There are two ways this CD could have gone, and thankfully it's not crap. She's taking on Ms. Springfield like a seasoned heartbroken champ (which of course she is). She does it the way it should be done; every song here is sparse, fully realized and void of emptiness.

The major difference between Springfield and Lynne is in delivery, while most of what Springfield does on record is almost a heartbreaking, soulful coo. Lynne's voice is strongly powerful. Songs such as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," with its acappella, slightly echoed, opening, tricks the ear as if it's going to break out into the loud ripping rendition that it always gets. But Lynne plays it down, turns up regret and conviction in her voice and it's now a country torch ballad.

"Breakfast in Bed" is still a sultry, slippery ode, but Shelby's vocals are so assured, turning the lyrics almost into a demand and it works.

The show-stopper is her take on "Anyone Who Had a Heart." She keeps this song just under a boil, a languid piano, and vocals just above a drawl; it's perfection .. she plays it soft until her voice just soars for a brief moment, before falling back down to heartache, truly showing off the complete vision of this album.

You can see what Lynne takes from her love of Springfield: both women were and still are under-appreciated vocalists who deserve bigger audiences. It takes guts to take on an artist's most definable material and Lynne doesn't flinch once!

I first heard of Shelby Lynn in 2000 when "I Am Shelby Lynn" was released and got to see her intimate show upstairs at the Parasdiso in Amsterdam. The 50 or 60 people in the room were literally blown away by her performance, which was gutsy, raw and unforgettable, just like her album, I Am Shely Lynn. Since then I have eagerly awaited each of her new releases, (and her return to Holland which has yet to happen, unfortunately). Just a Little Lovin' is Shelby's no frills, stripped down interpretations of Dusty Springfields songs and her sultry, smokey and, thankfully, not over the top vocals and subtle production make them work so well. Bravo, Shelby Lynn! Dusty would be proud.

Shelby Lynne shows with Just a Little Lovin' again that less can be more.

She gives songs from the Dusty Springfield-songbook and songs inspired by Dusty a very surprising twist. It's very impressive how she creates an atmosphere that really grabs you by the throat. She uses a minimum of orchestration for this. Never before I heard "Anyone who had a Heart" (track 2) so full with withhold emotion. To start "You don't have to say you love me" (track 3) a capella is unique.

The combination of Producer Phil Ramone and Shelby Lynne works perfect on the material. The self-written "Pretend" (track 9) fits perfect between the other songs.

For me this album already is the best album of the year 2008!

Two reasons to buy this CD:

The maturity of her voice. It takes not years but decades to develop the phrasing, delivery and power she shows here. Just enough vibrato and Alabama-twang to put the song across yet the ability to stay on-key and on-message while softly delivering it. The other musicians are some of the best in the business and play what is necessary to highlight her voice and deliver the song. Those criticising this CD for being not uptempo enough or too heart-on-her-sleeve should listen to it again for what it is, a minimalist masterpiece in a world of pop overhype.

The terrific sound. Some other people must think she can sing, because the production group is also made up of some of the best in the business. Although recorded and mastered on the soft side, so that it sounds good on inexpensive electronics (try playing it in your DVD player over the television speakers to see what I mean), it still has better presence and detail than 99% of the mass music out there and none of the pop music artifacts - reverb, overdub, etc.

Just a little lovin' is a remarkable record in many ways, but it's perhaps most significant touch is that it doesn't allow itself to get caught in any genre. It's easy listening without being easy. It's alt country without being country. It's a typical Shelby Lynn record but doesn't sound like her previous records. What it is is the kind of cd that grows every time you hear it. What appears to be familiar songs in new suits shows to be almost new gems when you realise that you can make them shine in so many different ways all depending on your own mood or if you play them in the background or use them for in-depth listening.

So much for talk. Try the sound clips. If you're the least interested in them, don't waste any time to pick it up, and be sure that you're about to make what may be this years best investment.