Search - Dusty Springfield :: Heart & Soul

Essential For Fans

J. M. Zuurbier | Canada | 11/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"HEART & SOUL is a collection of rarities & live recordings from Dusty Springfield, making this essential for fans of the late singer. The album opens with "But It's a Nice Dream", a smooth dreamy number from the Kiss Me Goodbye motion picture in 1982. Then we have her superb solo version of "Wherever Would I Be", which I prefer over the duet version with Daryl Hall from her 1995 album A VERY FINE LOVE. "As Long As We Got Each Other", the theme from the TV Series GROWING PAINS, as a duet with B.J. Thomas is also here. My favorite track of the rarities though is "Sometimes Like Butterflies", a song penned by Bruce Roberts & Donna Summer, this was produced by David Martin in 1985. Dusty sounds spectacular on this song. There's the title track, a duet with Cilla Black, an upbeat fun number. Those are my favorites of the rarities and duets. The live recordings all range from anywyhere from the late 60s to the early 70's, including songs from her catalog such as "The Look Of Love", "A Brand New Me", "Son of A Preacher Man", and more. My favorite though is her rendition of "Up On The Roof" which is both heartfelt and sung very well. Overall this is a comprehensive collection no fan should do without!"

No One Else Like Dusty

Barry | 11/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dusty Springfield's body of work is so hard to find here in the U.S., that any new collection released into stores is sure to make die hard fans drool. This new collection of Dusty gems is no exception. This new disc is a fine collection of rarities and live performances that span from 1971 to 1995. While the previously unreleased stuff here is nothing compared to all of her 60's and 70's work, they are still pleasant and satisfying pieces of work that will please her fans. It starts off with a song called "But It's A Nice Dream", a song that was featured in the 1982 Sally Field movie, "Kiss Me Goodbye". The rest is a pure delight. There is a solo version of "Wherever Would I Be", which was originally a duet with Daryl Hall on her 1995 swan song CD "A Very Fine Love". It's a typical, Diane Warren song, but it's made into something bigger and better because Dusty sings it. There is also duets here. The first is "As Long As We Got Each Other", with B.J. Thomas. It was recorded earlier with B.J. and Jennifer Warnes, but was re-recorded with him and Dusty. It was the theme song to the hit show "Growing Pains", and the version with Dusty was replaced with the Jennifer Warnes one for the remaining 4 seasons of the show. Another duet is with Spencer Davis("Gimme Some Lovin'"), this one is a cover of an old blues song called "Private Number". It's nothing overly special, but it's a pleasant song. The other is a song with her 60's rival Cilla Black, on a track called "Heart & Soul". It's kind of cheesy and sounds more like karaoke, but the two females sound good together. The stand out track here is a gorgeous, epic-like ballad called "Sometimes Like Butterflies". This was a Donna Summer B-side, and Dusty took it home. I think this was a real uunderrated song. The rest are all live performances taken from her appearances on programs like "The Ed Sullivan Show", and "The Bobby Darin Show". Performances of her hits "The Look Of Love", "Son Of A Preacher Man", and "A Brand New Me" are all great, but it's the cover tunes she does here that are the real stand outs. Her version of Carol King's "Up On The Roof" is the best version ever done of the song. Sorry James Taylor. There is also Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready", a pretty song that was also well done by Rod Stewart in the late 80's. Dusty also does the old standard, "Since I Fell For You". Her rendition of that song is priceless. It's a downright shame it wasn't properly recorded and released. It's a song that seems like it was destined to be recorded by Dusty. You will also find a funky tune called "Magnificent Sanctuary Band" that is a true Dusty find. This is a delight from start to finish that showcases the voice and talent of one of the finest, if not THE finest female singers ever."

Excellent product - essential for hardcore fans

Barry | 10/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Heart & Soul" may not be essential for casual fans but it is "the stuff that dreams are made of" for Dusty's hardcore contingent and completists. Varese Sarabande has aimed H & S straight at this market. The first 8 cuts - all studio recordings - is a skillfully assembled and close to exhaustive round up of Dusty's one off releases including duets and soundtrack recordings from the 80s and 90s (except for "Sea & Sky") that have either not seen CD release or are scattered all over the place in other artistes' products (eg, B J Thomas & Cilla Black). The audio quality of these recordings are for the most part superb (eg, "But It's A Nice Dream"). Even the vinyl transfers of the controversial "Sometimes Like Butterflies" and its B-side "I Wanna Control You" from Dusty's brief but ill-fated liason with Peter Stringfellow in 1985 sound excellent. We also get the full version (not the singles edit) of "Private Number", her duet with Spencer Davis. Other rare Dusty bits which would have fitted perfectly into this segment of the CD had Varese been able to include them would be soundtrack recordings of "Bits and Pieces" (from "The Stunt Man"), "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore" (from "For Love Or Money"), "Learn To Say Goodbye" (from "Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole"), "Sweet Ride" (from movie of the same name), "The Look Of Love" (from "Casino Royale") and "Six Million Dollar Man" (from the TV series). But that would be expecting too much.The second half of the CD consists exclusively of live recordings from Dusty's many appearances on American TV in the late 60s/early 70s, all chronologically ordered and seamlessly segued to produce the effect of a live concert (not quite, given the differences in backing....but close). Opening with her 3 biggest US hits (from Ed Sullivan and Music Scene), we then get a rare and uncredited audio clip of her souled up version of the Seekers medley from the Johnny Cash Show, before being treated to "Up On The Roof" (again uncredited, from the Andy Williams Show), one of this live segment's highlights. Her soulful rendition of the Impression's "People Get Ready" (from Rod McKuen's Show) is also a particular treat, as is hearing Dusty belting out "Won't Be Long" in 1971 long after she has stopped doing soul ravers in her full throated voice on TV. That's not all. Dusty has always loved singing "Since I Fell For You" on TV, though she never got round to recording it in the studio. Her version here on Bobby Darin's 1972 show is different but every bit as good as her other known live versions from the Tom Jones Show (1972) and her own UK TV series in 1966. Her cover of "Magnificent Sanctuary Band", a Donny Hathaway original and a staple in her concert repertoire (circa 1972) is simply a great performance and one of my own personal favourites, though it doesn't top her searing rendition of it on "Music My Way", a TV special aired over UK TV in 1973. Like the sound of breaking glass at the end of "Dusty Definitely", there's also a hidden track at the end from an ad she did in 1967. Sounding exactly like Dusty from the 60s, it's a genuine rarity and great to have. Like Rhino and Hip-O before it, Varese has done Dusty's memory proud with an excellent and thoughtfully assembled product for her most loyal fans."