Customer Reviews

Live at the Royal Albert Hall

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

 

 

At first, this album will be purchased by Dusty Springfield fans for the curiosity value. Fans have anticipated the release of this concert on CD and DVD for many years; so much in fact that it's almost taken on a legendary status.

And in sense it deserves that status since "Live at Royal Albert Hall" is an excellent live album. I was always curious to hear what Dusty sounded like live, and this CD gives you a rare insight into Dusty the live performer. It's definitely of its time period (1979) since Dusty covers soul/disco classics such as Sister Sledge's "We Are Family", Natalie Cole's "This Will Be" and the O'Jays' "Put Your Hands Together", but they are good covers. Dusty sings many of her classics, mostly in a fine 11-minute medley beginning with her lovely rendition of "Goin' Back".

But the standout performance is Dusty's version of Peter Allen's "Quiet Please (There's a Lady on Stage)". It becomes Dusty's signature song, even more so than "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" or "The Look of Love". She sings it with touching vulnerability, a Dusty trademark. It's a song dedicated to "legends" yet singing this song, Dusty essentially was singing about herself, even though she would never see herself as a legend or believe her own staggering talent, which is so well displayed on this wonderful collection.

"Live At The Royal Albert Hall" on DVD and CD is an ecstatic dream come true for Dusty's fans not only because it captures the legendary singer in fine voice and at her most lovely and joyous since returning from a long hiatus in the mid-70s but simply because apart from her 1966 and 1967 black and white TV series for the BBC which have since been (partially) recovered by the station, it is the only surviving tape of a full concert given by Dusty in her long and illustrious career that is still known to exist in the archives. Unbelievable but true.

Dusty's singing changed so much over the years it seems futile to debate when exactly she was at her vocal peak. Certainly, 1966 was an early peak when her voice was at its most searing and powerful whether she was tackling a big ballad or a torchy soul number. But then, the legendary "Dusty In Memphis" happened only in late 1968 and from thereon, Dusty began developing the softer, breathier and more delicate side to her singing voice, which effectively transformed her from 60s belter to mature pop stylist by the end of the decade. Still, many fans cite 1972/1973 - on the evidence of her performances on "Cameo" and private collectors' tapes of TV appearances given at the time - as another period when Dusty's vocal craft had possibly peaked in terms of control, flexibility and phrasing. By 1978, following a long break from singing, the new Dusty voice may have mellowed, but like good wine still retained its honeyed edge and sparkle. That's the voice we hear on the Live At The Royal Albert Hall concert performance given on 3 Dec 1979. For me, that's the third and (possibly final) vocal peak period I would assign to Dusty until the time she made her final album and public appearance in 1995.

The highlights of the concert are inevitably the spellbinding hits medley as well as full renditions of "I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten", "All I See Is You", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "Son Of A Preacher Man". Having said that, Dusty's incredibly soulful live takes of Natalie Cole's "This Will Be" and the O'Jays' "Put Your Hands Together" showcase her broad range and stylistic versatility if nothing else. That's not to say that Dusty ignored her own contemporary material. She did in fact include three songs from her late 70s repertoire in the concert - "Sandra", "Hollywood Movie Girls" and "Baby Blue" - but these were unfortunately excised from the TV edit of the concert which we now have on DVD. Two of these three songs are included in the companion CD release as extras.

Dusty captured live at the Royal Albert Hall has a definite looseness about it. It was according to interviews with those close to the artiste (included as extras on the DVD) under-rehearsed, so there were a couple of less than polished spots like "The Look Of Love" which featured a laughing Dusty singing to the cameraman following her around on stage but these moments only add to the poignance of the concert experience. Dusty never seemed happier in front of her adoring fans in the audience. That two-way flow of love between artiste and audience just built and built as the concert went underway until it reached a climax in the encore.

"Live At The Royal Albert Hall" is a wonderful concert by a great artiste at one of her many vocal peaks and is a must in the collection of any self-respecting Dusty fan.

My only grouse is that Eagle didn't include all the 5 excised performances on the CD. The 3 that made it as extras were simply tagged on at the end. In the actual concert, "Hollywood Movie Girls" and "Baby Blue" followed the Sister Sledge medley while "Brand New Me" was the precursor to "Son Of A Preacher Man". More regrettable was the fact that they omitted "Sandra" and the concert's opening number - new to Dusty fans - called "I Found Love". But these are minor grouses that shouldn't detract from the gratitude Dusty fans must feel that this legendary concert is finally released on DVD and CD.

DVD or CD ? Get them BOTH !

This CD is wonderful. Even though Dusty missed a note here and there, giggled a tad at places during some of the songs, and mumbled a bit at times rather than talking directly into the microphone, it appears that she really had fun with this concert... and therein lies the wealth of it. Dusty could sing. Dusty could entertain. And Dusty seemed to truly enjoy doing those things, as is witnessed here in this remarkable concert. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended.

From the opening musical intro (a wonderfully tongue in cheek version of "The Bitch is Back", sung by her backing vocalists), to the very last notes of "Put Your Hands Together", this concert is a MUST see for any music fan, and of course, a total treat for anyone who calls themselves a true Dusty Springfield afficionado.

The evening is full of energy and shows Dusty Springfield in the best light perhaps since her 60s hey dey. Not since then had we seen her so relaxed, so laid-back, so fully committed to entertain her audience.

And entertain she does, going through a wonderfully varied repertoire for this concert. She covers disco ("We Are Family", "You Can Do It", Grace Jones' "On Your Knees"), delivers the big ballads she was known for ("All I See Is You", "I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me"), delivers a rousing medley of her well known hits, (starting with a mesmerizing few lines of Carole King's "Goin' Back") and as if that weren't enough, she throws in a few brilliant covers of Karla Bonoff's "Lose Again" (made popular by Linda Ronstadt) and Peter Allen's "Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage" in which she reaches Judy Garland-like proportions of showwomanship.

While Springfield seems to excel at the ballads, what is most surprising is to watch her take command of her audience with an assurance and strength that is still encased in a warm, vulnerable glow. No one else but perhaps a Garland or maybe a Piaf, could make 3,000 people feel as if she was singing only to each of them...individually. That sort of ability is a rare thing indeed, and Dusty Springfield shows it fully during this concert. She has every single audience member in the palm of her hand from beginning to end. This is not something you see very frequently nowadays from a performer. It is something of legend, indeed.

The only complaint I have is technical. The sound mix seems rather low in volume and is a bit grainy. The volume often has to be pumped up to 8 or 9 to truly get all the sound. It is, unfortunately, one of those CDs that is recorded as if there were some sort of distance between the listener and the singer, something that even Dusty's remarkable ability to connect with her audience, can't overcome. I am not sure what process was used in the studio and what condition the original master tapes were in, but it gives everything a sort of "muted" sound that is a true pity for this sort of performer.

I much prefer to have Dusty closer to me, her voice more immediate, as if she were breathing right in my ear.

That being said, it is wonderful to have so much of these songs "live". Just those few opening lines of "Goin' Back" in the hit medley are worth the entire CD...as is the lovely "Lose Again" and "Quiet Please, There's A Lady on Stage".

It is a reason to rejoice in any case, to have ANY Dusty out there and especially "live" Dusty which is so rare.

It just makes you long for the day they might release the Drury Lane concert or other live performances on a compilation CD perhaps? They are out there!

For now, we have this concert, which is a wonderful start at capturing the "live in performance" magnificence of this much overlooked performer.

I was disappointed with the sound quality and song selections. Most of Dusty's best songs were relegated to a medley, and a sloppily-sung one at that. The disco-era tunes were probably lively ones to watch, probably with backing dancers and fun stage antics, but on the audio cd, it all comes out sounding like the tapes I made during the '70s by setting my portable cassette recorder next to the television set. Save your money.