Customer Reviews

Classics & Collectibles

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Classics and Collectibles" isn't simply yet another Dusty compilation cos it offers the original now-rarely-heard mono mixes of all except three of her British 60s singles and some genuine rarities that should appeal to fans and afficionados. Her biggest hits - inevitably the big ballads - are collected on the "Classics" CD. Her less well remembered hits - mostly uptempo numbers - are culled to accompany the rarities on the "Collectibles" CD.

If I had to pick one song from the "Classics" CD that truly stands out, it's the mono mix of "Goin' Back" - it's a thrilling experience listening to it because this long forgotten singles mix is aurally so different from the conventional stereo mix we have come to know and love.

The "Collectibles" CD is for afficionados where the goodies are at. Rarities to set the hearts of fans aflutter include "They Long To Be Close To You" with its Bacharach-styled musical intro restored, "The Corrupt Ones" preceded by a sequence of atmospheric studio chatter, an unedited "Heartbeat", alternative vocal takes of "Nothing" and "If Wishes Could Be Kisses", "Standing In The Need Of Love" (possibly the first song Dusty ever recorded as a solo artiste in late 1963), the original soundtrack version of "Sweet Ride" in terrific stereo, the rare singles mix of "Little By Little" (with distinctive backing vocals that go "ooh ooh" mysteriously excised from the stereo mix) and a much stronger stereo mix of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" featuring alternative vocals from Dusty and audible background singers to close the CD. For completists, there's also the rare but much maligned "Sometimes Like Butterflies".

To cap it all, Universal used a rare but beautiful shot of Dusty (circa 64/65) indulging her musical tastes in her Baker Street flat. For once, the record company is making an effort with the packaging.

A great product. Highly recommended.

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.

What a fabulous collection this is! Now, though I am not happy that they released some of her rare classics in mono mixes, I am still - however - glad that they put some huge rarities on here.

Awhile back, I ran across her 'Stay Awhile/I Only Want to...," CD, and found the unreleased song 'Standing in the Need of Love' just wonderful. Too bad it wasn't released years back when it was recorded. The other thing I like are the never-before-released stuff: The full-edit of '(They Long To Be) Close To You,' the stereo soundtrack version of 'Sweet Ride,' a previously unreleased song, 'I Have Found My Way Through the Darkness,' an alternate vocal take of 'I Am Your Child,' the single mix of Dusty's 1978 comeback song, 'I'm Coming Home Again,' another unreleased song, 'Sweet Inspiration,' an unreleased edit of 'The Corrupt Ones,' and, uh, at long last... the unreleased stereo version of Dusty's timeless hit, 'I Just Don't Know What To Do with Myself.' I am so glad that this is finally being issued; at last!

Get this CD, folks! I promise you... you won't be disappointed.

I bought this set when it was first released and it saddens me deeply that this well mastered set is now out of print. I live in the States where Dusty and her neighbor Cliff Richard are criminally overlooked along with Swing Out Sister and Simply Red and Texas and Sharleen Spiteri and oh hell, I should just move to England!!

Seriously kids, if this set can be had used I recommend it and sure, it's not the best assembled set and it may miss a few points but contains Dusty's fine interpretations of "In The Winter" and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" guaranteed to invoke tears and remind us of the talent we the world lost.

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.

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??

This is not just one more compilation...it's easy to rate it. Just listen to it once and you have heaven. Here we have the Dusty from her 60's and also great songs from her 70's recordings like this unreleased version of Barry Manilow's "I am your child", that is stunning.
Bravo Dusty. You're the best.