The first few bars of this CD are great. Some quick guitar work lifts off the first up-tempo track, "Lost." The first song makes for an excellent start. But after listening to the entire album (released in 1970) for the first time, I thought, "this is good, but it's no 'Dusty in Memphis.'" It takes time, perhaps, to appreciate "Brand New Me's" nuances. It isn't quite as impressive as the superb "Dusty in Memphis." Yet, "Brand New Me" is still a great record; I would say it is Dusty's second best album. In 1969-70, she was at her peak. Although her vocals were always top-notch, sometimes her arrangements weren't worthy of her soulful voice. Almost all of the songs here were written by one composer, Kenneth Gamble. Because of that, the album is very consistent from an arrangement point of view. Gamble's conpositions certainly accommodate Dusty's talents. Strings, horns, and keyboards abound, but the album is never overstuffed in a Phil Spector sort of way, and approaches (though recorded in Philadelphia) the heights that the Memphis Sound achieved on "Dusty in Memphis." None of the tracks here are weak. And the bonus tracks, although I had heard some of them on the extended "Dusty in Memphis" CD, are very good. Any Dusty fan should own this album, which, unfortunately, is out of print. I was able to get this one for about ten bucks at Dr. Wax in Southside Chicago. I'm glad I made the purchase. I've listened to "Brand New Me" dozens of times since I bought it.

It had been a long, long time since this writer last listened to this album. While attempting to remix and catalogue my record collection, I found myself knee-deep in vinyl. "Brand New Me" just happened to jump out at me as if it were begging for a relisten. And, relisten I did - over and over again.

Poor Dust - to have every other work she did compared with the masterpiece for the ages, "Dusty In Memphis", helped to kill her recording career for at least 17 years. It was like telling Michelangelo "that Pieta is nice but it's no David".

In many ways, "Brand New Me" is a much more "soulful" offering than "Dusty In Memphis" - just listen to "I Believe In You"; and, tell me Dust couldn't "get down". The Gamble-Huff touch makes a few more songs on this album outdistance several songs on "Dusty In Memphis" - "Joe"; "I Wanna Be A Free Girl"; and "Never Love Again" certainly dwarf the inane "Windmill Of Your Mind" from "Dusty In...". The lyrics by the late Linda Creed give the whole production a very nice woman's emotional perspective.

"Let's Get Together Soon" was later released as "Hope That We Can Get Together Soon" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. It's a nice track made interesting by the sound of Dusty clearning her throat at about 1:50 into it - go figure.

All in all, "Brand New Me" would have to qualify as Dusty's second best album - not too shabby for a singer of her calibre. There was only one Dusty Springfield and we lost her way too soon. Thankfully, she left us with her gift of music.

A Brand New Me was my first exposure to Dusty Springfield's artistry. I must have been seven years old. I played that album till the grooves wore out! When I saw it on CD in 1992, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I didn't know "You Don't Have to Say Love Me" or "Dusty in Memphis" so I didn't have a point of comparison. Dusty's intimate, right-in-ear style in on ample display in each of the tracks on this disc. When you add the discovered treasures of songs such as "I Want to be a Free Girl", "Haunted" and " Nothing Lasts Forever" you have a display of range and interpretation that serves as an inspiration to any singer who wants to learn how to reveal the spirit of a song and their inner soul in one deft stroke. I lost my copy of "A Brand New Me" during Christmas holiday and I was very sad. Now if I can get my hands on a used copy, I'll be a very happy person, playing "Never Gonna Love Again" and "Let's Talk It Over" until everyone hates me!