The Dusty Springfield Anthology

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Dusty Springfield

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I love Dusty and own an original copy of the "Dusty In Memphis" LP. The reason I give this anthology only 4 stars instead of 5 is because, to be blunt about it, not all of the material she recorded was prime (especially after about 1970), so I find myself wading through a bit too much filler in order to hear the gems. For me, having the entire "Dusty In Memphis" is more important than having much of the stuff on this anthology. So, if you want the really essential Dusty, my advice is to buy "The Very Best of Dusty Sringfield" (the 20-song hit collection) and "Dusty In Memphis".

Having said that, I would note that this is a wonderful collection for those who want everything, and there are some particularly nice cover songs on it ("Other Side of Life", "Tupelo Honey"). By any measure, one of the greats.

I am a Dusty Springfield fan from England, and I have followed her career from way back in 1958 when she was with the Lana Sisters -- even before the Springfields. Many people do not realize that in Europe and England, Dusty is regarded with the same reverence that people in the US regard Aretha Franklin. This anthology does not do justice to Dusty Springfield's career at all! Dopey numbers like "Do Re Mi" and weirder numbers from later on in her career are included, while standards such as "My Colouring Book" "Summer Is Over" her cover of Marvin Gaye's "Can I Get A Witness" and great titles from the "Cameo" "Everything's Coming Up Dusty" "A Girl Called Dusty" and "It Begins Again" are overlooked. Many British B sides of her singles were classics, and not included here. Misses from the seventies are dwelt on in detail, while the famous "Reputation" album which revived the Springfield career in the mid-eighties is given short shrift. The whole anthology seems thrown together by someone who has little idea of Dusty Springfield. Fans will definetely be better served by buying "The Very Best Of Dusty Springfield." Hopefully, someone will eventually come up with a definitive anthology one of these days.