Whitney, Celine, and Mariah have killed pop female vocals...they have done more damage than the autotune. Vocal riffs, meaningless runs, shouting....where's the understanding of the lyric, the emotional control?
Dusty Springfield could interprete a song. Dusty in Memphis stands out as one of the all time great soul recordings. Sacrilage to suggest anything else. But how I love what she did next. A Brand New Me is her sixth studio album, released on the Atlantic Records label in January 1970 and recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. It is the only one of Springfield's albums that was ever recorded featuring songs by the same production team for a whole album. Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell had a hand, with Dusty, in creating a small masterpeice.
Personnel
Dusty Springfield - vocals; Ugene Dozier - piano, producer; Roland Chambers - guitar, arranger, producer; Vince Montana - background vocals, vibraphone; Norman Harris - guitar; Ronnie Baker - bass; Earl Young - drums; The Sweethearts of Sigma - background vocals; Don Renaldo & His String Section - strings; and Sam Reed & His Horn Section - horns.
Track List
Lost
Bad Case of the BluesNever Love Again
Let Me in Your Way
Let's Get Together Soon
Brand New Me
Joe
Silly, Silly Fool
The Star of My Show
Let's Talk It Over
Let Me Get in Your Way is a beautiful song that shows off what was to become the Philly Sound. Fine, funky and muted. Dusty sings over the accent of a cymbal and strings. It's a song that rises and rises and rises...but ever staying cool.
Let me Get in Your Way
I think it's function of content. With Mariah et al. their songs overwhelmingly did not reflect the inner struggles we all have. They were like actors on a stage in the Diana Ross mold. Dusty can sell a song though!
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