Aah, Dusty in Memphis is beautiful. Dusty Springfield’s voice is as soft as the warm air coming off a hot fire, and the string arrangements here decorate it in golden lace. The sitar at the end of “In the Land of Make Believe” is genuinely kind of innovative for soul/baroque pop music. I wish there were more moments like that in the arrangements, which are otherwise pretty traditional.

It’s “easy listening,” sure, but what’s wrong with that? One of those sweet albums that puts a glowing smile on your face, like you’re a child being given sugar.