Customer Reviews

The Complete Dusty Springfield

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Dusty Springfield was a legend in the music industry. She was tough and a perfectionist without apologies. This book is about her music legacy and not about her personal problems with addiction or her sexual orientation. There's more to her person than who or what she sleeps with. Dusty was one of a kind. She died too soon at 59 just when she got awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) on her deathed and died two weeks before her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Sadly, there is one honor that I think she should receive and that is the Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording. If I only had $25,000 dollars to spare, I would do it for Dusty.

paul howes is the ULTIMATE springfield fan. he hasn't spent hours listening to every syllable springfield ever sang. he has spent his life. and then some. because more than a few of the recordings he disseminates were not released to the public or are parts of tv specials springfield made during 40+ year career.

and his love for dusty and her unique, one of a kind voice is captured in page after page of this healthy tome that devotes itself to her recordings.

even when he doesn't like the performance or the arrangement, he still maintains impartiality and great respect for a woman that was loved, idolized, almost forgotten then reclaimed by her new and old fans from all over the world.

and this book is a perfect reading companion for when you are enjoying one of springfield's wonderful interpretations of a song she made her own.

and the beauty of that--there's more than a few.

Paul Howe's excellent book (now in 2nd ed.) is now available for preorder through The Dusty Springfield Bulletin and also through amazon UK. US fans are waiting for amazon to offer it here. PLEASE !!
[...]
Let's Talk Dusty!

This is a great reference book for all of Dusty's recordings. It includes the Where and When of each song she ever recorded.

This book is primarily about the career of Dusty Springfield, which was in itself fascinating. There is a description of every song Dusty Springfield is known to have recorded. It is obvious that a lot of research went into this book. The book includes plenty of details about the songs, and stories about the recording sessions and live performances, and lots of great pictures. If your looking for a book about the private life of Dusty Springfield this probably isn't the right one, but I highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in reading about her music.

Jennifer K. Lafferty
Author of Offbeat Love Stories and More

The 2010 reprint of "The Complete Dusty Springfield" lives up to its title. An in-depth, alphabetical listing of every recording made by Dusty, beginning with the Lana Sisters, working its way thru the Springfields, and finally, her solo career, the book is truly indispensable for fans. Included with each song is the writer, producer, session info, and which albums they appear on, stereo/mono content, and 45 releases.

The lists don't stop there; the book goes on to list UK and US Radio and TV appearances and which songs she performed on them, ditto concert and cabaret appearances, a diary of Dusty's life events, US and UK discographies, and so much more.

This book rightly focuses on what's important: the musical legacy of Dusty Springfield. I was surprised by how meticulously detailed and researched this book was. Five stars and highly recommended reading even for casual fans.