DUSTY SPRINGFIELD/DUSTY IN MEMPHIS SBL 7889 (-69) UK

Though only mildly successful initially this album is today widely considered a true classic, appearing on many "all time greatest" lists. Even if not up there with the most bewitching black soul it's by far the best by a white artist and in a bigger prespective also showing just how good a transatlantic interaction can be - in this case British talent and American knowhow. Twas a meeting between a UK soul singer searching for her true potential and a US team that could help her realise it to the fullest - legendary soul producers Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler, backing groups "Sweet Inspirations" and "Memphis Cats" and songwriters like Carole King, Randy Newman and Barry Mann. There are diverging stories about the sessions. Producers called her a perfectionist, demanding a large number of allegedly unnecessary re-takes, while Dusty herself later claimed having been so respectful to and even intimidated by the famous surrondings - same that enabled her biggest idol Aretha Franklin - the "perfectionism" actually was a result of her feeling inferior and just wanted to measure up. In any case it worked out 100%, at least after a while. For some reason the album wasn't an instant hit - rather low sales in Britain, just reaching #99 on Billboard and only one single from it - "Son Of A Preacher Man" - managing top 10. Soon the LP found its way to the cheap stacks and eventually went out of print, starting to take off first with the many vinyl and CD re-issues from the early eighties and on. My first encounter was the "Son Of A Preacher Man" '45 around 1970. So sexy and embracing at the same time I just couldn't get enough. Found a US LP (SD 8214) a few years later for $1 as part of the American companies cut-out dumping in Sweden and it was more of the same - soft, sexy and enthralling. I've had copies ever since and even if I don't listen that much nowadays I need to know it's there. UK re-issues 1980 on Mercury and 1985 on Philips - both with blue labels . First had black label as shown here, thick vinyl and fully laminated cover. (FÄV*) (TÖZ*)