"Son of a Preacher Man" | |||||||||||||||||
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Single by Dusty Springfield | |||||||||||||||||
from the album Dusty in Memphis | |||||||||||||||||
B-side | Just a Little Lovin' | ||||||||||||||||
Released | November 8, 1968 | ||||||||||||||||
Format | 7" | ||||||||||||||||
Recorded | American Studios, Memphis, Tennessee: September 1968 | ||||||||||||||||
Genre | Blue-eyed soul, R&B | ||||||||||||||||
Length | 2:29 | ||||||||||||||||
Label | Atlantic (US), Philips (Canada) | ||||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins | ||||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin, Jeff Barry, Tom Dowd | ||||||||||||||||
Dusty Springfield singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||
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"Son of a Preacher Man" is a song recorded by British singer Dusty Springfield in September 1968 and featured on the album Dusty in Memphis. It was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins.
Springfield's version was produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin for her first album for the Atlantic Records label and became an international hit reaching No.10 in the United States and No.9 in her native UK when released in late 1968. The album Dusty in Memphis was released in stereo though its singles were remixed and released in mono. "Son of a Preacher Man" was to be the last Top Ten chart hit for the artist for almost 20 years until she teamed up with Pet Shop Boys for the single "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" in 1987.
The song was originally offered to American Aretha Franklin, who turned it down. However, it was recorded by Aretha's elder sister Erma Franklin and was included on her 1969 Brunswick album Soul Sister. It was only upon hearing Springfield's version that Aretha Franklin reconsidered and recorded the song herself including it on her 1970 album, This Girl's in Love with You. Her version charted only as a less popular a-side of the b-side hit single "Call Me".
The writers of Rolling Stone magazine placed the release at No.77 among The 100 Best Singles of the Last 25 Years in 1987. The record was placed at No.43 of the Greatest Singles of All Time by the writers of New Musical Express in 2002. In 2004, the song made the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at No.240.