onceuponatime70s

We’ve Got It Covered.

The original, and still the best. Or is it … ?

Some songs you just never tire of listening to and, for me, this quintessentially Sixties classic from Nancy Sinatra is one.

It ticks just about every box : fun; bouncy; thumping basslines; understated brass section and a cutsie & mischievous vocal.

Written by Lee Hazelwood, the song was a UK #1 hit for Nancy in early 1966 and surprisingly, that was the only time the song broached the UK Top Forty until Jessica Simpson‘s version reached #4 in September 2005. (Billy Rae Cyrus made it to #63 in November 1992.)

These Country-based covers of such an iconic song had me wondering how many other styles the song would lend itself to.

I was interested to learn that it has been covered / released more than two hundred times over the years. One of my personal favourites is from The ’70s, and so I had a look at what other versions there were from that era, just four to fourteen years after the original release.

Check out the selection below, all of which were released in the 1970s – you can vote for your personal favourite version in our poll that follows the videos.

  1. The Boys Next Door (1978)
Prior to changing their name to The Birthday Party, Nick Cave fronted Australian proto-punk band, The Boys Next Door.

2. Symarip (1970)

Originally released in 1970, this version by Symarip (lyrics amended, of course) remains a huge favourite at Ska / Skinhead nights up and down the country.

3. Amanda Lear (1977)

A sultry version by the cover girl from Roxy Music’s ‘For Your Pleasure’ album. Amanda was briefly engaged to Bryan Ferry and also dated Rolling Stone, Brian Jones. Her story merits a lengthy post of its own, and is well worth checking out.
This version of the song is a worthy contender.

4. Fulham Furies (1978)

Fulham Furies were actually Great Yarmouth punk band, The Crabs. They were allegedly supported on backing vocals by the squad of Fulham FC 1978 squad members. Guitarist Ronnie Rocka later played with Splodgenessabounds and Angelic Upstarts.


5. The Ray Bloch Singers (1970)

A dark horse to win our poll, in my opinion! Bloch was the arranger and orchestra conductor for The Ed Sullivan Show from the show’s debut on June 20, 1948 until its final show in June 1971.

6. Pure Hell (1978)

A post-garage / proto punk band from Philadelphia, they have been cited as an early influence for Bad Brains … which is easy to hear!

There you have it – six covers of ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking‘ from the 1970s.

Which one was made for you? Which version left a footprint in your mind? Which should just keep on walking?

(Post by Colin ‘Jackie’ Jackson – August 2023)

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8 comments

  1. I would call Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking'” a classic. I didn’t realize the tune was covered by so many other artists, though given what I said in my sentence, perhaps it’s not too surprising. I like all of the six renditions you highlighted here.

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    • Me too, actually. Though I’ve always had a loyalty to Symarip’s version, I honestly don’t think the original can be bettered. Helped by the video, of course, it just sums up the Swinging Sixties completely.
      🙂

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  2. Haven’t yet listened to all of them, but I’m staying confident no one’s going to better Nancy’s version (or it’s 60s video). Billy Ray Cyrus did it too? That must be something!
    Didn’t know that the’For. Your Pleasure’ cover model also sang , good trivia there

    Liked by 1 person

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    • They are all great versions, Dave – but for its originality and place in musical history, I don’t think it can be bettered. But then, that’s why the wee poll is to nominate the readers’ ‘favourite from the ’70s’, not the ‘best’ … I think we’re all agreed on which that is. 🙂

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