Nancy Sinatra

“I spent 12 years studying classical piano music, not that that was ever reflected in my hit records”

“I WANT to thank you for something you put in an article about me,” says Nancy Sinatra down the line from Palm Springs, referring to Uncut’s online prompt for questions for this feature. “There was a paragraph that said: ‘What do you want to ask a lifelong style icon’ – interesting! – ‘who’s mingled with everyone from Elvis to Wilco, The Rat Pack to The Sopranos, Mel Tillis to Sonic Youth?’ I love that, thank you so much! It made me feel very important.” But you are important, Nancy! “No, no, no. Believe me, I know my place in the scheme of things. It’s mostly Frank’s daughter who sang ‘Boots…’”

Now 81 and still rigorously observing lockdown protocols while watching the world burn on Twitter, Sinatra is inclined to pessimism. But Light In The Attic’s current reissue programme refutes her reductive career summary. First, the compilation revealed the full glory of her pop reign, highlights the beginning of a fruitful partnership, the archetypal light-and-shade duet team. “It was an exciting time,” admits Sinatra eventually. “Maybe if the collection does well, Light In The Attic will explore some of my more obscure recordings and consider releasing them. That would be fun.”