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I still have to write an explanation for how I picked my Top 100 Albums. I promise to write that up as soon as I get a chance because I realize that there's probably some confusion about how an album like Dusty in Memphis ranks above anything by the Rolling Stones or Bob Dylan. In short, I felt that we've all read the other lists of greatest albums. We know what the essentials are and how they fit into the history of rock and roll. My goal was to rank the albums that have reached that status and put them in the order that I actually enjoy them. And Dusty is one of those albums that continues to dazzle me upon repeated listening. Springfield's voice placed her in a category of her own, beyond the pop stigma of blue-eyed soul. Her sound was soulful and sophisticated, emotional and edgy. With songs written by Carole King, Randy Newman and Burt Bacharach, Springfield gave one of the most powerful vocal performances ever recorded.