By john dixon (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 08:19 pm:

Today I was listening to "The Dusty Springfield Anthology" and remembering when her duet w/ the Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" hit at the tail end of '87. I had nearly forgotten about her; I loved the song (not the Pet Shop Boys so much)and celebrated her comeback, got chills listening to her bits, and hoped there would be more to follow. Pity it didn't happen.

That silky, breathy voice and her interpretative skills have lead to many sublime intro through fade goose bumps: songs like Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Goin' Back", Randy Newman's "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today" and the musical aphrodisiac that is Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "The Look Of Love".

Today I noticed something new and cool; I had enjoyed many times the great soul number from '64/65, "Live It Up", and knew it to be an early Leon Huff composition. But I just discovered that the song was arranged and conducted by Ray Stevens. Yeah, "Ahab The Arab" and "Guitarzan" Ray Stevens(although he definately gets credit in my book for 1968's "Mr. Businessman, which rocks). Says this was cut in New York, Dusty's first U.S. production. "Live It Up" was produced by Shelby Singleton Jr. so it has to be THAT Ray Stevens. So I'm thinking this could have been cut in Memphis or maybe even Nashville instead of New York. Maybe someone out there knows knows if I'm hot or cold on this hunch...

By acooolcat (61.58.181.126) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 02:11 am:

I was hoping this thread was going to be about Detroit's Dusty Wilson.
Sorry, I can't help you John.
Graham

By John Lester (213.123.125.161) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 02:37 am:

It IS that Ray Stevens!

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 08:36 am:

Live It Up was one of 8 songs from some 30 to 40 that Shelby had prepared for Dusty and they were recorded in New York in 1964 (see Paul Howes book "The Complete Dusty Springfield").

Dusty talks about a great sound man Brooks Arthur, guitarist Eric Gale, a pianist Paul Griffin and drummer Herbie Lovelle. She states that the strings were recorded in the same studio where Garnett Mimms recorded.

Shelby secured the services of Ray Stevens who he had known and worked with for many years..

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 09:34 am:

Eric Gale's daughter is one of the present-day
Crystals and HAS been with them for many years
now. Her name is Gretchen. There is info. on
her on the Crystals website.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

Although he is better known for his comedy singles and his moments of seriousness, Ray Stevens arranged & conducted many recording sessions as well as worked as a session pianist in cities such as Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta and New York City. Shelby Singleton, who did double-duty as the A&R head of Mercury's Pop AND Country departments (he came out of Tennessee) kept Stevens busy beyond his artistic committment to the label with the session work. A&R man Felton Jarvis (who was ABC-Paramount's point man in Atlanta) hired Ray to conduct and arrange sessions for ABC artists such as Aubrey Twins and singer Joe Barry used Ray as a pianist for his late 1960s records that were only known to the Louisiana/Texas region.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.34) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 02:05 pm:

Ray Stevens' AHAB Productions did the early Tams'
singles before they signed up with ABC. He's also
the producer for some soul singles on Nashville's
Sound Stage7 label (the Fabulettes).

He's been involved in so many interesting records
I can even forgive some of his occasional lapses
in taste ( anybody else remember "Bridget The Midget (The Queen of The Blues)?)

By Edgar (200.46.132.195) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 07:28 pm:

Back to Dusty, there was more to follow. After that duet, the Pet Shop Boys produced Dusty's single "Nothing Has Been Proved" (from the film "Scandal") and her penultimate album, "Reputation", from which there were a couple of hits and where she did a cover of "I Want To Stay Here" by Goffin and King. After that she recorded her last album in the US, "A Very Fine Love" for Columbia, which includes the love song from the movie "While You Were Sleeping", a duet with Daryl Hall.

By sunnyla (65.238.6.243) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 07:42 pm:

I loved Dusty's Cd "Reputation". Her voice was better than ever. Her last CD was rather a let down. I think she was sick about then, but, the material itself wasn't up to par as far as I was concerned.

By john dixon (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 10:11 pm:

hey Edgar from Panama,
I'm not familiar w/ Duty's "Reputation" LP but I'll check it out on your recommendation. Thanks for the heads up.
John

By Eli (141.151.1.215) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 10:20 pm:

I was enthralled to have worked with Dusty On the album that would become A Brand New Me or Dusty in Philadelphia.
It was the first album to contain a Linda Creed song Free Girl.
The creativity was at a all time high and Dusty was a joy to work with.

By John Lester (213.123.118.82) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:20 am:

Bobby

You got my vote for Dusty's best ever LP none.

The only complaint was - it was a bit too short.

By Edgar (200.46.134.232) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 07:49 am:

John, I am not surprised. I bought my copy of "Reputation" in Germany in 1990, I almost fainted when I saw a new album by Dusty (the same happened with "A Very Fine Love", which I bought in Mexico... Panama is not a very good place to find Dusty Springfield records.) Even then, "Reputation" was not released in the US. In 2002 EMI International remastered it, changed the cover and title ("Reputation and Rarities") and added four unreleased tracks. Production is by the Pet Shop Boys, arrangements by David Lynch's favorite composer Angelo Badalamenti, and among the best songs check "Arrested By You", "Daydreaming", "Reputation" (which was a club hit), the dark "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "I Want To Stay There". The 2002 release includes the 12" version of "Reputation".

By Vadelron (24.44.20.172) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:15 pm:

Ms Springfield is in my top 5 list of greatest soul singers EVER--anyone else feel the same?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

Vandelron:
No argument here!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (64.63.221.36) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 02:18 pm:

Dusty
Is one of the greats..Brand New me and Ill Try Anything are my two favorite songs!!!! No disrespect to Aretha but Im glad she didnt get Son of a Preacher Man because although Aretha would have done it justice I love Dusty's interpretation.... Dusty should have had many more hits I know in England they called her the White Negress!!! To this day (and I DO think its a fine album) I dont know what all of the critical hype is over Dusty in Memphis. I have the album and the cassette and its good but I dont think its worth the hype thats been given to it over the years. Maybe Im lost please explain I even read Dusty didnt understand why it got so much acclaim!!! To be honest Id rather listen to the Brand New Me album or some of her compilations.....the woman could blow and its sad she didnt live to get her Hall of Fame Award or to be on PBS this chick was so underrated its unreal. Im glad her peers remember her though she was one of the greatest gifts from England in the music world..
Stephanie

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:03 pm:

Dusty Springfield had a world wide hit of a song called In Private that was a comeback of sorts. She was incredible and I can still remember first hearing You Don't Have To Say You Love Me and going "wow, who the hell is that." That big, throaty, soulful voice was something.

Stephanie:

Although you prefer Dusty's version of Son Of A Preacher Man, Dusty herself said that when she heard Aretha's version she wanted to "kill herself," because there were things that Aretha did that she wished she had done. She loved Aretha's version. I love both versions but have to admit I like the "stomp down sex" that Aretha added to the song (listen to the break) and the incredible back-up vocals.

I have been waiting for someone to do a one-woman show of Dusty's life. With the sexuality issue (which some say destroyed her career in the late 60's) the show would be a doozy. But who out there could sing like her?

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:14 pm:

Michael.

The UK has already put on one of those "tribute" shows to Dusty. It finished some 18 months ago.

You need to come over here to see us sometime!! And bring Steph with ya.

By breathtakingguy (65.238.6.128) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 08:23 pm:

I love "Reputation". That was her last best thing. "A Very Fine Love" was a let down. I think not because of her voice, but the material was mediocre, at best. There's a great book on Dusty out, I think it's called "Dancing with Demons? It's a very indepth look at the troubled singer. Dusty was one of a kind. A voice like no other.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Hey wait a minute....

Before I forget, I think that Dusty's 'soulful' hit "The Look Of Love" from 1968, that... was the most 'SEXIEST' song that was ever recorded, in my view... and, that's what I think!

By can can (137.186.251.221) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:05 pm:

Let me be add some more praise to Dusty.. For me she had one of the most fascinating voices and personalities

I don't know if you've heard one of her more obscure albums.. it's called "White Heat" it's on CD now, but it was originally only released in the US on Casablanca in 1982.. It's really different stuff...very bold 80s disco/rock...It was a huge flop, but It's one of my fav. Dusty albums..I've been listening to that a lot lately..

She also did a song in the mid-80s written by Donna Summer called "Sometimes Like Butterflies".. the title makes it sound a little cheesy...and it is otherwise a pretty generic 80s ballad. She manages to make it into one of the most moving things i've heard..

By Greg C. (207.103.134.254) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:23 am:

I remember seeing Dusty Springfield in a small nightclub back in the 70's in Manhattan. I always loved the Philly stuff she did which was prominently featured in the show. What a lady! At one point the band lost their electrical power and only her microphone was working. She sang "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" accapella. My God, it was powerful! It was so quiet in that room and her voice was so beautiful, clear, and distinct you could hear a mouse pee on cotton! What a performance. What a night...

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 02:05 pm:

Love that title White Heat--how apt. Did she record and duets?I have this fantay of her and Smokey singing in my mind, or do u think it should be Marvin, or Al? In a book I read I think it was Jerry Wexler who spoke of how volatile she was from her great insecurity/perfectionism. She was apparently close to Nona Hendryx.