One of the Greatest Albums of ALL TIME: DUSTY IN MEMPHIS

[MrScorpio]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000HZEQ/104-8551644-3981541?v=glance

>>Reviewer:

C. Heinrich "wsidechris" (Port Washington, NY USA) - See all my reviews


I rarely use the word "sublime" to describe anything, but it seems a perfect word for this album. In light of today's top 40 radio (which I'm sure leaves so much to be desired), it sounds insulting to label this album as pop music. But knowing that pop culture has the capability of being creative, meaningful, and even powerful (it really hasn't been since Madonna tried to buy it), this album has to be one of the absolute pinnacles of popular music.

The songs on this album are fantastic, and Dusty Springfield had one of the greatest voices to ever grace American 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. So warm and loving--wow. When she sings "I've got so much love", well, heck, you can feel it.

But I don't want to overemphasize Dusty, though. The arrangements and song selection on this record are as important as Dusty's gorgeous voice. It's really amazing that this stuff passed as mainstream pop music; it beats the pants off of anything ever put out by Celine, Whitney, etc. etc. etc. This is the kind of record they DREAM of having their names on (and always miss it by a huge longshot). Did we really have to drop horns and real instruments in order to make songs consumable to the general public nowadays??? It's so sad! But I digress...

Don't even think of buying anything less than the "Deluxe Edition" of this album!! A lot of re-releases these days include bonus tracks, but the bonus tracks here are not to be taken lightly. It must have been a tough job to select the tracks for the original release (imagine having to throw away incredible tracks like "Wille & Laura Mae Jones" and the original recording of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend"!! OMG). If I had to pick a few weak tracks to throw out, though, I could have only really picked "Cherished" and "All The King's Horses". These are certainly not bad songs, they just don't stack up to the other 23 (!) songs.

If I could only say one great thing about this record (I can say a lot), it would be that this album showcases "Son-of-a-Preacher Man"--which is undoubtedly one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The buildup to this song is so tremendous, and the controlled release is just glorious. But that's really how this whole album works.

For once--BELIEVE THE HYPE!!! <<

I have this. It IS the bomb!

[saltpoint]

1. It ain't hype if it's true, and you speak the truth.

Great album, great musical artist.

I think it's impossible to argue with "Son of a Preacher Man," and you nail the reasons for it, too.

Great post!

[GCP]

2. Dusty had a gorgeous voice

It's so sad she died so young.

[Kikosexy2]

3. "Son of...

a Preacher Man"--still takes my breath away!