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Personal opinion. Too much has been said (sometimes inappropriately) and very little has been written on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of De André's passing. On that note, I wanted to create a brilliant page, but not being thoroughly familiar with the work of the Genoese singer-songwriter, I chose to step back in the hope that someone will do it in my place.
However, it is always the recurrence of another sad anniversary that pushes me to write about an artist equally dear to me, who managed to embellish surprising musical landscapes, sometimes in a sparkling way, sometimes with colors tinged with melancholy. I am referring to Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), an iconic figure in her homeland (English from London) with a distinctive timbre, who emerged during the British invasion (the same of the Beatles, to be clear) and, starting from the sixties, like the national Mina and Dalida, managed to transform complex scores, authored by the greatest names of the era, into accessible and broad pieces. In a word: High-level Pop.
Already at her debut, labeled as a screamer in "I Only Want To Be With You," Dusty stood out for her timbral characteristics and impeccable technical awareness, as well as, not to be underestimated, great allure and persona charm. It is unfortunate, in fact, to acknowledge that despite the numerous interpretations to which her voice alludes, Dusty's image, a delicate and refined woman, has made less of an impact compared to her songs.
Fortunately, bringing a fair balance between these indispensable halves is the collection "Simply... Dusty" (2006) beautifully curated, both in the song selection and in the photographic-narrative apparatus. Four CDs and a book to pay tribute to an artist who, besides being an outstanding example of making music with the utmost respect for authors (among them Bacharach, Wrexler, King, Newman, Bergman, Costello...) and listeners, represented that part of Englishness full of charm and elegance that was successfully exported along with the baronets.
The phonographic support retraces, across four CDs, Dusty’s career, from her beginnings with her brother in The Springfields to her first solo in Denim (the cover, remember?) of "A Girl Called Dusty"; from the melodious-orchestral phase of "You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me" to the grandeur of "Son Of A Preacher Man" (Dusty... in Memphis), from the sobriety of the Philly Sound ("From Dusty With Love") to the little-known greatness of "Cameo". From the darkness of the late seventies to the rediscovery in synth-pop flavor of "Reputation" signed by Pet Shop Boys.
Ninety-eight tracks (!) from official discography and unreleased (the four extracted from the never-realized "Longing" and the version of "You’ve got a friend" are beautiful) to show us how the comments in the appendix (Costello, Midler, King, E. John, Pet Shop Boys, B. Bacharach, McCartney, The Carpenters, P. Clark, Cliff Richard) are sincere and participative in recounting the affection towards an extraordinary performer who left us too prematurely.
Never more than in this case do I feel like recommending this collection, which brings together splendid classics (Losing You, Wishin’ and Hopin’, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, The Look Of Love, All Cried Out, Doodlin’, See All Her Faces, Am I The Same Girl, Going Back,...) with a rich and complementary photographic-documentary apparatus.
This time, music and images truly blend synchronically to illustrate important fragments of fashion and musical history. A history that undoubtedly would not have been the same without the "dusty" voice and the marvelous vibrato of Dusty Springfield.
P.S. For those unfamiliar with Dusty Springfield, this collection (at a very affordable price) represents a definitive purchase. For those wishing to delve deeper, I would undoubtedly recommend listening to: "Dusty In Memphis" (1968), "A Girl Called Dusty" (1964), and "Cameo" (1973).
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
10 Stay Awhile (01:57)
Stay awhile, let me hold you
Stay awhile, 'til I've told you, oh, oh
Of the love that I feel tonight, oh yeah
Stay awhile, what's your hurry?
Stay awhile, 'cause I worry, oh
Any time that you're out of sight
I hate to see you go
Tell you what I'll do
I'll be good to you
I'll make you glad that you are mine
So come on baby
Treat me right, must you run now?
For the night's just begun now, oh
Honey please, won't you stay awhile with me?, oh yeah, yeah
Oh, I hate to see you go
Tell you what I'll do
I'll be good to you
I'll make you glad that you are mine
So come on baby
Treat me right, must you run now?
For the night's just begun now, oh
Honey please, won't you stay awhile with me?, oh yeah, yeah
Stay awhile with me
12 Wishin' and Hopin' (02:56)
Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreaming each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care
Show him that you care just for him
And do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and a-hopin'
Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' heartbreak
True love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
(You gotta)
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and a-hopin'
Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' heartbreak
True love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his
13 I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself (03:05)
I just don't know what to do with myself
Don't know just what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through
I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you
I just don't know what to do
Like a summer rose
Needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love
To beat all the pain
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do
Like a summer rose
It needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love
To beat all the pain
I don't know just what to do with myself
I don't know just what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come on back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do
No, no, no, I don't know what else to do
I'm still so crazy for you
No no no no, I don't know what else to do.. no no no..
14 All Cried Out (03:05)
(Kaye / Philinger)
I stayed up cryin' all night (all night)
I knew the end was in sight (in sight)
And now you're walkin' out on me (on me)
You're wonderin' where the little tears can be (can be)
Well, baby....
I'm all cried out, I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now, that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you
Last night I knew we were through (we're through)
It hurt 'cause I still loved you (loved you)
Went home and couldn't fall asleep (asleep)
'Cause sleep just won't come into eyes that weep (that weep)
And that's why....
I'm all cried out, I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you, oh yeah
I'm all cried out
I just cant cry no more, no, no
No, no, no, no, oh
All cried out
And that's why....
I'm all cried out, yes I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you
Listen to me when I'm a-gonna say
I'm all cried out, yeah, over you
Listen to me when I'm a-tellin' you
I'm all cried out, yeah, over you
Over you
15 Losing You (03:02)
(Tom Springfield / Clive Westlake)
How many tears do you cry
If love should break your heart in two?
How many tears will I cry
Now that I know I'm losing you?
I can't stop wanting you
And no matter what you do
You're still a part of me
Even though I'm losing you, oh
How many years will go by
Before my heart begins to mend?
Waiting and wondering why
I never thought our love could end
I try forgetting you
But you're still here on my mind
It would take a miracle
But someday maybe I'll find
That I'm in the loving arms of someone
That I'll know, know he's the someone
Who'll kiss all the heartache away
And come that day
I won't mind losing you
Yes, I try forgettin' you
But you're still here on my mind
It would take, yeah, a miracle
But someday maybe I'll find
That I'm in the loving arms of someone
That I'll know, know he's the someone
Who'll kiss all the heartache away
And when he comes to me that day
I won't mind losing you, oh, oh
I won't mind losing you, yeah
I won't mind losing you
16 Summer Is Over (03:45)
(Tom Springfield / Clive Westlake)
The night runs away with the day
The grass that was green is now hay
The world goes around without even a sound
And it looks like the summer is over
The rains tumble down in the sky
Young swallows have learned how to fly
The leaves that were green are no longer so green
And it looks like the summer is over
The sun and the moon take turns in the sky
The days drift on by too soon
The meadows are kissed by a cool autumn mist
Far away now is June
The birds fly away to the sun
The leaves touch the ground one by one
The breeze hurries by without even goodbye
And it looks like the summer is over
The sun and the moon take turns in the sky
The days drift on by too soon
The meadows are kissed by a cool autumn mist
Far away now is June
The birds fly away to the sun
The leaves touch the ground one by one
The breeze hurries by without even goodbye
And it looks like the summer is over
And it looks like the summer is over
20 In the Middle of Nowhere (02:48)
(by Buddy Kaye / Bea Verdi)
Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
Will it soon pass me by?
In the middle of nowhere
Baby, won't you tell me
What am I to do?
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Getting nowhere with you
Mmm, where did my heart land?
In the middle of nowhere
Where are the dreams I planned?
In the middle of nowhere
Listen to me baby
Listen to my plea
I'm in the middle of nowhere
And it's worrying me
Over and over again
You tell me you need my love
If what you say is true
Why can't we be together?
Over and over you tell me
I'm all that you're thinking of
Baby you know that I love you
But I can't wait forever
Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
How can you let it die?
In the middle of nowhere
Are you gonna leave me?
Leave my heart astray
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Come and show me the way
Over and over again
You tell me you need my love
Baby you know that I love you
But I can't wait forever
Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
How can you let it die?
In the middle of nowhere
Are you gonna leave me
And leave my heart astray
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Come and show me the way
Hey, where does out love lie?
Come on now
Where does our love lie?
Right slap in the middle of nowhere
Right slap in the middle of nowhere
Right slap in the middle of nowhere
22 Some of Your Lovin' (03:04)
Gerry Goffin / Carole King)
You gotta give me some
Give me some of your lovin'
You gotta give me some of your lovin'
Now I'm not a greedy girl
I don't need the world
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh, oh, oh, oh
Now I don't expect you to guarantee
Your faith and devotion to only me
I'm aware you got a lot of wild oats to sow
But baby when I need you
Don't you tell me no
You gotta give me some
(Give me some of your lovin')
Oh yes you do now
You gotta give me some of your lovin'
Now I'm not a jealous child
My demands are mild
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I know a man likes to feel that he's been around
Before he decides to settle down
I've no doubt
Some day you're gonna feel that way too
But baby, just remember
(Until you do)
You gotta give me some
(Give me some of your lovin')
Oh yes you do now
I mean to tell you
(You gotta give me some)
Of your lovin'
Now I'm not a greedy girl
I don't need the world
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh oh, oh, oh
You gotta give me some, some of your lovin'
I mean to tell you
(You gotta give me some of your lovin')
Oh, don't forget about me now
I mean to tell you, oh
Ah, you gotta give me some of your lovin'
Some of your lovin'
26 Little by Little (02:19)
(Buddy Kaye / Bea Verdi)
Little by little by little by little by little
Little by little by little by little by little
You're messing up my life
Tearing me apart
Breaking up my world
And I'm giving up my heart
Little by little by little by little
I'm losing all my pride
It's really getting bad
Hurting deep inside
Is a-making me go mad, ooh
Little by little by little by little
Little by little
Bit by bit
I'm going crazy and you're causing it
Little by little
Bit by bit
I should stop caring
But my love won't quit
Little by little by little by little by little, yeah
Little by little by little by little by little, all right
I don't know where to turn
Don't know what to do
I'm walking on thin ice
And it seems I'm falling through, ooh
Little by little by little by little
Little by little
Bit by bit
I'm going crazy and you're causing it
Little by little
Bit by bit
I should stop caring
But my love won't quit
I'm the queen of fools
Know the deck is stacked
On a losing streak
But I'm a-gonna get you back
Little by little by little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Yeah, little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Ah, ah, ah, little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Little by little, mmm
(Little by little by little by little by...)
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