A SURPISE FROM SHELBY LYNNE!

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When I spent a month last summer in Los Angeles, I blogged about attending a Lucinda Williams concert at the intimate El Rey Theater, unaware until I walked in that the concert was being recorded for a live CD! Ann Wilson of the band Heart appeared on stage, and to my personal delight a bit later singer Shelby Lynne walked out to share vocals on a song. In my car's CD player this week , I have the "Best New Artist Grammy Award"-winning CD "I Am Shelby Lynne" from back in 2000, along with a few others. But this was her 6th CD--and not a debut. Lynne began her career as a mainstream country artist, then she went her own way and remains today fiercely independent. When she released the Glen Ballard produced CD, "Love, Shelby" some fans turned away (unfairly in this author's opinion). It was a solid production, but it had a heavy driven pop sound. So, while the likes of Carrie Underwood may sell CD's, Shelby Lynne is an acknowledged talent that Nashville never quite knew how to regard with her versatile alto voice and an incomparable sense of interpretation. Lynne moved away from Nashville to Palm Springs, California and today at 39, she was looking for a new direction. Then a curious thing happened. Barry Manilow (who also has a home in Palm Springs) suggested that Shelby Lynne cover songs of the late Dusty Springfield, (who died of breast cancer in 1999 at age 59 on the same day she was to have received her Order of the British Empire Award from Queen Elizabeth). Dusty dominated the 1960's with praise from Motown's Berry Gordy for helping to popularize R&B in Britain. More recently, Manilow felt that Lynne had the voice to pull off a project of carefully suggested covers to honor Springfield. "She's kept the integrity of the songwriting. She's kept the tribute to Dusty sexy, but most of all, she's kept herself in there. It is not someone trying to copy anybody else. It is not someone trying to go for the big hit pop single. She's true to her own beliefs and her own creativity, and I think Dusty Springfield would definitely agree this is the way to do a tribute to her. It's a beautiful, beautiful album", said Manilow.

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At least Lynne was open to new ideas and she heard Manilow out. "He's a smart guy and probably he had read all these...comparisons, which I don't believe in, nor do I like. He thought maybe I could do them (the songs) justice and I never really thought about ever doing a cover record, period" she said. The result is Lynne's new CD "Just a Little Lovin" which inclides 9 of Springfield's songs and one original from Lynne herself. Produced by Phil Ramone the arrangements are spartan, with Greg Fields on drums, Dean Parks on guitar, Ron Mathes on keyboards, and Kevin Axt on bass--just clean and simple. But I loved my first listen. Songs include: "The Look of Love" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "I Only Want To Be With You." Manilow added, "But I cross my fingers for the public. I hope the public understands how beautiful the album is, too. I just keep thinking 'The Look of Love' (track) is Diana Krall, that kind of world. And she's as beautiful as Diana Krall." I'll second that observation! Moreover, I find stories like Shelby Lynne's journey very inspiring. She has had to reinvent herself several times, and this outing may be the beginning of her official acceptance by listeners as someone other than an outsider who defies being categorized. That makes for a cool musical blog for a Tuesday!

Shelby is scheduled to be on Craig's show this Thursday!