Dusty in London [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Dusty Springfield

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 16, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00000HZET
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,130 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Despite the Dusty in Memphis-lookalike packaging, this is actually not a unified album, rather a new collection of old stuff, recorded between 1968 and 1971 but never released in America until now. Springfield had outgrown the innocence of her girl-group-style material, and she was trying to find a path between her heavily orchestrated British hits and the earthier sound--and more adventurous songwriting--she'd taken on with Memphis, and she stretches out in all directions here. There are more than a few syrupy overarrangements, but also some fabuloums experiments, including covers of Rascals and Leon Russell songs that let her sensitivity to lyrics shine, and a harrowing, uncertain take on "Piece of My Heart." --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Put This Back In Print!, April 13, 2004

By	Caesar M. Warrington (Lansdowne, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Some of Dusty's best work is on this CD. Her rendition of "Piece of My Heart" just blows away Janis Joplin's original version.
This CD quickly came and went. Why?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brand new Dusty to American listeners is every bit as good, November 25, 2000

By A Customer

Don't be put off by sceptics who tell you to give this wonderful collection a miss. This may not be the Dusty American listeners are used to and know and love, but for my money, it's every bit as good. In these latter day British recordings (1968-72) with the Philips label, you get to "see all her faces". Displaying her incredible versatility, you get to sample Dusty not only in lounge mode (ie, as a chanteuse) but as soul mistress and pop/rock stylist (British style). These tracks, extracted mainly from "Dusty Definitely (1968) and "See All Her Faces" (1972), stand tall as monuments of her recording history with the British label. Pity Rhino chose not to showcase them (including the UK recorded tracks from SAHF) in their entirety or in their original running order. We have to wait for the omissions - all excellent - to show up in future compilations promised by Rhino. For those already familiar with these UK albums, there is a special treat in the previously unreleased "Sweet Inspiration" which is pure bubblegum transformed into a tasteful slice of soul that's distinctively Dusty. Listening to this great collection only makes the need for Mercury UK to release these albums in their original formats all the more pressing. In my opinion, it's totally wrongheaded and arrogant for uninformed Stateside critics to dismiss Dusty's Philips recordings as supperclub styled or lightweight compared to her more serious soul offerings with the Atlantic label. Listeners will discover in these tracks the other side to Dusty that has made her the much loved singer she is with the British public. This brand new Dusty (to Americans) is someone you want to get to know. Trust me. Tune in and enjoy !

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dusty..eclectic as always..., October 4, 2002

By	S. Sittig "Divawatch" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

Those of us that are long time fans of Miss Dusty Springfield know that she would have been bored to tears if she had to sing the same old style of pop music every day. She loved variety. And this compilation showcases exactly how eclectic her tastes were. Unfortunately, if the mood feels rather erratic, it's really more the fault of the compilation itself and not Dusty's song choices or ability.

Nevertheless, the testament to Dusty's superb interpretive ear, is that there really is not a bad track on this compilation. Some of the production values might be a bit askew and some of the material might be bordering on schmaltz, but Dusty's delivery is never in question.

Stand-outs, for me at least, are "Mixed Up Girl", "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart" (which Dusty wisely skews more to the Erma Franklin original instead of the overblown albeit more popular Janis Joplin cover), "How Can I Be Sure?", "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone" and "Love Power".

And then there is the unique beauty of "Song For You", the gentle Bossa Nova style of "Come For A Dream", the sexually charged "Crumbs Off The Table" and the heavily jazz inflected "I Only Wanna Laugh".

At times it's hard to believe the same singer is singing each song!

Name me another singer that could navigate such varied musical waters without having to come up for air at least occasionally?

There is only one name that fits: Dusty Springfield

End of conversation. If you don't believe me, just listen...