". The male part alternates with the female part, who identifies herself as Phaedra and speaks over ethereal, twinkling music about beautiful nature imagery and about the secrets held by an unknown collective "us." The rhythm shifts from 4/4 for the male parts to 3/4 for the female parts.

The song has been covered many times, usually as a duet.

Construction

The male part of the song is in 4/4 time signature whereas the female part is in 3/4. Lee's voice is recorded with more reverberation than Nancy's, making it sound bi-dimensional.

Legacy

Also used by Art Bell on "Coast to Coast AM" as bumper music.

Selective list of cover versions

References

  1. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (2003-12-01). Turn on your mind: four decades of great psychedelic rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 385. ISBN 978-0-634-05548-5.
  2. ↑ "50 Best Duets Ever: Some Velvet Morning, 1968" The Telegraph, 8 November 2003
  3. ↑ " The Telegraph, 8 November 2003
  4. ↑ "Week 22: Lee Hazlewood, space cowboy/peculiar guy".
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