Album of the Day

On the heels of her landmark IN MEMPHIS album, Dusty Springfield made a pilgrimage to another U.S. soul capitol, Philadelphia, for 1970's A BRAND NEW ME. Once again the British singer was ahead of the curve, working with producer-songwriters Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and arranger Thom Bell a couple of years before their credits would become ubiquitous on R&B hits. Consequently, the Atlantic collection has a little more urbane funk than the Southern grit of its predecessor, but Springfield proves just as well-suited to the smoother style on such singles as “Silly, Silly Fool,” “I Wanna Be a Free Girl” and the Top 40 hit title track. Dusty Springfield was among the era's most versatile pop vocalists, and A BRAND NEW ME stands with its predecessor among her very best albums.