WOMAN of REPUTE
1999 NEWS
Compiled by Jim Pierson and released by Taragon Records, this CD is the first collection of The Springfield's hits to be issued in the States on CD format. Paul Howes, editor of The Dusty Springfield Bulletin, provides the liner notes and--with Steve Kolanjian and Jim Pierson--annotations for each track.
The track list for The Very Best of The Springfields with Dusty Springfield (TARCD-1047)
is as follows:
JANUARY 1999
TWO RECENT COMPILATIONS
Although there's been no new material released to date, two new complilation albums are worth noting. The most important of these is the U.S. release The Very Best of The Springfields with Dusty Springfield.
The second compilation release is yet another "Best of" effort entitled Dusty: The Best of Dusty Springfield. Available only in the U.K, Europe, Japan and Australia, this 24-track release is comprised primarily of Dusty's hits from the 1960s--though to the compiler's credit, some effort has been made to include recordings from later decades, including "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", "In Private," "Nothing Has Been Proved," and "Wherever Would I Be" (minus vocals from Daryl Hall). Still, the best single-CD compilation album of Dusty Springfield's remains 1994's Goin' Back: The Very Best of Dusty Springfield, readily available in the U.K. and also via The Dusty Springfield Bulletin.
In relation to Dusty's ongoing treatment for cancer, there has been no official word on her condition or the progress of her treatment. Along with the many people who have e-mailed messages or who have signed the guest book on this site, I can only add my voice in wishing Dusty all the best during this significant time in her life.
Following are three articles relating to the honours being bestowed upon Dusty. The first two articles focus upon Dusty being awarded an OBE while the third concerns her induction into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She is best known for her blonde beehive hair and trademark heavy-black "panda-style" make-up, and originally found fame with her brother Tom and Tim Field in a folk trio, The Springfields. They split up after seeing The Beatles at Liverpool's Cavern Club, and Dusty went solo. Her first song, the Motown-influenced "I Only Want To Be With You," is still one of her best-loved records. She became one of the few white singers to be accepted by soul fans. Other hits followed, including "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," and "Son Of A Preacher Man" - given a new lease of life by the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
Her career declined in the 1970s but in 1987 she was rediscovered by The Pet Shop Boys - and their collaboration, "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", reached No. 2 in the charts.
She continued to record after being diagnosed with cancer, recording her most recent album A Very Fine Love in 1995 after she received chemotherapy treatment. But she fell ill again, and was forced to pull out of a planned appearance at the 1998 Brit Awards in February. [NOTE: This isn't an entirely accurate retelling of the sequence of events. Check Woman of Repute's Nashville chapter and February 1998 News section for the correct sequence].
BBC News
Officials at Buckingham Palace are doing their best to make it easy for her to collect her award, given in this year's New Year's Honours. This week they will meet representatives of the Central Chancery, the Government department in charge of honours, to discuss her case. Normally, people who are getting awards have to wait for two hours at the Palace before seeing the Queen. But special arrangements can be made for sick people if they want to attend the ceremony rather than receive the medal by post. A royal spokesman said: "Obviously, if someone is ill we will make every effort to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. The Central Chancery will be pencilling in dates this week and making specific arrangements."
Dusty's battle began four years ago, when she had surgery to remove a tumour on her breast. She finished a three-month course of chemotherapy in September last year but the cancer returned.
A friend said: "Dusty is delighted with her OBE. It was a ray of light in what have been very testing times. But we fear she will be too weak to go to the Palace. Chemotherapy leaves her very drained."
Sunday Mirror,
It's an incredible, incredible class this year," says Terry Stewart, the hall's newly appointed CEO and executive director. "When you put together Billy and Paul and Bruce, how can you not find that just overwhelming?" Inductees from other categories include Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Charles Brown, who will be honored in the Early Influence category, and Beatles producer George Martin, who will be inducted as a nonperformer.
Honorees were voted in by more than 1,000 journalists and industry executives. Details about who will perform at the ceremony were unavailable at press time, but portions of the event will be shown on VH1.
Noah Tarnow,
The new edition of Dusty in Memphis contains 14 bonus tracks, 10 of which have never been released before. All bonus tracks were recorded by Dusty while signed with Atlantic Records from 1968-1971. The majority of the 10 previously unreleased tracks were produced by Jeff Barry and were originally to comprise Dusty's third album with Atlantic Records. When this project was shelved the tracks remained in the Atlantic vaults for decades. It is truly an exciting event for Dusty fans and lovers of fine music in general, to finally be able to hear these long-lost tracks.
The tracks on Dusty in London: Dusty Springfield's Lost British Recordings are comprised of songs Dusty recorded in Britain with the Philips label while concurrently signed with Atlantic Records in the States. Contrary to the album's subtitle, these tracks (with perhaps the exception of one) have never been "lost". As the liner notes themselves acknowledge, all but the second-last track, "Sweet Inspiration," have been available on various British releases for years.
Both Rhino releases are handsomely packaged with great photographs and extensive liner notes. In short, both are essential for any true lover of contemporary music.
One last thing worth noting about these releases: It is to Rhino Records great credit that both contain an informational piece entitled "Move the Money" that alerts people to the United States' grossly inflated military budget and this budget's draining of resources from services such as education, crime prevention, health care, job training and housing. A toll-free number is provided for people to learn more about this scandalous state of affairs and to voice their outrage.
One can only wonder if Dusty herself needed to give permission for the inclusion of this "community service annoucement" (for want of a better term). As Dusty has articulated in the past her interest in geo-politics, it would make sense that she would be aware of the cost of U.S. militarism, its role in protecting U.S. corporate interests abroad (to the extent of backing brutal dictatorships) and thus its negative influence both within the U.S. and around the globe. Subsequently it would not be surprising that she and others aware of this serious problem would support efforts to address and rectify it. If this is indeed the case, then it is to Dusty's great credit too that "Move the Money" is included in the packaging of both releases.
DUSTY'S DELIGHT AT OBE
Two of the big stars of the 1960s are included in the New Year Honours List - Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones. Both received OBEs for their services to music, and Ms Springfield spoke of her surprise at the prize. The 59-year-old singer is seriously ill after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994. She issued a statement saying: "I'm deeply and genuinely honoured. This is the biggest surprise of my life."
Thursday, December 31, 1998
BRAVE DUSTY BATTLES TO MAKE HER PALACE DATE
Singing legend Dusty Springfield is fighting a desperate battle against cancer so that she can receive her OBE medal from the Queen. Brave Dusty, 59, has been battling breast cancer for the past five years but despite intensive chemotherapy sessions she is now seriously ill.
January 3, 1999
SPRINGSTEEN, McCARTNEY TOP LIST OF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Roll out the carpet for the 1999 inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Paul McCartney, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield, Bruce Springsteen and the Staple Singers will be honored at a March 15th ceremony at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Rolling Stone,
February 4, 1999
FEBRUARY 1999
DELUXE EDITION OF DUSTY IN MEMPHIS RELEASED
Rhino Records have released a deluxe edition of Dusty in Memphis and a new compilation album entitled Dusty in London.
For all its worth , I must admit reservations about this release. For a compilation of Dusty Springfield material to be entitled "The Best of . . ." it should contain recordings from her entire 36 year career as a solo artist. Yet this release limits her "best" to 12 songs from the 1960s - though not including the classic "Son of a Preacher Man"! The CD comes with a thoughtful and well-written essay by Brian Chin, but contains limited track annotations. Nevertheless, the wonderful cover photograph along with the CD's alternate version of "Little By Little", will be reason enough for many to add it to their Dusty collection.
Lots relating to Dusty will include several of her musical awards from the 1960s, stage outfits and jewellery from the 1980s and '90s, her musical score for "Son of a Preacher Man", and assorted records and tapes - audio and video - of Dusty recordings and interviews from Dusty's own collection. A catalogue that lists and describes all lots is available from Sotheby's by phoning +44 (0)171-293-6444.
Previewing of the lots will be taking place at Sotheby's Bond Street auction rooms on September 10, 12 and 13. Plans are also underway for the auctioning of some lots (mainly costumes and jewellery) to occur via the internet in October.
The producer/director of Definitely Dusty, Serena Cross, was recently interviewed by Simon Bell--Dusty's longtime friend and back-up singer--about the making of the program and the insights she gained about Dusty. A transcript of this excellent interview can be found on Simon's web site, Dusty Devotedly.
The idea for a musical based on Dusty's life first surfaced in 1995. At that time Ray Cooney planned to bring Paul Prescott's script, then entitled Dusty and Me, to musical life on a West End stage. The venture fell through, but now it seems that the idea for a Dusty musical is fast becoming a reality. Vicki Wickham, Dusty's manager from the mid-1980s until her death, is serving as a "consultant" for the production.
SEPTEMBER 1999
MERCURY UK BOXED SET
Mercury UK is currently working on a 4 CD boxed set tentatively scheduled to be released sometime in October. The set will include Lana Sisters and The Springfields tracks, live recordings including "Up On The Roof" and "Quiet Please There's A Lady On Stage," and a number of tracks previously unreleased on CD, including "Turn Me Around", "Closet Man" and Dusty's last recording, "Someone To Watch Over Me." The latest issue of The Dusty Springfield Bulletin has a complete track list and notes that the 4 CDs will be accompanied by a 60 page booklet. No price for the boxed set has as yet been announced.
SEPTEMBER 1999
NEW COMPILATION ALBUM RELEASED IN THE STATES
Mercury US has released The Best of Dusty Springfield as part of their 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series - which also includes such luminaries as Louis Armstrong, Neil Diamond, B.B. King, Etta James, Buddy Holly, Judy Garland, The Who, James Brown and Patsy Cline.
SEPTEMBER 1999
MEMORIAL FOR DUSTY
A permanant memorial stone and plaque were placed in the grounds of St. Mary's Church in Henley-on-Thames on June 7, 1999. A portion of Dusty's ashes were laid to rest under the stone, the plaque upon which reads "Dusty Springfield O.B.E. 1939-1999. Dusty's remaining ashes had previously been scattered by her brother Tom in a favourite place in Ireland.
SEPTEMBER 1999
TWO DUSTY BIOGRAPHIES UNDERWAY
October 15 will see Omnibus Press release a Dusty Springfield biography written by Edward Leeson. Meanwhile, Penny Valentine and Vicki Wickham are collaborating on a biography of Dusty which many hope will comprise the definitive retelling of her life and career.
SEPTEMBER 1999
SOTHEBY'S TO AUCTION DUSTY MEMORABILLIA
Sotheby's of London will be auctioning a selection of Dusty memorabillia as part of a larger Rock 'n' Roll Memorabillia auction, on September 14-15, 1999.
DECEMBER 1999
BBC's DEFINITELY DUSTY TO AIR ON DECEMBER 26
BBC2's hour-long documentary on Dusty, entitled Definitely Dusty, will be broadcast on Boxing Day, December 26, at 10.50 p.m., and repeated on BBC Choice on January 2, 2000, at 8.30 p.m. Plans for the documentary to be shown internationally and as part of inflight programming are currently in the works. The hour-long documentary contains archival footage and interviews with Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Neil Tennant, Lulu, Martha Reeves, Jerry Wexler, Mike Hurst, Madeleine Bell, Simon Bell, Pat Rhodes, Vicki Wickham, Lee Everett, Helen Sellery and Norma Tanega.
DECEMBER 1999
MARI WILSON TO PLAY DUSTY IN U.K. MUSICAL
Sixties-styled vocalist and eighties pop star Mari Wilson has been chosen to portray Dusty in the forthcoming West End musical about Dusty's life. Entitled Dusty: The Musical, the show begins rehearsals in January and will open sometime in February. The musical is written by Paul Prescott and will be produced by Bob Tomson who previously worked on Blood Brothers.
DECEMBER 1999
DUSTY REMEMBERED BY BBC NEWS ONLINE
Dusty is featured along with Raisa Gorbachev, King Hussein of Jordan, BBC presenter Jill Dando, and Rhodesia's first nationalist leader Joshua Nkomo, in a special selection from BBC News Online's obituaries and tributes "for those whose departure made the world's headlines" in 1999.
BACK
1998 NEWS | 1999 NEWS | 2000 NEWS | 2001 NEWS | 2002 NEWS | 2003 NEWS
CONTENTS PAGE
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: AN INTRODUCTION
EARLY SUCCESS |
SIXTIES ICON |
DIFFICULT |
TROUBLE MAKER |
AMERICA |
MEMPHIS |
PHILADELPHIA SOUL |
WILDERNESS YEARS |
IT BEGINS AGAIN? |
WHITE HEAT |
PET SHOP BOYS |
REPUTATION |
NASHVILLE |
THE VOICE
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
ARTICLES | REVIEWS
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