By cl (207.75.181.110 - 207.75.181.110) on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 06:49 pm:

Yesterday on the npr (nat't public radio)show fresh air was an interview with Dusty Springfields manager and biographer.

Dusty was as soulful as they come , what a singer. And what arrangements and musicians that performed on her records.

One of my favorite Video's is an old " Ready, steady go" show in which Dusty hosts the motown sound. Martha and the Vandella's , Marvin Gaye and others; with Dusty and the motown gang each singing each others songs. A great video

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Friday, January 04, 2002 - 03:50 pm:

yes dusty was never slow to display her love of the motown sound in the uk.

it's good to know that 'ready, steady, go' made it to ann arbor too, cl!

By cl (207.75.179.176 - 207.75.179.176) on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 12:41 pm:

I am dissapointed that none of our english friends took the chance to praise one of their own. Dusty was as good as they come ; you all should be vey proud.

By John Lester (213.1.129.214 - 213.1.129.214) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 12:12 am:

cl

My excuse is that I have been away.....

Dusty is responsible for my love of Motown. I followed her from 1960 when she was with the Springfields and their recording "Dear John"...I watched her grow as a group member, then watched the group break up and cried....then a solo artist, and that first solo album with "When The Lovelight..." made me the Motown fanatic I am today......I still carried on supporting Dusty right through her Memphis, Philly, West Coast days....and right up to date. The lady's recording career is my childhood, my teenage years and adulthood. My ups and my downs, my comings and goings and more. I can't praise her enough for the pleasure she has given me for nearly 40 years.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 06:09 pm:

Hi Guys - I imagine you know that the Ready Steady Go Motown Special was Dusty's idea? She persuaded the programme's producer (called Editor back then) Vicki Wickham, and she talked Rediffusion - the London TV company - into putting on the special. The Motown Revue were in the UK for their first visit: Supremes, Martha & Vandellas, Stevie, Miracles, Tempts. Marvin Gaye was not included as BG told him his records hadn't been released in England. The Tops weren't considered well-known enough outside the US. I think the TV show was put together fairly quickly (imagine that happening today??) By the way, the vocals were all Live on the TV show, but the rhythm tracks were pre-recorded - actually, they're the original Motown tracks, minus the vocals. You may notice that a couple of tracks stil have the vocals on them - e.g. Shop Around - they couldn't remix a one-track mono master. On a personal note, I love the duet (?) of Wishin' and Hopin' - Dusty and Martha. You can see how much they enjoyed it! Final note: I once met Dusty, long long ago - back when she had black hair and was still a Springfield. She gave me a signed copy of an EP of theirs. Note: I was eight at the time!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 07:18 pm:

well cl i think they've risen to the challenge.

thanks lads.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 07:26 pm:

Sorry - forgot to mention - the soundtrack of the RSG Motown Special is the first SoulsvilleUK Club CD. Sneaky plug ;o)