Shelby Lynne is for lovers

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 02/06/2008
Sometimes…you can go back. We begin 2008 with an album that takes you back some 40 years. It’s by Shelby Lynne, titled Just a Little Lovin’.

Born in October of ’68, Lynne’s breakout year was 2001 when she won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Her subsequent releases did not garner the same commercial success, though critics still praised her work. While contemplating her next move, Lynne took to heart the suggestion of one Barry Manilow—to cover the Dusty Springfield songbook.

“I didn't want to just record these songs,” Lynne says. “I wanted to make the recordings simple and important. I needed someone who would understand that these songs stand the test of time, and that Dusty Springfield is timeless.”

So she called upon Phil Ramone to produce, Al Schmitt to record, and some craft studio musicians to accompany her and brought them all together at historic Capitol Records Studio A. In contrast to the more fully instrumented original versions Springfield recorded, Lynne's recordings are comparatively sparse arrangements, favoring acoustic guitars and pianos rather than a string or horn section. This allows the album to highlight the most important instrument—Lynne’s voice.

Just a Little Lovin’ features covers of nine songs popularized by Dusty Springfield, in addition to “Pretend,” an original song written by Lynne. Two of my favorites are “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “The Look of Love,” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

They take me back to a time when my parents just loved listening to the music of Bacharach—but now I don’t have to get up and flip the album to side two.

Now playing in Jay’s six changer:
Rocky Votolato – The Brag and Cuss
John Fogerty – Revival
Shelby Lynne – Just a Little Lovin’
The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights
Iron and Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog

Reach Jay at blues4bird@aol.com.

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