Who doesn't know the hits Little By Little and Son Of A Preacher Man? The lead singer of these songs was Dusty Springfield, the greatest white soul singer of the twentieth century and well known for her high-gloss white hair and panda black mascara eyes. However, it was her voice that made Dusty so unique, with endless possibilities to show expression and emotion. Dusty has sung in various styles,
… from folk and pop music to spicy soul, R&B and disco. After singing with the Lana Sisters and The Springfields, the Mary O'Brien born singer decided to embark on a solo career. Her first single I Only Want To Be With You was an immediate hit in England. When she heard the Motown Sound during a tour in America, she was sold. Dusty introduced British viewers to black music through the television show The Sound of Motown. In the 1970s it was relatively quiet around Dusty, a time of personal troubles. Her collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys in the 1980s with What Have I Done To Deserve This? brought her all the way back. The 1990 album Reputation became one of Dusty's best-selling albums since the 1960s. Cancer has put an end to Dusty's fascinating walk through the land of music. She died in March 1999 at the age of 59. Mercury Records pays tribute to this versatile singer with Simply Dusty The Definitive Dusty Springfield Collection. The four CDs contain a selection from Dusty's entire oeuvre, and the CD book contains a biography, background information about the tracks and many beautiful color photos. (SvdP)more
