My Favorite Female Vocalists: 5. Dusty Springfield
Disclaimer: this countdown isn’t meant to be an all-time definitive list. These are simply my favorites.
I’ve mentioned before that I grew up on the music of the ‘60s thanks to my mom’s influence; it also helped that the Atlanta radio station with the strongest signal as I was growing up was Fox 97, an “oldies” station.
For years, I’d heard Dusty Springfield’s music on the radio, but I’ll still never forget the first time I really listened to “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” Hearing that song without distraction stopped me in my tracks, and I fell in love with her voice.
Of course, Dusty was more than a ballad-belter; she would wrap her voice around upbeat and soulful tunes too.
There’s a smokiness to Dusty’s alto that allowed her to tap into sensuality, which shows up in force in her iconic Dusty in Memphis album, which includes what is probably her best-known single, though not her biggest hit.
Dusty was at her best when the production supporting her was lush and sophisticated. (I tried to find the original audio of her version of “How Can I Be Sure” but couldn’t. This live version will do, even though it sounds like she’s losing her voice near the end.)
The ‘70s and ‘80s weren’t kind to her career-wise, but the techno-pop group the Pet Shop Boys gave her a big hit at the end of the latter decade.
I maintain that Dusty Springfield is one of the most underrated vocalists in music history. She deserved much more sustained success than she received.
Photo: Dezo Hoffman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons