Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin' (2008)

I'm one of the many who discovered Shelby Lynne only after hearing her for the very first time with the release of her sixth album, I Am Shelby Lynne, in 2000. Even though it was eleven years after her debut this CD was the reason she won the "Best New Artist" Grammy in 2001. While winning that particular award is hard to explain almost everything this non-traditional, country, singer-songwriter has released from that point on has been uniformly excellent and could have won awards.

It says on the cover of Just A Little Lovin', that it was inspired by the late, great, Dusty Springfield. The idea for this album was suggested to Lynne by her friend, Barry Manilow, while they were discussing Springfield's music. Taking Manilow up on his idea turned out to be a brilliant move. She served up nine Springfield songs, added one of her own, and turned in a perfect performance on every single one.

Lynne just doesn't mimic her idol's greatest hits or try to recreate the sound of the original recordings. She simply sings the Springfield songs she could do the most justice to in her own style. Lynne believes that "Son Of A Preacher Man" from Springfield's most famous album, Dusty In Memphis, was performed perfectly in it's original version, so she deliberately avoids it here. Instead, she culled four other songs from that Springfield classic for inclusion on this terrific set. Despite the absence of "Preacher Man" many of Springfield's biggest American hits are represented including, "I Only Want To Be With You, "The Look Of Love," and "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me."

All ten low key tracks were recorded with sparse arrangements at sessions helmed by legendary producer Phil Ramone. The band's goal was to support Lynne and not get in the way of her vocals, and they succeeded mightily. One of the most interesting tracks is "How Can I Be Sure," originally a big hit for The Rascals. American audiences are largely unfamiliar with Springfield's version because it was only released in the United Kingdom. Lynne covers it here with a only a solo acoustic guitar as accompaniment.

Springfield was one of the few female imports of the British Invasion and she was a rare vocal talent in a decade known for its hard driving rock 'n roll. Lynne is exceptional in her own right. Her earthy, R & B tinged country voice is the perfect vehicle to showcase the songs Springfield gave to the world.

Comments

  1. Todd Mason2:56 PM, May 24, 2023

    A good choice of project, indeed...and Springfield, with the Springfields' cover of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", was (were) the first UK recording artists to have a US top-20 hit in the '60s...hence a harbinger of the British Invasion...

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