Customer Reviews

Stay Awhile-I Only Want to Be with You/Dusty

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

 

 

A 2 for 1 compilation of Dusty Springfield's first 2 albums ever released in the U.S. Together with The Beatles, Dusty Springfield helped usher in the British invasion of the mid-60s.

What is stunning to notice in these albums, is the first steps of what would become a brilliant solo career. Dusty may have started solo with Rock/Pop..but she quickly showed throughout the 60s and beyond, that she had a voice capable of singing anything in any style.

There isn't a bad track on this 2-for-1, but the careful listener would be wise to go beyond the big hits ("I Only Want To Be With You", "Stay Awhile", "Wishin' & Hopin'", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself") and focus instead on some wonderful, yet often overlooked tracks like her glorious cover of the Velvelettes' "Needle In A Haystack", the maturity beyond her years of "I Wish I'd Never Loved You" and the jumpy/contagious teenage bop of "Everyday I Have To Cry".

Sometimes it's hard to believe the same person who sings with the naivete required for "Wishin' & Hopin'" can turn around and deliver something as steamingly adult as the bluesy "Don't You Know".

Only Dusty had that emotional range at such a young age. And she also had the pipes to back it up.

If you like your pop music with emotional variety, vocal prowess, and an astute sense of rhythm & blues, it doesn't get much better than Dusty Springfield.

...because this is an incredible remastering job. I have a lot of Dusty Springfield sets, including the 1999 US CD releases and the original UK 1997 ones as well, and I can say without a doubt that this is the cleanest, most sonically-brilliant of them all. Granted, it's not for everyone, and mono purists might get bent out of shape at the idea. But the Taragon engineers went back and remixed real stereo versions (not those horrible fake stereo splits common on "oldies" sets) from the original Philips master tapes, and the results are nothing short of perfection. It's shame that it's marketed as a "budget" item because many will pass right over it, unless you're already familiar with the Taragon label's work (they did a great Peggy March disc as well in the same way). Grab this one however you can.

If you like Dusty (like I do) get a copy of this Taragon release. This is one of the best sounding remasters I've heard in a long time. Dusty's voice is so clear in the mix you will get chills. I had Polygram's version of the Dusty CD and it just doesn't compare. I don't know what the folks over at Taragon did, but it sounds like Dusty is right in the room with you!!! Search out a copy of this cd (on Taragon....not sure if this is still available) for the sound alone you will be glad you did! I don't even need to talk about the actual albums....its Dusty!

If You didn't know when these songs were recorded, You would swear that this new CD was the NEXT PHASE of music! What is astounding, is that this CD was recorded in the early 1960's, and wasn't available in REAL STEREO, as it is now on this CD!

The quality is SUPURB! The songs are GREAT! This is Dusty Springfield's answer to the new BEATLES 1 album, which is creating new fans too!

This album is VERY SEXY, VERY COOL! A MUST HAVE!

Unfortunately, the first class 1997 Taragon re-issue of Dusty Springfield's first two US albums "Stay Awhile-I Only Want to Be With You"/"Dusty" has fallen into "out of print" status, and now the third-party marketers are having a field day price-gouging for this wonderful release.

That's a shame, because I feel the historical significance of this great music is more important than making a killing ($120.00 for one CD? Greedily shameful!! And that's the low end of the price-gouging frenzy!!)

It would serve all these greedy vendors right if the owner of the rights to this CD re-issued it, then where would these shameless hucksters be?? On the outside looking in, that's where.

The owners of the original recordings have no shame either, they keep marketing this wonderful music over and over again in MONO. Such a pity. This music SCREAMS to be heard in the glorious stereo mixes done by Eliot Goshman exclusively for this CD. And if you love Dusty, you MUST hear the majesty that these songs in stereo conjure.

Such is life. Those of us who were lucky enough to get this when it first came out know the wonder of these songs in stereo. If I could, I'd burn a whole batch of them and give them away for free, just to teach these greedy vendors a lesson!

In fact, if anyone would like it, e-mail me, and we'll discuss.

The best female pop (??) singer from the UK (I am English) ever,so there is not a bad track on this album,only great ones.
However where this album really wins is the sound quality,glorious real stereo and great clear sound,the best I have ever heard on any Dusty album and I have listened to dozens,the remixing and remastering were done by Eliot Goshman for Taragon Records,who deserves a masssive pat on the back.
All of Dusty's albums INCLUDING THIS have been remastered by the main record companies (Mercury,Philips),but they do not have the quality of this one,not even close and they often include mono tracks.
I did see comments about certain stereo master tapes being missing,however Taragon managed to find them so what exactly has happened to them now??
If you want Dusty's first two USA albums this is,at the time of writing still the best there is despite it being produced 14 years ago,you will have to search around and perhaps buy a used one off Amazon,which is where my copy came from,THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED

It's London, 1964, and a girl called Dusty has just debuted with these 24 roof-raising cuts. You are there with this deluxe, full-stereo, astoundingly remastered CD. A remarkable package documenting the explosive start of a remarkable career. Cheers!

The sound quality really is great and the tracks are fine. It is a bargain that any lover of 60's r&b, soul and rock could enjoy.

Dusty Springfield is truly one of the best singers of our times.

This is one outstanding twofer CD that has all the tracks from two of Dusty Springfield's record albums entitled Stay Awhile-I Only Want to Be with You and Dusty. Dusty Springfield possessed a rare ability to sing with a voice that was consistently as clear as a bell and she never let her fans down, either! Dusty could also sing many different types of songs and that's terrific. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and I like that the artwork incorporates the art from the two record album releases.

The album opens with one of Dusty's biggest hits ever, "I Only Want to Be with You." Dusty delivers this with panache and it's a classic love song even in our times! Dusty's excellent diction enhances her performance even more; and that's grand. The melody is good and those backup singers add a little extra "zing" to the number. "Stay Awhile" is equally bright and special; Dusty is at the top of her game here and just one listen proves it! The percussion is used to great advantage, too. "Mama Said" showcases Dusty Springfield squarely front and center--which is fine with me! "Mama Said" gets the royal treatment from Dusty who delivers this without ever letting go of a superfluous note. I love it. "Anyone Who Had a Heart" charms me with its natural beauty even though the lyrics aren't all that happy; and listen also for a fantastic rendition of "When the Lovelight Starts Shining through His Eyes." Great!

"Wishin' and Hopin'" sparkles brighter than silver and gold combined when Dusty tackles this; she makes it so wonderful with her passionate delivery. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is another fantastic tune when Dusty performs it to perfection; and I also like Dusty's version of "You Don't Own Me." It's heavenly! "Can I Get a Witness" also has Dusty at the top of her game; this is another highlight of the CD--awesome!

"Summer Is Over" gets a most passionate treatment from Dusty who sings this with all her heart and soul; and there's yet another gem in "Don't Say It Baby." "Don't Say It Baby" is quite well done and the backup singers sound good--not that Dusty truly needed backup; but they do sing rather well anyway. "Live It Up" has that 1960s beat that I love so much; and Dusty outdoes even herself on "My Coloring Book." "My Coloring Book" is a tune I'm sure you'll enjoy if you haven't heard it before--what a torch song this is, too! "Nothing Has Been Proved" is pretty electric, to say the least.

"Do Re Mi (Forget about the Do and Think about Me)" has Dusty in the spotlight; and Dusty does great justice to "Don't You Know." The CD ends strong with Dusty Springfield performing "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself." Wow.

Dusty Springfield ranks pretty high in my book; and her music is the reason why. It's a little pricey as I write this; but this is a great album for her fans. In addition, people just discovering Dusty's artistry would do well to get this CD--you'll cherish it for years!