Customer Reviews

Where Am I Going

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Certainly, to turn this disc into a wonder, one of its songs would be enough: "Broken Blossoms". No other song, that I've heard ever, condemns war in a stronger manner. Extraordinary verses, a master job by Tom Springfield, and Dusty's rendition of the song, as if she were on the battlefield herself, whilst recording, is superb. Versions normally distance the lyrics from the original, and "If You Go Away" is no exception. To compensate for that, Dusty lends it her entire being, and her interpretation is the most beautiful one of this unbeatable Brel classic. I've heard it in different languages, by a number of singers, including Jacques Brel. Dusty is the most honest and emotional performance the song has had. Dusty's eclecticism presents the listener with different rhythms, throughout the disc, her unique voice lending charm and feeling to all of them, even to the weak "Sunny". "Where Am I Going?" is a real VIP treat to anyone w! ho has got good taste, music wise.

of all the re-releases of dusty springfield's pre-memphis sessions, this is my favorite. it doesn't have the most inspired album art. that distinction would go to either 'see all her faces', 'ooowheee' or 'dusty--definitely'. but it has one of the widest ranges of material she would tackle on one album at this point in her career. and save her stuff-up on 'don't forget about me' she is spot on and utterly fabulous!

after getting the set off to a rollicking start with 'bring him back', she flirts with the pop stuff, british style, on 'take me for a little while'; then goes broadway with stunning renditions of 'come back to me' and 'where am i going'; covers aretha franklin on 'don't let me lose this dream' and gets her take on 'close to you' under the wire before the carpenters launched the bachrach-david tune in to the pop/easy listening stratosphere. there is even an exploration of jazz in 'time after time'. all she would have needed to record is rachmaninoff's 'vocalise' and she would have hit every musical base she could with one album.

this is the type of musicianship that i crave to hear from a christina aguilera or celine dion. but great material is no good if there is no restraint to temper the moments of abandon.

The first twelve tracks here made up Dusty's third original album, while the three bonus tracks were recorded at around the same time.

Close to you was eventually recorded by the Carpenters, who had a massive worldwide hit with it, but their version isn't any better than Dusty's, recorded at least three (maybe five) years earlier. Sadly, Dusty's version wasn't released as a single, so we can only wonder at what might have been.

The album also includes stunning covers of Come back to me (from On a clear day you can see forever), Sunny (Bobby Hebb), Don't let me lose this dream (Aretha Franklin) and the often-covered If you go away (originally a French song by Jacques Brel), in which Dusty mixes English and French.

Among the other songs, Broken blossoms is a very emotional song about the futility of war. A lot of anti-war songs were written in the sixties, including Eve of destruction (Barry McGuire) or On the path of glory (Petula), but Broken blossoms is as good as any of tem.

This is certainly one of Dusty's best albums - all the songs are brilliant, including those I've not mentioned specifically - despite the absence of any of Dusty's big hits.

I feel out of all Dusty's pre-Memphis work, this is her second-best album. It includes slices of soul, contemporary wave, beautiful ballads, and brashes of big-band. It is the only LP that showcases Springfield's complete versatility. Standout tracks include 'Close to You,' which was planned to be released as a single back in 1964, as a follow-up to her 'I Just Don't Know..' hit. For some reason or another, her producers held its being issued until crowding in between tracks on this here album, and edited out the song's instrumental intro [2005 saw the release of the restored song, on compilation "Classics & Collectibles" via Universal International]. If You Go Away has actually become a highly-regarded song in Dusty's repetoir, and has held such esteem it is considered a signature tune. What is nice is that the ballad shows emotion, Springfield's exquisit interpretation of French, and something that entertwines your soul. Irronically, "Don't Forget About Me," one of the three bonus tracks, is probably my favourite of the album. It was scheduled to appear on the LP but cut at last minute, only to be recorded years later when Dusty laid down vocals for her infamous Memphis masterpiece. However, I feel this [original] version of the song is the best, and should've been a number #1 hit for Springfield. It - like many of her King/Goffin songs she laid down vocals for - has that 60's contemporary feel, and could have also been a TV theme as well (think 'Love Is All Around' from MTM). It sounds also very reminiscent of another one of King and Goffin's compositions: 'Up on the Roof' by The Drifters. It is an unfortunate shame that this excellent album is now out-of-print and a no-longer-available part Dusty's catalogue. If you can get this on ebay grab it while you have the change [don't be fooled by the diskiosk copies, for despite what they advertise, they are actually bootlegged; minus the bonus tracks].

Dusty Springfield's third album, 'Where Am I Going' will tug at your heartstings in more ways than one, she had an incredible knack of picking songs that had both amazing lyrics and beautiful melodies, add to that Dusty's wonderful ability to throw just the right emotion into her voice and you simply cannot imagine anyone else singing the same songs.
'Chained To A Memory', a song about being unable to forget a previous lover, Dusty delivers this smoothly and sadly...unforgettable in itself. 'If You Go Away', a completely memorable track that was a favourite with her fans, with English and French lyrics this tweaks at my heartstrings every time, quite why, this was never released as a single is puzzling, number one material, surely? 'Broken Blossoms' a poignant song about the desperate ravages of war, it's a traditional song adapted and with lyrics by Dusty's brother Tom and Robert Gray. Another tear jerker, but for totally different reasons is the albums last track, 'Time After Time', if you are celebrating an anniversary, or many happy years with your partner, this is THE song you will want to play; what else can i say? Except, that it is gloriously sentimental, if you want to hear it before buying, you can get to it on Youtube, but a little warning, the two tracks sound slightly different with the one on this album being a little slower, no matter, i love both, and i think you will too.
Apart from the tear jerkers we have a couple of covers, Aretha Franklin's 'Don't Let Me Lose This Dream', and a jazzed up 'Sunny', that was a hit for both it's writer Bobby Hebb and then Georgie Fame both in 1966, a year before this album. 'Close To You', a Bacharach/David number, will be more familiar to you by the Carpenters hit a few years later, (not really a cover because Dusty got there before them!)
Other excellent tracks include the thumping 'Bring Him Back', and the very catchy intensity of 'Take Me For A Little While'; another that would have surely made a great hit single, there's also the title track, 'Where Am I Going'....straight back into the stereo, that's where! On the pen-ultimate track she begs us 'Don't Forget About Me',....aah, Dusty, as if we ever could.
This album was released in October 1967, and in the NME December polls still the accolades for Dusty poured in; first place for World Female Singer and second place for British Female Singer, just pipped at the post by Lulu.

Combines the usual up-tempo swinging arrangements, some jazzy reworking's, plus her usual soulful performance with her great style and interpretation with her ballads. Special mention should go to her backing singers Madeline Bell and Lesley Duncan who do a superb job with supporting vocals.
The recording (They Long To Be) Close To You is yet another example of how Dusty's voice was a perfect match for Bacharach's melodies and also for David's lyrics.
Dusty took the honours with If You Go Away for her style and interpretation, such is the power of her performance that the song is more closely associated with her than it is with any other artist who has recorded it.

This album does not quite reach the levels of Springfields other 1960s albums. There are a handful of good songs - surely - but several arrangements may seem a somewhat dated and somewhat intrusive. Stylistically the album at times comes close to mainstream family jazz-pop.

The freshness from Dusty early records is only perceived in glimpses, and her later soul expression known from songs like "Piece of My Heart" and "Son of a Preacher Man " is only indicated on a few tracks.

A highlight is a fine version of Jacques Brel's "If You Go Away".

Somewhat atypical, but nice is also the slightly folkish "Broken Blossoms" arranged by brother Tom Springfield.

Bacharach's classic "Close to You" is here in a solid but not particularly memorable arrangement.

The title track "Where Am I Going" is a typical contemporary pop song, which in a little less intrusive arrangement could have been a fine finale - unfortunately, in this arrangement it comes out somewhat strained.

Springfield's vocals are as always a fabulous, but as a whole the album is not as seamless as her subsequent albums - especially "Dusty In Memphis"

I think the album could be described as transitional piece of work.