Old age alert coming up. Back in the dim and distant, when you could buy vinyl singles and albums in Woolworths (ask your Mum)

I once found myself picking up a greatest hits by Dusty Springfield.

I’m going to say it was 30 odd years ago, and at that time, I was going through a Modern Jazz Quartet/Style Council period by way of listening to both, and others with a similar jazz tinged sound, but as importantly, I was trying to dress like them, so adopting a cool, tasselled loafer, white Levis and navy blazer ensemble on the weekend.

So, standing there with this album with its really naff photo on the cover, which has Ms. Springfield looking for all the world like a slightly classier Bet Lynch, wasn’t going to do too much for already low street cred. I should explain this is way before Dusty’s re-evaluation as the classy, soulful singer she is rightly lauded as today.

No, this is in the days of her being mainly known for her ‘pop’ hits such as ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ and ‘You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’. Now, I have to say that there isn’t anything wrong with those tunes, only they were the songs your mum would like, as opposed to the guys down at Ray’s Jazz Shop on Shaftesbury Avenue who I was desperately trying to impress with my jazz knowledge around then. 

The thing was, I really liked her voice on those tunes and well this album was only 99p. I mean what harm could it do buying it as long as I got the album out of the shop in a plastic bag and didn’t bump into Paul Weller on the way home….

Upon getting home, I put the needle on the record and found on side one, track one ‘Son Of A Preacher Man.’ To say it knocked me sideways, would be a total understatement. It knocked me bandy. This was… absolutely FANTASTIC!

This was the sound of a female David Ruffin, with Booker T and The MGs behind her. This was plainly not your Auntie Maude’s favourite Saturday night sing along tune. The backing musicians were spot on, the groove just infectious with the backing vocals complimenting Dusty’s breathy delivery. 

I eagerly skipped on to ‘I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten’ and was once again captivated by the gorgeous delivery against the backdrop of the lush swirling string arrangement, the thumping bass and the strident piano stabs. Certainly different from ‘Preacher Man’, but it had that classy feel that could not be denied.

Next up, ‘You Don’t Own Me’ which instantly put me in mind of a John Barry, James Bond, type theme in a classic ‘everything including the kitchen sink’ type production. Looking back, how they didn’t get Dusty in to do a Bond theme around then is one of life’s mysteries to me.

It was becoming apparent that as I made my way through the dozen tunes that the song selection by, I presumed Dusty, was top drawer. From Bacharach and David to Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer, to her brother Tom Springfield with ‘Summer is Over’, she certainly had a great nose for a tune. That allied to her marvellous interpretation of each vocal then raised these songs up notch after notch.

The last track of side two,  ‘Little by Little’, simply sealed the deal. It was a lovely slice of mid 60s pop/soul that would become a staple of any DJ set I did in later years.  

The album left me wanting to know more. It had been the perfect introduction her work. I then went on a hunt for as many of Dusty’s 60s albums as I could find. 

This being pre Google, I got digging wherever old vinyl could be found. When I found ‘Dusty In Memphis’ with a tattered cover for 50p in Westmoreland Road market a year or so later I was intrigued, as I could see ‘Preacher Man’ on there. I had discovered the source of that particular track. Once I had heard the whole album a few hours later, I knew my instincts in Woolworths were correct. She WAS the real deal, at the top of her game with a voice that just could not be denied.

Over the years, that search has continued and it is easier to find tracks now, what with YouTube, Spotify etc.

That search has led me to tunes like ‘I Can’t Wait til I See My Baby’s Face’, ‘Spooky’, ‘The Look of Love’ ‘If You Go Away’  ‘Take Another Piece of my Heart’ and ‘Going Back’

All of the above have the capacity to still give me goosebumps whenever I hear them.

Thank God for Woolies.

The Mumper of SE5