Dusty In Memphis. Dusty Springfield

It's been a while but today I am revisiting a series started years ago with singles from the time I discovered that there was something like hits that were summed up on a sheet of paper called the Veronica Top 40. My best guess is that I went to get my first one in the first or second week of October 1968. 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles was number 1. One of the singles of that time was 'Son Of A Preacher Man' by Dusty Springfield.

Dusty Springfield was a British singer born as Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in 1939. She had scored several hits in the mid 1960s, while in 1961 - 1963 scoring hits with the trio The Springfields. In 1968 she relocated to Memphis to record an album there with songs selected for her by Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler. 'Dusty In Memphis' did not fare all that well, initially. The recording process was hard, Springfield rejected most songs suggested by Wexler and was insecure in the environment where the likes of Aretha Franklin also recorded. The public did not buy the album as well. This proved to be one of those slow sellers. Since the release in early 1969 the album has reached critical acclaim.

How does it sound in 2022? Dated is my first conclusion. This kind of music does not exist any more. From there on it is clear why the record has reached the fame it has. Springfield is way out of her comfort zone and tapping into the soul sound that from 1968 onwards gained more popularity in general. Her voice is suited quite well here. She may not have the gospel side that the African-American singers like the already mentioned Aretha had, she stands her own here easily.

The sun and moon of 'Dusty In Memphis' is its lead single, 'Son Of A Preacher Man'. This song is one of my favourite singles of all time for decades. It is far removed from my rock side but has it all. Although I'm still not clear what I am hearing in the lyrics, the music is fantastic. Here Dusty Springfield dives deep into the soul of soul music and comes out triumphantly. A winner multiple times over. Compared to the single, all the other songs are soft, smooth songs aimed at singing beautifully and not taking any chances.

Again that said, the team of Wexler, Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd, who all had great careers as producers (later) moved mountains for Dusty Springfield. She is allowed to shine and succeed in why she had signed to Atlantic and came to Memphis. One of the songs, 'Breakfast In Bed', became a hit 20 years later for UB40 with Chrissie Hinde. 'The Windmill Of Your Mind' is on record here months before José Feliciano scored a hit with the song. It is the odd song out though. It doesn't belong in between the rest. This is an American version of a French chanson. Dusty was right there is my view.

With songwriters behind the songs like Randy Newman and the Griffin - King and Mann - Weill and David - Bacharach duos, Dusty Springfield was handed songs by the best songwriters of the time. The top song was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins though and originally meant for Aretha herself. Dusty beat her to it and scored a huge hit with the song. My favourite of all her songs, easily.

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