|
Dusty Springfield began her singing career in a 'Girl Group' called the Lana Sisters during the late 1950s. The Lana Sisters never managed to get a chart hit though they were familiar performers to British TV viewers. They probably came closest with a version of 'Seven Little Girls' which they made with Al Saxon who took the male vocals. Her first taste of real success came when she teamed up with her brother Tom Springfield (Dion O'Brien) and his friend Tim Field. Together they formed the 'Springfields' who produced a blend of 'folk' and pop that audiences were ready for at the beginning of the 1960s. Despite the success of the Springfields, Dusty decided to take a chance and go solo during 1963. Her first single 'I Only Want To Be With You' must have removed any doubts that she harboured about leaving the Springfields. A long series of hits followed and she rapidly became one of the most successful UK female singers of the era. By the late 1960s she pushed her music further towards the 'black' music she loved and became renowned on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the few white artists who could really sing 'soul'. |
|
 |
The EP on the left was a 1965 release, well into Dusty's solo career, but much earlier than her long term association with America began. It contains a good selection of material not available on her singles:- Live It Up/I Want Your Love Tonight / I Wanna Make You Happy/Now That You're My Baby |
|
By the end of the decade she had decided to move her base to the U.S. as she thought this would broaden her career and bring greater success. Unfortunately, the break from the support that she had grown used to was too great. She didn't make the progress in the U.S. that she should have done because of the poorer level of management and her own lack of discipline. Although her career in the 1970s had its high points, they were fewer and harder to find than they were in the 1960s. As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s her plight grew worse and she became increasingly dependent on alcohol. Despite her personal and professional problems her potential to sing was released by the Pet Shop Boys at the end of the 1980s. Her rendition of the lyric on 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' earned her the respect and admiration of a new young audience and delighted her older fans. Her new found success showed up her wasted years in the USA even more strongly. Sadly, Dusty Springfield died of cancer on 2nd March, 1999, finally depriving Britain of its finest female vocalist. |
|
