The Complete Dusty Springfield [Paperback]

Paul Howes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

The most comprehensive book ever published on the Sixties pop star, including a complete discography and 75 photos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

When shy convent girl Mary O’Brien reinvented herself as Dusty Springfield, one of the most glamorous and successful pop divas of the 1960’s was born. Her career began with The Lana Sisters and continued with folk group The Springfields before her first solo success in 1963 with the unforgettable “I Only Want to Be with You.” Subsequent million–sellers included “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself,” “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” and “Son of a Preacher Man.” As the 1960s came to a close, critical acclaim and a successful BBC television series couldn’t save Dusty’s career, and she slipped into obscurity. Following a self–imposed exile marred by alcohol and drug abuse, she re–emerged in 1987 to enjoy new success singing with the Pet Shop Boys. She finally lost her long battle with cancer in 1999, just short of her sixtieth birthday.

About the Author

Paul Howes was the associate producer of the acclaimed Dusty Springfield box set Simply Dusty and has consulted on many Dusty Springfield releases providing compilations, sleeve notes, and annotations. He is the publisher of the Dusty Springfield Bulletin, and a director of Zone Records.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903111242
• ISBN-13: 978-1903111246
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,774,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true book for the true Dusty fan. Dusty would be proud!, January 16, 2002

By 

S. Sittig "Divawatch" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Dusty Springfield (Paperback)

After many failed attempts by other authors to mine Dusty Springfield's troubled personal life for a few ducats, finally a respectable book that focuses on the musical and artistic influence of the White Queen of Soul and gives us intense detail about what went on in her recording studio and not in her bedroom.

A work of intense dedication and love, this compendium contains information on the more than 288 songs that Dusty recorded throughout her 40 year singing career. Includes hard to find information about never released (or yet to be released) tracks, as well as info on albums, live concert line-ups and song lists. Plus, it is full of wonderful photos (many rare, previously unseen) of the Lady herself in various environments and outfits.

A true gift for the true Dusty Springfield fan. I've been waiting for years for a book like this, and finally, Paul Howes has delivered the goods!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Expect A Movie, July 2, 2006

By 

Mark D. Prouse "Dustyart" (Riverdale (Bronx), NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Dusty Springfield (Paperback)

Here's what we Dusty fans waited many years for. Several more compilation CD's and a couple more DVD's have been released in the U.S., U.K., Australia and the rest of the world since this comprehensive overview of Dusty's career was published in 2001, so the book is only complete up to that point. No matter, because these pages cover all of the known, individual studio recordings she made, including several alternate versions, album session outtakes and single mixes that have turned up over the years on various collections. There are many live television and radio recordings floating around out there, many of which have yet to see CD or DVD release, but this book is as complete a volume as we could have reasonably hoped for. And the pictures! There are many photos here I had never seen before, making this book even more of a special treat. The casual listener who is only familiar with Springfield for the four or five songs that get endlessly recycled on the radio could probably not care less about this book, but for us rabid fans, this is indispensable. Highly recommended, and nothing in here to disrespect the woman whose real legacy is a catalog of great music, NOT a string of sleazy tabloid stories. Avoid DANCING WITH THE DEMONS, a badly written "biography" which I won't even dignify with a negative review.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about what really counts...her musical legacy, January 17, 2004

By 

Mr. P. Houldershaw "houldershaw" (London, Great Britain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Dusty Springfield (Paperback)

There is another book out there on the market that claims to be an authorised biography on her life. If reading a distorted and sensational account of her life is what you want, 'The complete Dusty Springfield' isn't for you. What it is, is a track by track annotation of every recording Britains greatest ever female vocalist recorded. Paul Howes (publisher of the Dusty Springfield Bulletin magazine) has done a fantastic job in detailing every song released (and even some unreleased) from a to z. To achieve what Dusty did in the male dominated music
business of the 60's puts the likes of Madonna in the shade! For anyone with more than a passing interest in how Dusty
achieved so many enduring recordings, time and time again, then
this book, choc full of photographs, is for you. She really
was a one off.