So why is Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
Like so many of my generation, I was introduced to Dusty Springfield by way of the movie Pulp Fiction. It’s easy to take for granted today just how innovative Quentin Tarantino was (and still is) in the way he remixed pop culture – inventing and reinventing it within his films.
The film breathed new life into Dusty’s incredible 1969 hit ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ while also reviving John Travolta’s career – launching a remarkable second act capped by a stellar performance.
But all of my above talk gets a little blah blah blah intellectual-ish compared to watching the Pulp Fiction scene play out and letting it wash over you. And shout out of course to the electric, funny, and quirkily dangerous performance turned in by Uma Thurman as well.
But back to Dusty Springfield and “Son of a Preacher Man.” It’s an incredible song on its own, from its inviting opening hook to Dusty’s gorgeous and (seemingly) effortless voice to the rising horns that push the song along with delightful momentum.
A perfect pop-soul gem from the British artist.
“Cherished” took me a little while to get into, but once it clicked, it really clicked and I wound up completely digging its late ‘60s sort of pre-disco belt-it-out-to-the-rafters vibe.
I love the string instrumentation on “Just a Little Lovin’,” which could almost serve as the soundtrack to a Russian novel, before the song allows Dusty’s incredible vocals to take the spotlight on this great pop song.
Some stats & info about Dusty Springfield – Dusty in Memphis
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Pop, Pop Music, Pop-Soul, R&B, Soul
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – #83
- All Music’s rating – 5 out of 5 stars
- When was Dusty in Memphis released? 1969
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #838 out of 1,000
Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
The only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective take on what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.