RS500 #89 - Can I borrow a minute of your tomorrow, don't let it cause you sorrow...

In 2003 Rolling Stone magazine put together a list of the 500 best albums in rock, which was compiled from a combination of haughty-taughty music critics, pajama'd journalists, assorted musicians, and Britney Spears. It caused a little stir not just for what it included, but what it left out. But I honestly thought they did a pretty good job, considering (Michael Jackson's Bad is on there, but no Four Tops or Temptations). In fact the top 100 is pretty solid. I made it a point to have and to write about each of the 500 as I get them. Well I have the top 90 so far, and here's the first one I've managed on here. Although to be fair, Dusty In Memphis in a fairer world would at least be in the top 20.

Dusty Springfield, actually Mary O'Brien to be concise, was unlike any import from England to the states. Originally part of a folky group with her brother called the Springfields, Dusty went solo in 1963 with a sound that drew more on the girl-group sonics that the Merseybeat that was breaking here like a tsunami with the Beatles and the Stones. Becoming bigtime in the UK with singles like "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", she had moderate if not consitent success in America. Which made the arrival of Dusty In Memphis all the more startling in retrospect. Switching labels from the Sun-associated Phillips label to Atlantic records, home of the booming soul movement, and especially Aretha Franklin. Inspired by the music coming from Muscle Shoals studio, she put together an album with Aretha's team of Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin that does more than emulate the soul sounds of the label, it transcends it. It simply is the finest blue-eyed soul album. Ever. Hell one of the best soul albums ever. You wonder why Dusty's an icon to the gay community? Look here. There's more pain, heartbreak, love, elation, and genuine feeling than a million new-jack albums put together. In 1999, Rhino & Atlantic re-released (for the second time) the album with 14 extra tracks, more than doubling the number from the original. And how usually padded packages like this would give you tossaway numbers and alternate takes good for the rabid uber-fan, this CD not only justifies, but improves it raison d'etre.

Starting with a greatly cleaned up version of the original album, Dusty in Memphis basically clobbers you with one of the best album sides ever devised. Starting with the swirling "Just A Little Lovin'" which is such a no-brainer since you an just picture Dusty waking up in her nightgown, running through the house (with the orchestra in the background, mind you) and pushing out the window shutters to belt this sweet request for love. And if "Just...." was Dusty's "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)", "So Much Love" was her "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman". With backup from Aretha's Sweet Inspirations, Springfield draws upon gospel stylings to the secular, which ups the love/devotion ante in droves. But then comes the coup de grace, "Son-Of-A Preacher Man". Here Dusty sounds like no one but Dusty. It's been done by others, even the Queen of Soul, but never bettered.

From the triple take on love, Dusty finds heartbreak, with "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore", which works so well in it's imagine of how claustrophobic loneliness can be. From there she revisits her girl-group style of the past with "Don't Forget About Me", with background music and harmonizing not unlike the Motown of the Four Tops. "Breakfast In Bed" follows, which portrays Dusty in the "symapthetic ear" light (something I can definitely relate too). But then we're back to heartbreak, with "Just One Smile", which pleads with her love to basically throw her a crumb, and it's sung so sweetly that you can't avoid a tear in your eye. "The Windmills Of Your Mind" was taken from the Steve McQueen movie The Thomas Crown Affair and reflects that brooding pace rather than the other songs in the album. That's followed by "In The Land Of Make Believe", which compliments the previous song, and ventures more in the pop arena.
But then Dusty returns to Memphis soul with the melancholy "No Easy Way Down" and "I Can't Make It Alone" which close the original album with two anthems of heartbreak and reflection. In Fact "I Can't Make It Alone" is such a great display of vulnerability and passion that it chokes me up every time.

For the additional tracks, Rhino culls the 3 tracks from the 1992 version, with two great songs (the non-album single "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", which listening to it you can see the musical inspiration for "Night The Lights Went Down In Georgia"; and the Motown-y "Where Do You Go When Love Dies", with it's two-song meshtogether) and one ok number (the kinda-Carole-King-forced-like "That Old Sweet Roll", which is still worth a listen). What follows this is songs from the sessions from her next album, Brand New Me, and cuts from an aborted third album. These are newfound gold to any lover of soul and women's vocals. Classics like "Love Shine Down", "All The King's Horses", and Springfield's take on "You've Got A Friend" show you how much untapped talent was thrown away after the less-than-successful results of the first couple of albums. Caught in the tide change which the Sgt. Pepper/Summer of Love brought on, this music truly predated the plaintive soul which rode the 70s until disco took over.

Even those who already have earlier versions of this CD should get the heck out and get Dusty In Memphis all over again not only for the way-improved sound, which brightens Dusty's voice and cleans up the instruments, but also for the treasures included. And If you've never heard this album at all, all I can say is put down the Rihanna and Beyonce and get thee to find out what real soul is all about.

Grade: A+
Best Cuts: "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", "Just One Smile", "In The Land Of Make Believe", "No Easy Way Down", "I Can't Make It Alone", "Love Shine Down", "All The Kings Horses", "Have A Good Life Baby"

Dusty In Memphis made #99 on the Pop Albums Chart.
"Son Of A Preacher Man" hit #10 pop and #9 in the UK.
"Don't Forget About me" made #64 pop.
"Breakfast In Bed" (the b-side of "Don't Forget") hit #91 pop.
"Windmills Of Your Mind" made #31 pop and #3 Adult Contemporary.
"Willie & Laura Mae Jones" (non-album single) hit #78 pop.

To listen to "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore" click here. (right click to bring up new window).

To buy this album you can go here and here.

And here again thanks to the grace of youtube, is Dusty singing "Son Of A Preacher Man"