Dusty in Memphis

I loved everything about this. Need to listen again, but I'll be adding this to my personal collection, so that shouldn't be a problem

⭐⭐⭐⭐.49

Quality stuff from Dusty here. Some of her best on this.

Son of a preacher man is good, the rest is more meh

absolutely gorgeous, some great players in that studio band & excellent backup singers too. also goddamn beautiful crystal clear stunning mix??? i know this is still like plastic soul or whatever but dusty definitely the smoothest mf to come out of the uk,, name another British artist with this much sauce .. bowie doesnt count & his "soul" album was kinda mid
don't forget about me was my favorite

3.64

Good album.

A "problem" with this album is that it contains "Son Of A Preacher Man", which is actually too good and popular.

However, I really enjoyed some of the other tracks. In particular, I enjoyed: "Just A Little Lovin'", "Don't Forget About Me", "Breakfast In Bed" (my second favourite), or "The Windmills Of Your Mind".

Her voice is also very good, and the arrangements are great.

Overall, this is between 3 and 4 stars for me, though I'm inclined to award 4 stars to this one.

Well, two things are true. One, A Girl Called Dusty is not a very good album. Two, I knew this was going to be different the second I got it. "Son of a Preacher Man" is known as one of the better soul songs sung by a white girl, and the rest of the album… glory, does it follow suit.

Pretty much every single song is a direct improvement on everything Springfield displayed on her debut. I mean, from the covers alone you can tell that they’re very different albums: the debut is this innocent, cheery picture of Springfield, in down-to-earth clothing, and this solid blue color. It’s bright and it’s positive. I’ve seen two versions of the cover for this album, one is displayed on the 1001 website, and it sees Springfield’s headshot, with a knowing, almost sultry smile, framed by this olive-green color. The other cover, the one that’s known more widely, is Springfield with her hands to her face, in this yellowish lighting. Both covers push a more obstructed, mysterious aesthetic, one that’s backed up by the musical choices on the album: heavy strings, softer songs, more mature singing and topics, it all communicates a grown-up-ness.

The album’s obvious peak is “Son Of A Preacher Man,” which is also the album’s most innocent song, and the peak of energy for the album. Instantly iconic, phenomenal, beautiful, energetic, lovey-dovey, love it. The other big highlights, “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore,” a sad ballad that really fits well in the album, “Breakfast in Bed,” an easygoing, surprisingly dear song that I adore, and the haunting “Windmills Of Your Mind.”

This album is phenomenal! Absolutely listen!
10/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: ABSOLUTELY
REASON: quality, significance, place in catelogue

I’m embarrassed to say I confused Dusty and Rick and thought that Dusty was a guy until very recently. Oops.

Love her voice! I can only imagine what seeing her live during this time would’ve been like. So much soul and passion, but all cushioned with softness. Beautiful.

(9/1089)
A very relaxing album. She has a good voice, it gave me some 60s vibes and I enjoyed it.

Favorite: Just a Little Lovin, Son of a Preacher Man, Breakfast in Bed
Least favorite: The Windmills of Your Mind
8/10

Would have sex to it #2 (except to "The Windmills Of Your Mind)

(I NEVER KNEW THE SONG JAN WAS SINGING IN THE OFFICE TO HER BABY WAS ON THIS RECORD! That realisation hit me like a freight train...)

An album I didn't realise I was waiting for! One of my favorite compilations is the 90s CD box set "Music To Watch Girls By", which has Dusty on it (along with like, Andy Williams, Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, etc). So, I like her. She exemplifies like a genre I like, which for me is "oldies", though this is listed as pop. And she didn't write any of the songs, so I guess that tracks. But I think she has a good and unique voice, and the songs are nice and short. The female Elvis??
None of the songs here were that catchy really, but it's all the more impressive that I enjoyed listening anyway (and just wait until she's doing 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' or 'Wishin' and Hopin''! Just wait!)

Overbearing in places, or missing some factors that would elevate things past being "okay" or "pleasant." I don't think her vocals are good enough to make things excellent, nor is the sound very consistent- she tries about 5 different genres to varying degrees of success. The album is nice but nothing more than a trifle overall

In Memphis is Dusty on her best form, opening her soul for all to see. When you are a performer rather than a songwriter you have to have an iconic magic that pulls audiences towards you, Dusty absolutely has that. This record is enhanced by a variety of inventive accompanying instrumentation, musicians absolutely nailing their performance and bolstering Dusty's vocals.

The Windmills of Your Mind was pretty good. The rest? Yawn.

Solid.

1. Didn’t think this was gonna be a woman singing
2. Didn’t expect it to sound so SOULFUL
3. THIS IS AMAZING

I mean Son of A preacher Man alone justifies 4 stars, but the rest of the album is no slouch either.

I love my golden, classy queen 🥧⭐️🏆

Dusty In Memphis is smooth and sensual, even to the point of sounding genuinely romantic. It's honestly a very sweet pleasant listen. Dusty Springfield is an amazing vocalist, and she absolutely sells the tone she is going for here. And there is some musical depth here that can kind of blind side you if you don't know what this is; just look at The Windmills Of Your Mind. This is a landmark for women in rock history, and I think it deserves a 4.

Jamais écouté avant.

La définition du cool 60's dans un album de pop/soul qui ne tombe jamais dans le kitsch ou le mauvais goût. La polyvalence vocale de Dusty Springfield y est pour beaucoup, parfois sussurrement sexy, parfois joueuse et souriante, parfois puissante et intense. Son choix d'enregistrer à Memphis, l'une des capitales de la soul, avec les musiciens locaux, alors qu'elle-même vient d'Angleterre, aussi, lui permettant de ne jamais tomber dans le pastiche. Ajoutez à cela le légendaire Son of a Preacher Man, une superbe version (en crescendo d'une guitare hispanisante à une instrumentation cinématographique en orchestre complet) des Moulins de mon cœur de Michel Legrand et, plus généralement, un ensemble de compositions sans fausse note... Le résultat, un album feel good typique des années 1960 qui, dans son genre, s'approche de la perfection.

Top : Son of a Preacher Man
Flop : In the Land of Make Believe