8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dusty began singing folk and old-time country music, July 11, 2002
This review is from: Over the Hills & Far Away (Audio CD)
Before Dusty started her solo career which we will all remember her for, she was lead singer of the Springfields, which also included her brother Tom. After Dusty went solo, Tom became record producer for the Seekers.
So this collection has more in common with folk groups like the Weavers and old time country groups like the Carter family (even to the point of including covers of both those group's songs) than it does with Dusty's pop/R+B music. Indeed, the only thing the Springfields shares with Dusty's later music is Dusty's great voice. Apart from great covers of old folk and country classics, this set also includes covers of old (especially 1940's) pop classics made famous by such as Bing Crosby, Margaret Whiting, Dinah Shore, Doris Day and others - but done in a more folky style.
Of their own songs, Americans will remember them (if at all) for Silver threads and golden needles, while Brits will remember them (if at all) for Island of Dreams, a song later covered by the Seekers on their Come the day LP. Because their cover has been released on various Seekers compilations, it is generally easier to find than the Springfields version.
This is a great collection for those who like old-time folk and country music (or folk-pop like the Seekers), demonstrating that Dusty, like all truly great singers, could sing just about any type of song - brilliantly.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Sunday afternoon TV entertainment (old fashioned way), March 29, 2011
This review is from: Over the Hills & Far Away (Audio CD)
The most complete collection (almost everything they ever recorded) by UK trio that had charted on US charts before "british invasion".
Don't get too excited - The Springfields were not some obscure and forgotten rock pioneers but entertainers with squeaky clean image,cheerful music and quasy-country sound,who by all means belonged to previous decade,kind of saturday evening TV entertainers for the whole family.
Leader Tom Springfield experimented with different aspects of "world music" - term unknown back than - adding material like "Eso Es Amor","Tzena Tzena Tzena" and "Svahili Papa" (always happy,singalong ditties) to their repertoire,his sister Dusty argued and the third guy usually tried to balance them.
There is an interesting country LP recorded in Nashville and included here (after "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" turned hit and made somebody thinking they are country act), together with odd singles and EP records from around the same time.
Highlights: "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", "Island of dreams" and "Far away places" - all perfectly harmless UK hits before The Beatles and Motown ever happened.
When things changed,Dusty will be in front line as UK best vocalist and her solo success will overshadow previous work with The Springfields.
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