Artist: Dusty Springfield
Album: Dusty in Memphis
Year: 1969
Here's the 1001's second go at British white soul singer Dusty Springfield, this time bringing her to the Soul Capital of the World, Memphis, TN.
And what a stroke of genius that was. This album is a masterpiece from start to finish, one of the best albums I've heard in awhile, and EASILY the best soul album I've heard. It's nothing short of phenomenal. Ridiculous that it wasn't a big hit upon its 1969 release.
Most of the songs here are slower ballads, featuring lush orchestral arrangements and the pristine-yet-slightly-weary voice of Springfield. Every song here feels like an instant masterpiece, and with artists like Adele ruling the charts now in 2012, I can see the massive influence of this album upon contemporary pop music. The one song here that has persisted to the present day is "Son of a Preacher Man" (inclusion on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack didn't hurt), and no doubt it's a highlight, but many other songs here are equally good: "Just a Little' Lovin," "Breakfast in Bed," and closing track "I Can't Make It Alone" come to mind.
An added benefit is that the album does not overstay its welcome. Coming in at just a little over a half-hour, it's concise, with no fat needing to be trimmed. It's a perfect dose of soul music, a genre I've much maligned as part of these proceedings. I guess all the genre needs is more albums like this one. Color me blown away.
Rating: Indispensable
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