Brand New Me

Taking the artist to Philadelphia for the follow-up to Dusty in Memphis was an apt musical choice; Philly kings Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and Thom Bell, all involved in A Brand New Me, were perfecting a pop-soul fusion closely related to that album's breakthroughs. While the material here isn't quite up to Memphis's standard, it's good enough to allow Dusty's softer side, and the lush arrangements meld for a small masterpiece. Among the bonus tracks is the overdubbed 45-rpm version of the terrific Memphis outtake "What Do You Do When Love Dies." --Rickey Wright