Shelby Lynne

Just a Little Lovin'

(Lost Highway)

Record Review by Sarah Jane

When your #1 fanilow Barry suggests you do an album of Dusty Springfield covers, you do the things he likes to do. And you wear your hair just for him. (Note: He likes it to look like Carrie Underwood’s.)

With her emotions ranging from ‘a’ to ‘a’, Shelby Lynne sings some of Springfield’s greatest hits primarily from Dusty In Memphis and her debut album A Girl Called Dusty as Starbucks-worthy torch songs with little demo-style accompaniment. Lynne’s limp interpretation of tracks like “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore” and “The Look Of Love” drift regrettably close to Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” sleepiness. Yuppies love it like Barack on a toasted bialy but surely this isn’t what Barry Manilow had in mind when he emailed his friend what should’ve been a fun idea. I’m imagining the “Copacabana” singer would “Say A Little Prayer” for some brass, some heart, some grooviness. Or even a certain scene from My Best Friend's Wedding. Keep “Wishin’ and Hopin’”, Barry, keep wishin’ and a-hopin’.

On Lynne’s one original track, “Pretend”, a song for the DeAnna Pappas’ of the world (“Abuse me one more night and pretend you love me”), the depressive mood fits, though it’s as distant and emotionally unmoving as the rest of Just A Little Lovin’. Lynne’s ‘before turning the gun on himself’ flattened affect doesn’t do “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” or “Anyone Who Had A Heart” the justice they deserve. And closer “How Can I Be Sure” could’ve out-torched them all like the most dramatic rose ceremony ever, but for me it was just a'ight.