The Wall Street Journal-20080126-WEEKEND JOURNAL- Picks -- Shelby Lynne- Just Asking- The country star sounds off on her new album of Dusty Springfield covers
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WEEKEND JOURNAL; Picks -- Shelby Lynne: Just Asking; The country star sounds off on her new album of Dusty Springfield covers
Shelby Lynne describes herself as a "crazy woman" in the recording studio, but you'd never know it listening to her new album, "Just a Little Lovin.'" Ms. Lynne sings the 10 cuts, nine of them covers of songs made famous by British pop-soul singer Dusty Springfield, with almost perfect grace and control. Raised in Alabama, Ms. Lynne, 39, has recorded 12 albums, one of which won her a Grammy in 1999 for best new artist. Her music has a distinctive country flavor, but she's so original (some would say mutinous) that she defies categorization. We spoke with her recently about Dusty, love and imperfection.
Q: Dusty Springfield's songs always seemed like the kind of music a teenage girl would play after being dumped by her boyfriend. Do you think they're melancholy at heart?
A: They're songs you can make up or break up to, and that's the perfect example of a perfect song. You can laugh or cry to them. Dusty brought vulnerability to the music; I'm only learning vulnerability as I get older.
Q: You didn't record Dusty's "Son of a Preacher Man." Why?
A: Once the version is definitive, you can't make it your own. I compare that to cutting Patsy Cline's "Crazy." You just don't do it. It's sacred ground.
Q: How are you and Dusty different?
A: I wish I had known her, even a little bit. I read everything about her I could find. But then there's that old thing about how you want to meet someone you admire so much, and then you wish you hadn't. People need to be reminded of what was great about her, and I'm doing that through her songs.
Q: Dusty was known as a perfectionist. Are you?
A: I'm willing to accept imperfection if it feels right. Everything today in a recording studio can be so perfect, and then it doesn't necessarily feel like anything at all. I like the sound and smell and feel of tape, and I like saying, "We don't have much tape left, we got to do it." I think you have to feel like you're on the edge of a cliff for the music to be worth a damn. Otherwise, anyone can make a record.
Q: Live performances made Dusty nervous, but you seem to enjoy them.
A: With the live performance, you open your mouth, and it flies out there, honey, and there's no going back. It's just you and the band and the audience, and you're expected to be stellar. There's no safety net.
Q: I've had one of your songs ("Anyone Who Had a Heart") running through my head all day. Is there anything I can do to stop it?
A: Oh, I hear those songs all the damn time. I finished this record a year ago, and the songs haven't left my brain. What I do is pick up my guitar, play Waylon or Willie, and have a drink.
