Light In The Attic Reissuing Lee Hazelwood's '13'
Boutique label Light In The Attic have announced a new pressing of Lee Hazelwoodβs 13Β for release Jan. 13th. LITA, perhaps best known for gorgeous Rodriguez and Serge Gainsbourg reissues and the sublime Native North American box set from 2016, have already done masterful new versions of seven Hazelwood classics including the recent edition of the hereto elusive Cowboy In Sweden. Now, they turn their focus to a Hazelwood orphan from 1972.
The story behind 13 is a fascinating one. The album was written with the intent of having Lee Hazelwood Industries' staff producer Larry Marks perform vocal duties. The story from the press release tells the tale.
"13 was never supposed to be a Lee Hazlewood album. It is perhaps the strangest record in one of the most varied discographies in music. The bombastic brass-heavy funk, deep blues and soul paired with Hazlewoodβs subterranean baritone would be best enjoyed with a tall Chivas in an off-strip seedy Vegas lounge. It also features one of Hazlewoodβs greatest lines ever βOne week in San Francisco, existing on Nabisco, cookies and bad dreams, sad scenes and dodging paranoia.β By 1972 Lee Hazlewood had settled in his new homeland of Sweden. His days were spent carousing, making movies with TorbjΓΆrn Axelman and releasing albums. To keep up his prolific recorded output, Lee began to mine the recently defunct LHI Records archives for material. One such gem, was an unreleased album by Larry Marks. In what became the final days of LHI, staff producer Larry Marksβ sonic fingerprints were on nearly everything; songwriting, producing, arranging, and singing. His most profound contribution was steering the creative direction of the label towards soul and R&B, arranging the downright funky LHI singles by Barbara Randolph and Jon Christian. Larryβs concept was to take Hazlewoodβs strongest compositions and arrange them in a soul vibe. An album was completed, but with no distribution in America and no funding, Lee had no vehicle to release Larryβs record. The tapes were taken to Sweden, Larryβs voice was wiped and Hazlewoodβs was dubbedβ¦.13 was born."
13 is available for pre-order right now. A "Gold" edition of 300 is also available in limited quantities. Both vinyl editions of the album will feature download cards with bonus tracks, outtakes and demos. Liner notes by Larry Marks and LHI staff are included as well.
