Dusty In Memphis – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD*****

Just A Little Lovin’/So Much Love/Son Of A Preacher Man/I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore/Don’t Forget About Me/Breakfast In Bed/Just One Smile/The Windmills Of Your Mind/In The Land Of Make Believe/No Easy Way Down/I Can’t Make It Alone

This acclaimed soul album from Dusty Springfield is considered by critics to be her finest moment. However, this was not reflected in the chart placing. Dusty In Memphis includes the top ten single Son Of A Preacher Man. (US:99)

“Up until Dusty In Memphis, Dusty Springfield's brand of soul wasn't really of the down-to-earth, gospel-derived variety. Instead she had rather more of a swinging bachelor pad vibe. But as the reigning queen of blue-eyed soul, she must have felt motivated to take a stab at classic Southern R & B. Dusty had quite a standard to match, and some folks might have been sceptical of whether a white British crooner could live up to her American idols. She removed any doubt of this once the album hit the shelves, as it immediately received huge accolades from every major critic, with many citing it as one of the finest R & B records ever produced.”

“I hope in her later years she listened back at this album with a sense of pride and achievement. Her voice soars above the sumptuous and beautifully recorded arrangements and the whole thing sounds like a glorious night out.”

“I love soul music and the whole Atlantic/Stax/Volt roster but Dusty was more than fit for purpose, walking to Memphis in style. She never over-sings and her understated, sultry style suits these songs perfectly, the production giving her room to interpret the different styles here.”

“Even youngsters know Son Of A Preacher Man but the album is full of songs every bit as cool, smooth, and sultry. It's a high water mark of white soul - a genre that's produced its share of classics. Dusty's voice captures a timeless sound and creates a timeless mood.”

“The songs on this album are fantastic, and Dusty Springfield had one of the greatest voices to ever grace pop music. Her voice is so soft and mellow, yet can grab and just galvanize you. She knows exactly when and how to emote, something today's pop singers seem completely clueless about. I cannot praise either this album or Dusty Springfield enough.”