Dusty in Memphis

by Dusty Springfield

Type: Album
Released: 31 March 1969
Label: Atlantic, Philips
Country: United Kingdom
Length: 33:31
Community rating: 4.28/5 from 12 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

On 'Dusty in Memphis', Dusty Springfield's nuanced, emotive vocals were paired with the raw, rhythmic backing of the Memphis Boys, creating a landmark fusion of pop and Southern soul. Under the guidance of producers Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin, and Tom Dowd, the album reinterpreted sophisticated pop compositions from premier songwriters like Gerry Goffin, Carole King, and Randy Newman with an earthy, groove-oriented foundation at American Sound Studio. Though initially a commercial disappointment, the record's seamless blend of polished orchestration—overdubbed in New York—and Memphis grit on tracks like "Son of a Preacher Man" has since established it as a critically celebrated masterpiece of the rock era.

Genres

Descriptors: classic, elegant, strings, retro, female-vocals

Tracklist

Credits

Dusty Springfield - vocals
The Sweet Inspirations - backing vocals
Reggie Young - guitar, electric sitar
Tommy Cogbill - bass guitar, guitar
Bobby Emmons - organ, electric piano, congas
Bobby Wood - acoustic piano
Gene Chrisman - drums
Mike Leech - congas
Ed Kollis - harmonica, assisted dowd
Arif Mardin - producer, arranger, strings arranger, horns arranger, supervisor, liner notes
Tom Dowd - producer, arranger, horns arranger, audio engineer, supervisor, liner notes
Jerry Wexler - producer, supervisor, liner notes
Gene Orloff - conductor, arranger
Terry Manning - assistant engineer
Gary Moore - liner notes, digital remastering
Stanley Booth - liner notes
Elvis Costello - liner notes
Paul Howes - liner notes
Gerry Goffin - writer
Carole King - writer
Barry Mann - writer
Cynthia Weil - writer
Randy Newman - writer
Burt Bacharach - writer
Hal David - writer
Michel Legrand - writer
Alan and Marilyn Bergman - lyrics