Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man

This song never gets old to me. It’s full of soul and pure Dusty. I will say, I always thought Dusty Springfield was from Memphis or somewhere like that. Never did I think that she was born in London.

Mary O’Brien was the daughter of a tax consultant who grew up in Hampstead in North London. In 1958 she became the third member of a short-lived girl group known as the Lana Sisters. She started to go by Dusty Springfield, she then joined her brother Dion (stage name Tom Springfield) in the British country-music trio the Springfields, who achieved moderate success in the early 1960s.

She signed with Atlantic Records in 1968 and recorded her Dusty in Memphis album in the famed American Sound Studios with producers Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin. The album brought her critical acclaim and this international hit Son of a Preacher Man.

The song was originally offered to Aretha Franklin (who is a preacher’s daughter), but she turned it down because she thought it was disrespectful. She then changed her mind and did a cover version of it.

The song was released in 1968 and peaked at #10 on the Billboard 100, #11 in Canada, and #9 in the UK. The song was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins. The backup vocals were by a female group called the Sweet Inspirations, who were made up of Cissy Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith, and Estelle Brown. Later on, they would tour with Elvis Presley.

Elton John: “I’m biased, but I just think she was the greatest white singer there ever has been … every song she sang, she claimed as her own.”

Son of a Preacher Man

Billy-Ray was a preacher’s son
And when his daddy would visit he’d come along
When they gathered round and started talkin’
That’s when Billy would take me walkin’
A-through the backyard we’d go walkin’
Then he’d look into my eyes
Lord knows to my surprise

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was
Ooh, yes he was

Being good isn’t always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet-talkin’ to me
He’d come and tell me everything is all right
He’d kiss and tell me everything is all right
Can I get away again tonight?

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was
(Ooh…) Lord knows he was
Yes he was

How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin’ kisses from me on the sly
Takin’ time to make time
Tellin’ me that he’s all mine
Learnin’ from each other’s knowing
Lookin’ to see how much we’ve grown

And the only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was
Ooh, yes he was

The only one who could ever reach me
He was the sweet-talking son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
I kissed the son of a preacher man
The only one who could ever move me
The sweet-lovin’ son of a preacher man
The only one who could ever groove me
Ahh, ooh, ahh….

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

47 thoughts on “Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man”

    3. Dusty wasn’t the first “blue-eyed soul” artist, but she was quickly recognized as THE female white/blue-eyed soul singer. Of course, both terms are out of use now–thank God. Nevertheless, most people thought Dusty was Black when they first heard her back then.

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  10. I have a story personal story for first hearing Dusty. As a poor kid in a Migrant Hostel in Australia (quonset huts set up like a military barracks in a few sun burned dusty acres backing onto an abattoir- a story for another time) who’s parents couldn’t afford a TV I watched Dusty singing ‘Wishin’ And Hopin’ from the outer doorway of a neighbours hut and was left awestruck by her voice. Just… Wow.
    ‘Son Of A Preacher Man’ was another ‘Wow’ moment. Another show biz/music life cut too short.

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    1. You still remember that years later…her voice did have a huge impact at that moment for you. That enviroment you were in sounds like a movie or a book.

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      1. I could make up a Country song Max. Running on the wrong side of the tracks in the po’ side of town and more! Aw shoot, Springsteen done that ‘Born To Run’ title already… Dagnabbit.

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  11. obbverse, what a story. Ever think of writing about those years? I would read and buy it. When I hear that tune, it takes me back to 1968, cruising the drag race mile, driving around the Dairy Queen and burning rubber, similar to American Graffiti. Her music was a large part of our teenage 1960s. Even though it was considered a “chick” song, us guys secretly dug it. Dusty was a ten on the “hubba-hubba” scale.

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  14. Thanks for bringing it back to me, Max. She sings is just right. Great video also. I love that outfit, and trying to imagine how long it took to get her hair like that. I remember when that hairstyle was in fashion. My mom wore it like that (a less fancy version of course) and the big cans of Aqua Net hairspray! I can see where Aretha might think it was disrespectful with her background of gospel music, but the reality is that preacher’s kids generally have (or used to) bed reps!

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    3. Oh yes… the first girl I dated was a preachers daughter…
      She was great at soul and like I said… I can’t believe she was British.
      I love the hairstyles of that era… love those curls

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      1. I have to wonder if Aretha heard Dusty’s version and decided to change it up so it didn’t sound like an imitation. I think it ruined her version. Wonder what it would have been like if she had done it first? Probably just like Dusty’s 🙂

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  17. Truly an incredible song of timeless beauty. I’ve always loved the soulfulness of it!

    While Aretha Franklin’s rendition is great as well, and in general I feel it’s impossible to compete with her, I think Dusty Springfield’s version is not worse.

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  20. I love this. Dusty was a staple of top 40.

    Later on she did another song that I think is great. Not as great as Preacher Man, but still. Love the sex in this… It is a song called Easy Evil, from her Cameo lp. The song was written by Alan O’Day, who had a hit himself…

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