Shelby Lynne: Just A Lotta Nothin'

Let's get right to it. Dusty Springfield's "Dusty In Memphis" is about as soulful and sexy and moving as it gets. Right, music lovers? Aficionados? Geeks? Are ya with me? On January 29th, the wonderful and very talented singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne will release "Just A Little Lovin': Inspired By Dusty Springfield," a 10-song collection that is supposed to do...what exactly? Make us sell our Shelby Lynne CDs?

When I first heard about this project, I was somewhat excited. Good songs, good voice, good producer. What more do you need? Well, after one painful listen and a follow-up -"Was it really that bad?"- listen, I have decided that someone must take the blame. Fellow blogger, Matt Budd, closes his glowing review of this record by saying, "By doing this album (Shelby Lynne) has given us all the opportunity to listen to these great songs again. Thanks, Shelby."

Everyone... buy "Dusty In Memphis" and any of the many Dusty Springfield Greatest Hits CDs that are available and you can listen to these great songs again...PROPERLY. I cannot "thank" Miss Lynne or producer Phil Ramone for sucking the life out of these legendary pieces of music that were just fine AS IS!

Shelby Lynne's reading of such classics as "Anyone Who Had A Heart," "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," and the title track, "Just A Little Lovin'" have no soul. Zero. Listening did not move me or make me feel sexy. It actually made me think of Wim Wenders and the desert. As a matter of fact, her delivery brings to mind the 60's novelty track "Wild Thing," by Senator Bobby, a parody of The Troggs hit sung by a Kennedy impersonator. Miss Lynne is barely singing. (think Shatner's "Mr. Tambourine Man") Less is not more when it is LESS! The production is so stiff, Sealy would be proud. (the posturepedic mattress people, in case that joke was lost in the bile)

And what about "I Only Want To Be With You," the power-pop/girl group masterpiece? Was it necessary to slow this down and get all "laid back on our asses?" This version would make Perry Como shout, "C'MON! PICK IT UP!"

It's only January and I am pretty certain no release this year will disappoint and annoy me as much as this. I love Shelby Lynne, but this is wrong. Sorry, Shelby. And more importantly, sorry Dusty. You are missed.

Comments

[VivaZapata]

so often remakes are disappointing. imitative projects are pointless and when the emphasis is just on genre (making an r&b song, country or visa versa or some other type) it usually falls flat. only when the artist finds a way of infusing his or her own voice and vision into a song can one avoid negative comparisons. tim buckley's version of fred neil's "the dolphins" comes to mind. also jimi hendrix's version of dylan's "All along the watchtower."

[auramac]

I was considering getting the album because I truly was moved by "Anyone who had a heart," which I heard online. It seemed achingly sorrowful.. But when comparing other tracks to Dusty's originals, I realized Shelby's all sounded the same- stripped of melody, if not soul, and paled in comparison to both Dusty's voice and arrangements. You don't take Sgt Pepper and pretend it's a demo version of The Plastic Ono Band. Wrong songs, wrong approach- I regret to say I agree with this review.

[ArtCritic]

This is a great album with superb production by Phil Ramone. The great producers such as Ramone are coming back with new artists. Hopefully we will see many more albums like this.

[LoRiseAntlers]

Win Wenders?Really?
Holy crap.

But that aside,it does truly sound like a case where an artist has listened to her hangers-on a little too much and attempted to do something
outside of her capabilities.

I'll stay away from it,so that I can't hold it against Shelby Lynne,whose work I have really liked thus far.

[Economike]

check out jane county's song about Dusty

[MARTYB]

Hmmm... i really can't believe the woman who sang "the killin kind" has NO soul on these classics. This will bear a listen to.

[benjaminblue]

This is one Huffington Post oolumn with which I am in absolute agreement.

Dusty Springfield's work remains unparalleled and valid.

She was among the finest musicians of her generation.