Dusty Springfield: C/D?

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A cursory examination of the archive suggests that *gasp* this topic has not been tackled.

"Dusty In Memphis" certainly sounds classic to my ears. I'm not well versed in her other output, but I don't can't imagine it's anything too dudly. Anyone?

**Ignore please the complete ruination of "Son of a Preacher Man" brought about by its appearance in Pulp Fiction and subsequent inclusion on mixtapes by hip junior high chix worldwide. See also: "Jungle Boogie"

― Possum Slimm, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah yeah that'd be fine if son of a preacher man wasn't her best song although i also like windmills of your mind.

― ethan, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My favorite WFMU fundraiser premium from last year was Gaylord Fields' "Dust Covers": a CD-R with covers of every song on _Dusty in Memphis_, in order, TWICE OVER.

― Douglas, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I want the WFMU nightlight. I've seen em.

Last year I had a period where I played her version of "Spooky" at least 5 or 6 times almost every day for about a month & proof of its genius = lydia DIDN'T want to kill me

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Apparently she was partial to a bit of seafood!

― dave q, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I might return later to write a longer response, but CLASSIC!! And yes, "Dusty in Memphis" is her best lp. Her American soul period afterwards produced some nice stuff too, but what's sad is there's so little of it. Maybe I should read her biography, but I dont' know why she failed to release much during the 70's. I believe she had a drug problem, so that may have contributed. And of course pre-"Memphis" her English big-ballad phase was nice too, although of a very different character. I really think she had one of the voices of the century, but maybe lacked confidence, or I don't know what, to compete with say, Aretha. Really, if you don't have "In Memphis", you've gotta get it right now. Search: every goddam track on it. Randy Newman's "I Don't Want to Hear it Anymore" in particular just rips me up. And I'll always respect the usually twerpy Pet Shop Boys for bringing her back for her last well-deserved hit.

― Sean, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyone - if you're buying Dusty In Memphis for God's sake get the 1999 Rhino De-Luxe edition. The extra tracks are Gamble and Huff and Jeff Barry productions mainly recorded immediately post-Memphis, and are ace. Best singer ever.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Overall I agree with the Dr. I wish the Rhino CD sounded more like the original LP (the CD is cleaner but a little too trebly), but most of the bonus tracks are good.

While dressing for work, I played the first side of "Cameo", this was maybe 1973, a Lambert/Potter production, and it's really good. I do wonder how she ended up on ABC-Dunhill after being on Atlantic, though, and the album cover is really tacky and awful.

Destroy: "Living Without Your Love", maybe 1979, a Roy Thomas-Baker produced MOR nightmare. It's said of great singers that they could sing the phone book and make it sound good, but that doesn't mean they can sing Barry Manilow.

Search "The Look of Love" for a concise lesson on Springfield sensuality. Understated was never this sexy.

― Sean, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yup on "The Look of Love" -- the way it builds up to the vocal and then..."The look...of love." Yow!

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yup truly, truly great. The big mystery is why the Pet Shop Boys only did a few songs for her but recorded a whole (albeit entertaining) album with the ham Liza Minelli. The album she recorded in 1990 (reputation) has 4 PSB songs on and the rest are by duffers like Brian Spence and Rupert Hine, a truly wasted opportunity.

No one expressed the need to love and be loved more eloquently than her, if anyone wondered what Randy Newman was for just listen to just one kiss on Dusty in Memphis.

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Have Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee ever been seen in the same room together? I swear that's Dusty on "Fever".

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If you mean the 1958 version of "Fever", it was recorded before Dusty was even a folk singer :).

― Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Windmills of Your Mind" is one of my favorite songs EVER.

― Keiko, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

"the complete As and Bs" is total joy.

― s1ocki, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 13:43 (eighteen years ago)

what kinda goob thinks middleschool girl mixes could ruin a pop song

― A B C, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 13:50 (eighteen years ago)

what kinda goob thinks middleschool girl mixes could ruin a pop song

Yes.

And all the "Windmills of your Mind" love is well placed, along with her version of "You Don't Own Me".

Plus, "Son of a Preacher Man" is still awe-arousing.

Mostly classic, really.

― Lostandfound, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:26 (eighteen years ago)

A B C OTM. And I still think Tarantino was telegraphing something about Travolta's character with that song. Preachers' kids go wronger than others', like that.

S: A Brand New Me, the Philly follow-up to Dusty in Memphis. "Summer is Over," written by brother Tom, from the Dusty album. And of course "Goin' Back" (Goffin/King), a hit in England that did nothing here.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 19 April 2007 08:02 (eighteen years ago)

Presumably because you got the Byrds version.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 19 April 2007 08:36 (eighteen years ago)

It's never been a hit here, by anyone! I've read that it was pulled from Dusty's U.S. Golden Hits LP, but I don't know about the single release.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 19 April 2007 10:24 (eighteen years ago)

One or both books I've read about her stated pretty clearly that she was unhappy with her treatment by U.S. Philips. Atlantic was clearly some sort of help, though it's sad that nothing really stuck outside of "Son."

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 19 April 2007 10:26 (eighteen years ago)

the look of love, in my humble opinion, is the sexiest song ever.

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 19 April 2007 18:48 (eighteen years ago)

I really don't get why 'Son of a Preacher Man' is so revered. She has so many better songs.

― bidfurd, Thursday, 19 April 2007 19:29 (eighteen years ago)

hmm. what is wrong with "Son of a Preacher"? I mean yeah, all of Dusty in Memphis is sublime, and "Preacher" might be overexposed, but ever listen to how beautifully the American Studios guys play it? The drums alone are like a lesson in how to play drums...nothing quite like that record. Personally, I love Dusty, and find some of her stuff melodramatic--I've had to get over that feeling to appreciate her the way I know she deserves. I think she's the greatest pop singer of the '60s, certainly the most intriguing and totally controlled live performer I ever saw. She's so great that you sort of feel let down when you hear other performers--altho I do think the Byrds did "Going Back" better than she did. Classic.

― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 19 April 2007 20:29 (eighteen years ago)

I think she was way better at the melodrama than the soul belters and belongs with the Petula Clark/Cilla Black school of 60s Brit-girl pop than rather than in the US soul tradition. (mind you I haven't heard Dusty in Memphis, maybe I should)

I love her version of Goin' back. My favourite song of hers.

I'm very jealous that you got to see her!

― bidfurd, Thursday, 19 April 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

ever listen to how beautifully the American Studios guys play it?
Hm, I just found this http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?storyCode=13259 but I haven't read it yet.

I like both those versions of "Goin' Back" but prefer the Byrds one. Are there any other versions?

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 19 April 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

Looks like that link is supposed to have a transcription of the part but I'm not seeing it.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 19 April 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

five years pass...

there is way too little love for dusty on ilm.

the albums pre-memphis are stuffed with brilliance.

and why oh why is the post-memphis album she made out of print ...

― mark e, Sunday, 4 November 2012 15:43 (thirteen years ago)

i mean, if this doesn't send a shiver up your spine ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCVxPEPx5Y

perfect.

― mark e, Sunday, 4 November 2012 15:55 (thirteen years ago)

Pretty damn cool Tennant-Lowe song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1z5DZEse3I

― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 4 November 2012 15:59 (thirteen years ago)

Alternate recording of "The Look of Love" from the Casino Royale soundtrack album--different vocal, extended (tacked on, really) instrumental ending:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6KhuI_42W4

Incidentally, there are some major differences in the mixes on the UK vs. US version of the song; even to this day, I think most UK Dusty compilations use the UK mix, and most US comps use the US mix.

The UK mix is the one to have--the vocals are dry dry dry, whispering in your ear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yP4c0tKFOo

The US mix swaddles the vocal in reverb, with stricter separation on the instruments--combo on the left, orchestra on the right:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3CIAfobC5g

It's not bad by any means, but the Dusty-in-your-head UK version is so much more intimate.

― Hideous Lump, Monday, 5 November 2012 05:17 (thirteen years ago)

Interesting fact: Dusty never recorded a Beatles song. She performed a few on her TV show, but as far as I know, never any studio recordings, not even among the dozens of unreleased tracks that have been released since her death.

― Hideous Lump, Monday, 5 November 2012 05:26 (thirteen years ago)

well i never.
given that everyone covered the beatles in the 60s ..

― mark e, Monday, 5 November 2012 08:14 (thirteen years ago)

Always loved this fantastic Tom Moulton mixed That's The Kind Of Love I've Got For You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ZoG7yyk5I

― groovypanda, Monday, 5 November 2012 11:43 (thirteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Brand New Me really is a wonderful album. In fact i'd say it's on a par with Dusty In Memphis

― Number None, Friday, 23 November 2012 01:37 (thirteen years ago)

and yet its out of print :(

― mark e, Friday, 23 November 2012 01:42 (thirteen years ago)

I'm guessing Cameo is too? It's only a couple of notches below

― Number None, Friday, 23 November 2012 01:46 (thirteen years ago)

Glad to see some love for Brand New Me, it really is a great album. I had the reissue but sold it a couple of years ago for quite a lot, got myself a vinyl copy instead. I'm interested in hearing Cameo if it's almost as good.

They really should reissue a few of her albums. White Heat goes for a lot these days, not really a big fan of that one though.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 23 November 2012 03:43 (thirteen years ago)

two years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3J2GQckF4

― Metallic K.O. Machine Music (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 11 May 2015 02:01 (ten years ago)

Oh, if only there was a quality version of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em4l-Tj5fXY

Dusty & Jimi Hendrix - "Mockingbird"

― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 12 May 2015 02:55 (ten years ago)

HOLY FUCK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vu5iBxHTfI

Dusty sings Kate Bush "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" live in 1979!

― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 12 May 2015 03:01 (ten years ago)

I love both Kate and Dusty but something about this

― katherine, Tuesday, 12 May 2015 15:38 (ten years ago)

two years pass...

"the complete As and Bs" is total joy.
― s1ocki, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 8:43 AM (ten years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Picked this up on Amazon for $8 after hearing a friend spin "Little By Little" on his radio show last week, and yeah OTM. Outside of a handful of tracks I had on various artists comps, pre-Atlantic Dusty was a huge blindspot in my collection. Oh how I wish I hadn't slept on this stuff for so long! o_O at her voice emerging from the backing vocals on "Some Of Your Lovin'".

― Never Learn To Mike Love (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 15 January 2018 19:47 (seven years ago)

three years pass...

What do you do when love dies? Listen to Dusty Springfield.

― meticulously crafted, socially responsible, morally upsta (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 February 2021 03:16 (four years ago)

I know there's a lot to choose from, but I could slip off and die to her version of "Windmills of Your Mind," if that's not perfection then I don't know

― Josefa, Monday, 8 February 2021 03:30 (four years ago)

Wow, "Breakfast in Bed" is by far my least-favourite on Dusty in Memphis, and I really love "Land of Make Believe" and "I Can't Make It Alone", which aren't on your list.

― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 8 February 2021 03:42 (four years ago)

Ha, Breakfast in Bed would also be my #1. It does seem to stand out among that set of tracks, for good or ill.

― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Monday, 8 February 2021 13:24 (four years ago)

I'd call the song blowzy.

― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 8 February 2021 13:48 (four years ago)

two years pass...

Dusty's brother, Tom Springfield, who wrote most of the Seekers' hits was born with the splendid name Dionysius Patrick O'Brien.

― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Friday, 24 February 2023 14:45 (two years ago)

Good one. Almost one for People Or Characters With Roman Middle Names

― Huey “Piano” Smithers-Jones (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 24 February 2023 15:03 (two years ago)

Alfred's review got me to this:

The Complete Atlantic Singles 1968-1971

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/dusty-springfield-the-complete-atlantic-singles-1968-1971/

― dow, Friday, 24 February 2023 17:52 (two years ago)

Had never heard the Philly---"Let Me Get In Your Way"! Will have to check more of that. Also didn't know her with Jeff Barry.

― dow, Friday, 24 February 2023 17:56 (two years ago)

Her Jahrzeit today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ytBheywFbE

― Wile E. Galore (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 2 March 2023 20:26 (two years ago)

Had not known about her relationship with Norma Tanega.

― Wile E. Galore (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 March 2023 06:32 (two years ago)

During which time she had a secret half-year affair with mark s krush Julie Felix!

― Wile E. Galore (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 March 2023 06:35 (two years ago)

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