Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis
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Free Music Notes for Dusty in Memphis
Free Music Review: DIM is Dusty at her very best
Hit: 5 Stars
Dusty Springfield was at her creative and vocal peak in Dusty In Memphis. Sure, there was the big hit, "Son Of A Preacher Man", one of the best known of all Dusty songs. However, I will agree with Dusty's own comments in the liner notes when she says the song "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore" is her favorite. She shows the entire vocal range she can command in this song, and the result is absolutely gorgeous. I also flat-out love "Windmills Of Your Mind", "Just A Little Lovin'", "In The Land Of Make Believe" and "I Can't Make It Alone". For that matter, the entire original 11 tracks are Dusty in her very best form. The fact that she leaned heavily on the Caro King/David Goffin, Burt Bacharach/Hal David songwriting teams and Randy Newman for material in this recording does not in any way detract from Dusty's efforts, in fact it enhances them. Dusty invented the entire way she sang, but the rest is God-given, and we are much better for her having been among us.The role of the Memphis Cats cannot be understated, either. I just love horn bands, being a Chicago fan since 1972, and it is no coincidence to me that DIM came out at the same time as Chicago Transit Authority. DIM hinted at the integrated horn and rythim section that became Chicago's hallmark, while maintaining some classic orchestration as well. Chicago would also emulate some of these classic orchestration elements found in DIM.
As for the bonus tracks, personally, I love every one of them, even if some do not quite fit in with the original DIM theme. However, "Willie And Laura Mae Jones", "That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho") and "I'll Be Faithful" sound like they would have fit in the original DIM very nicely. And "Willie And Laura Mae Jones" and "Natchez Trace" show a rare side of Dusty, the side that can rock-out with anyone.
Free Music Review: Brilliant!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the pivotal album of Dusty Springfield's career, making many "best of" lists. And it certainly deserves that honor! Just when this album couldn't get any better, you get this Deluxe Edition, which features the original 11 tracks and a whopping 14 bonus tracks! The original songs have been remastered, and sound pristine and clear, the way they were meant to be heard. This version will truly make you experience the album, and appreciate the arrangements, production and overall quality of Dusty's vocals.There is an abundance of bonus material that was previously unissued, including her inspired cover of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend", "Have A Good Life Baby", "Cherished", "Goodbye", "Make It With You", "All The King's Horses", "Natchez Trace", "Live Here With You" and "Love Shine Down". That already makes it a must own, for all that bonus rare material!
But the tracks that actually make up the DUSTY IN MEMPHIS part of the album, that is worth raving about. From the opening "Just A Little Lovin", this album is perfect as your soundtrack to a lazy afternoon. I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that "Windmills of My Mind" may be her most underrated performance. Of course everyone is familiar with the classic "Son of a Preacher Man". It's the quieter songs that show Dusty's power in my opinion, on songs like "So Much Love" and "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore", her nuanched performances really bring the material out. The same could be said on tracks like "Just One Smile" or "No Easy Way Down", and more uptempo songs like "Don't Forget About Me" or "Breakfast In Bed".
Overall, this is an excellent edition to own, of a classic album. Every Dusty Springfield collection should have at least this album in it!
Free Music Review: Dusty In Memphis - Classic Listening
Hit: 5 Stars
If you buy one Dusty Springfield album, this would be the one to get. This is her critically acclaimed 1969 album DUSTY IN MEMPHIS, which was re-released with bonus tracks. They are nice to have but the real album is something to celebrate. This comes from one of the greatest voices of our generation, and it's really no wonder everyone is still praising this album. She sings with so much soul, this is truly a classic album. It has what albums today are simply lacking. The production is top notch, the band, the instrumentation, everything about it is amazing. This CD is a class in itself. The album opens with the song "Just A Little Love", a nice song with universal appeal, about just reaching out and loving one another. "Son of a Preacher Man" became a signature song for Dusty, her version is even better than Aretha Franklin who later recorded this gem. She sings beautifully on Randy Newman's "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore". She even turns non soul songs such as "Breakfast In Bed" into soul classics. Her version of "The Windmills of Your Mind" is in a class of its own in my humble opinion, definately the best version I've ever heard. Dusty emotes so much feeling in these songs, you can hear the emotion in her voice, she expresses it so well. Other highlights include "No Way Down", "So Much Love", "I Can't Make It Alone" and "Just One Smile". The bonus tracks are fairly nice too, but don't really match the album, yet still nice to have. Highlights among the bonus tracks include "Goodbye", "What Do You Do When Love Dies", "Love Shien Down", "Willie & Luara Mae Jones" and more. This is a classic album that everyone should at least listen to. This is truly memphis soul at its finest, there will never be another album like this, it's timeless.Free Music Review: "Memphis" in a class by itself
Hit: 5 Stars
Chances are you've heard much about this album. Most of it will prove true, but you must approach patiently and with an open mind. DO NOT expect Dusty to sound "black" ala Aretha or Whitney. DO expect to hear a world-class vocalist pulling out every trick in her bag AND singing from deep within her soul.
Though the musicians, songwriters and producers shine here as much as Dusty, let me focus on her. With this album, Dusty perfected the deceptively soft delivery she had begun with "The Look of Love". For me, this culminates in "No Easy Down", which serves as the moment of resignation in the rough story line that the songs sketch out. There is no moment of resolution here, and that's part of what makes it so irresistably desirable to return to this gem time and time again. It is haunting and unbelievably beautiful, and will stay under your skin for a lifetime if you just let it in....
Regarding the bonus tracks on this release: treat them as an academic exercise, letting the annotations in the liner be your guide. Most of these tracks are woefully out of place alongside "Memphis", they were issued as a gesture to the fans, who knew of their existence but were unable to purchase them before this package emerged. Dusty' s album with Jeff Barry (unreleased at the time of it's conception, but represented here in it's majority) inspires a whole critique of it's own. Why did this woman never do a "Black" gospel project? The tracks that hint at such potential will haunt you as much as "Memphis"! If you love music, singing, the civil rights movement, all things British Invasion, all things romance, all things human... Get Dusty in Memphis and don't look back! Lord knows she never did.
Free Music Review: The Quintessential Blue-Eyed Soul Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
I usually never listen to Rolling Stone magazine (for several reasons), but it turns out that they are right every once and a while. In their November 2003 edition, they gave "Dusty In Memphis" #89 in their top 500 albums of all time editorial article. I've never been into adult contemporary or soul music that much, so I was a bit nervous about it living up to the hype.
All I can say is - WOW! This record is unbelievable. Dusty's voice is absolutely immaculate. There is so much feeling, soul, and energy emulating from her delivery. Just about every song is perfect in this collection. And the one's that aren't perfect musically, are made up by Dusty's irreproachable technique. Maybe it's because I don't own hardly and soul or R&B, but this record is on it's way to change that. My favorites include "Just a Little Lovin'", "So Much Love", "Son of a Preacher Man", "Breakfast in Bed", "Just One Smile", and "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore".
The bonus tracks on here are excellent as well. Most of the time "deluxe" editions are chalk full with pure filler. But that's not the case with this masterpiece. This CD runs 76 minutes, and it's hard to say that some of the "extra" material isn't just as good as the original cuts. Tracks like "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", "Make It With You", "Natchez Trace", and "I'll Be Faithful" are just as classic as the original picks.
The bottom line is, if you are interested in hearing Britain's greatest pop diva and one of the greatest soul singers of all time; this is essential listening. This album fully deserves it's classic status.