I’m not a big fan of tribute albums. Most of the ones I’ve heard are mediocre. Forever Dusty, while enthusiastic, falls short. Frankly, I’d never heard of many of these groups and performers. Clearly, they love Dusty Springfield. But energy does always produce excellence. GRADE: C
If you’re a Dusty fan, I’d recommend you listen to Just Dusty which includes 25 of Dusty Springfield’s best songs, including a few obscure–but compelling–tunes. GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
- 1Laura Love Band – Son of a Preacher Man 3:23
- 2The Butchies – What’s It Gonna Be 2:18
- 3Indigo Girls – Broken Blossoms 3:19
- 4Jill Sobule – Just a Little Lovin ‘2:45
- 5Zrazy – How Can I Be Sure 3:04
- 6Gail Ann Dorsey – Losing You 3:42
- 7Marti Jones – You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me 3:10
- 8Michelle Malone & Karyn Folmar Malone – The Look of Love 3:37
- 9Vicki Randle – Wishin’ and Hopin’ 3:55
- 10Sonia – I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself 3:49
- 11Jennifer Kimball – Chained to a Memory 4:55
- 12Cath Carroll – No Easy Way Down 4:13
- 13Ana Egge – Breakfast in Bed 3:19
- 14Lord Douglas Phillips featuring Gretchen Phillips – Yesterday When I Was Young 3:21
- 15Sara Lee – I Only Want to Be With You 5:06
- 16Mrs. Fun featuring Janet Planet – Windmills of Your Mind 4:19
- 17Carole Pope – Soft Core 3:08
TRACK LIST:
1. Only Want to Be With You
2. Stay Awhile
3. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself
4. Losing You
5. In the Middle of Nowhere
6. If You Go Away
7. Some of Your Lovin’
8. Little by Little
9. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
10. Goin’ Back
11. Brand New Me
12. All I See Is You
13. I’ll Try Anything
14. Give Me Time
15. I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten
16. Son of a Preacher Man
17. How Can I Be Sure
18. Breakfast in Bed
19. Just One Smile
20. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
21. Nothing Has Been Proved
22. In Private
23. Spooky
24. Take Another Little Piece of My Heart
25. The Look of Love
26. Anyone Who Had a Heart
Some bands/performers I’ve not heard of on hat tribute album, too, along with a few I’ve heard of, but not heard (I think), such as Vicki Randle. Shall have to Go Look to see if “How Can I Be Sure” is the one that the Monkees recorded…I imagine DS did it better.
Wasn’t “How Can I Be Sure?” by The (Young) Rascals? Possibly I’m thinking of a different song.
Deb, The (Young) Rascals “How Can I Be Sure?” was the big hit. Dusty’s version did well in the UK. Here are the links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvP3mMHPQcU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVPHsqJKMSY
Yes, Deb. Same song,
I was sleepily conflating the Monkees with David Cassidy…and so owe the Monkees an apology.
Todd, Dusty did all of the songs on FOREVER DUSTY better than the tribute performers.
When I was in a romantic mood as a “younger guy” I would often listen to
Stay Awhile or
I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself
And of course these are sons written in the Brill building by Burt Bacharach and Hal David who imho wrote most of the moving songs over the years.
Even though I’m a Blues&Rock fan at heart I enjoy these songs.
Wolf, the Brill Building magic still works with Bacharach and David songs for me too.
I love Dusty’s voice (and eye-makeup!), and I’m so glad she had a pop music resurgence (with “What Have I Done to Deserve This” recorded with the Pet Shop Boys) before she died. The weird thing about the tribute album is that Dusty didn’t write her own songs and many of her songs were covers of songs previously-released by other artists. So, for all practical purposes, the tribute album is a collection of covers of covers. I do love the spin Dusty puts songs. Some of my favorites include: “I Only Wanna Be with You”, “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten”, “The Look of Love”, and the aforementioned “What Have I Done to Deserve This?”
Deb, I was a big Dusty fan in the 1960s. I remember playing her albums constantly. And, I still listen to Dusty’s wonderful voice on a regular basis.
I have only heard of a couple of artists on the tribute cd-0Indigo Girls, Jill Sobule. I like just about everything on the best of cd, although I have always hated The Look of Love.
Steve, the tribute groups and artists on FOREVER DUSTY are mostly new to me. While their admiration for Dusty is apparent, they have nowhere near her talent.
Like you, I don’t usually go for tribute albums unless the contributors are folks I’ve heard of.
Indigo Girls are the only group I have heard of but I’d be hard pressed to come up with anything they’ve done.
For me, this would be like trying to listen to a tribute by the band that performs at an upscale Holiday Inn on weekends.
Dusty deserves better.
Beth, I agree. Dusty does deserve better. But, I will be willing to give the tribute bands and artists an “E” for effort.
Jackie (as mentioned previously) IS a big fan of tribute albums, much more than I am, but even she wouldn’t bother with this one. I recommend the live 2 CD collection LOVE FOR LEVON (Levon Helm).
What should have been included on the second CD – Wishin’ and Hopin’ and 24 Hours From Tulsa, both from her first album.
Jeff, I have a couple other of “BEST OF” Dusty Springfield CDs with “Within’ and Hoping'” and “24 Hours From Tulsa” included.
Totally agree!
Dusty is really someone special, just the way she performs those “complicated” texts is wonderful.
Hope everyone has heard a least some of the Springfields’ recordings, the band where she and her brother took on their stage names.
First British single by a band to reach the US Top Twenty, oddly and improbably enough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6HB9HYQz4 …among not a few other good records.
Todd, thanks for the links!