Search - Dusty Springfield :: Classics & Collectibles

Who Puts These Things Together?

Music Maven | Southern California | 10/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While one can't argue with the price of this 2-CD set, one wonders why all these redundant compilations of Dusty's music are necessary? And, since most of them were released after her untimely death in 1999, there's a certain aroma of crass cashing in by serving what this writer calls the Necrophiliac Music Market. It seems every time a musician dies, their record sales skyrocket. It happened with Elvis, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, et al. In other words, who's raking in this dough? Certainly not the late great artist. And, therein lies the tragic irony of Dusty Springfield. It would appear Dusty has had more albums released after her way too early demise than she ever did in life. This is but one of many postmortem compilations floating around.



While the song choices cover just about every phase of Dusty's 40-year career, including her early days with The Springfields, their chronology has been totally ignored. Why this album doesn't begin with the Springfields' tracks followed by Dusty's first solo hit "I Only Want To Be With You" defies logic. Why the first disc ends with the Kurt Weill-esque "Soft Core" and the second disc begins with the insipid, non-Dusty hit "Close To You" is but one example of the disjointed, herky-jerky musical progression of this album. With no prevailing theme and no natural segues, this album leaves the listener confused and unsatisfied.



This writer gave it 4 stars only because it's Dusty. However, if you're truly a Springfield aficionado, might I suggest you pay the extra money and purchase the brilliant 4-disc compilation, "Simply Dusty" - the nearly 100 track, well-thought-out, chronological remastered compilation of Dusty's finest work.



Dust was one of the 20th Century's most gifted vocalists/musicians. While this album will give the listener more than a glimpse of her incredible talent, the way this set is organized will not accord the new Dusty Springfield fan the opportunity to hear how Dusty grew and changed as an artist. "Simply Dusty" tells the whole story - this set is merely disjointed fragments of a fantastic talent's life's work."

Classic Dusty Springfield

DER5280 | Denver, CO | 06/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great 2-CD set of Dusty Springfield, from when she first began recording through her tragically short career. For Dusty Springfield fans, the sound is crisp and clean and the songs bring back many fond memories...what's not to enjoy??"

Pop music gold

SML | Northridge, CA USA | 01/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This music belongs in any cd collection that is purported to contain the best popular music ever recorded. Though there are 51 songs here, here is the lineup that one can program one's cd player to play: Son of a Preacher Man (remember Pulp Fiction?); I Only Want to Be With You; If You Go Away (Jacques Brel classic); The Look of Love; How Can I Be Sure; Spooky. And throw in You Don't Have to Say You Love Me when in the mood. The rest of the songs are interesting enough. Her smoky, inimitable voice, the '60s-style sometimes dreamily cool, sometimes danceable arrangements represent the best of an era in pop music as significant as any. And she did more than hit the notes and keep the beat. She bends the notes in the right places, and possesses a distinctive and remarkably warm voice."