Track listing
Show track credits
- A1 Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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writer
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- A2 Take Another Little Piece of my Heart
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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- A3 Another Night
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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- A4 Mr. Dream Merchant
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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- A5 I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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writer
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- A6 Love Power
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conductor
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writer
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- B1 This Girl's in Love With You
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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- B2 I Only Wanna Laugh
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conductor
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- B3 Who (Will Take My Place)?
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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- B4 I Think It's Gonna Rain Today
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conductor
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writer
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- B5 Morning (Bom Dia)
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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writer
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- B6 Second Time Around
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conductor
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writer
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writer
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Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
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7 Issues
- Release view [combined information for all issues]
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Dusty... Definitely [p] 33 rpm
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1968
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Dusty... Definitely 33 rpm, Mono
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Dusty... Definitely Bonus Tracks, Remastered
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Dusty... Definitely Bonus Tracks, Digipak, Remastered
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Dusty... Definitely 180 gram, 33 rpm
7 Reviews
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A1
Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
-
A2
Take Another Little Piece of my Heart
-
A3
Another Night
-
A4
Mr. Dream Merchant
-
A5
I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You
-
A6
Love Power
-
B1
This Girl's in Love With You
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B2
I Only Wanna Laugh
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B3
Who (Will Take My Place)?
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B4 I Think It's Gonna Rain Today
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B5
Morning (Bom Dia)
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B6 Second Time Around
Published
From 1968, “Dusty…Definitely” was Dusty Springfield’s fourth album. In common with many 1960’s pop album, it does not include any of her hits - for example “I Close My Eyes (& Count To Ten)”, which was her biggest 1968 hit. (She also had a couple of what used to be called “misses”). The view was that singles were separate – which was not the case in the USA.
And the USA was about to become very important in Dusty Springfield’s career because in 1968, she signed to Atlantic Records in the States, while remaining on Philips in this country. Atlantic and Jerry Wexler had big plans for Dusty and by the time that “Dusty…Definitely” came out (November 1968), she was already working with Wexler, Arif Mardin & Tom Dowd on her masterpiece “Dusty In Memphis”. And Atlantic were not all keen to release British produced records – so “Dusty…Definitely” did not get an American release – until 1999 when some tracks appeared on the compilation – “Dusty In London”.
“Dusty…Definitely” is something of a transitional record. 12 tracks – selected by Dusty because she liked them. She also gets a co-production credit with veteran producer, Johnny Franz. Now Dusty Springfield was a perfectionist but she was also notoriously insecure about her voice, sexuality, just about everything. Jerry Wexler thought she had “A massive inferiority complex”. However, in 1968 she was on something of a roll, given the Atlantic deal and the TV show and this album reflects that. It is not in the same league as “Dusty In Memphis” but it is a pretty good record. I have no idea who plays on it – Wikipedia says Madeline Bell, Kay Garner & Lesley Duncan provided banking vocals. It is also fair to assume that John Paul Jones played bass as he arranged and conducted two of the tracks. Incidentally Dusty was apparently responsible for getting the band Jones was to find fame with, to Atlantic Records. They were, of course, Led Zeppelin. Other arrangers and conductors on the record are Keith Mansfield and Peter Knight – best known for The Moody Blues’ “Days Of Future Past”, Derek Wadsworth and Jim Tyler.
What was the first Side – the first 6 tracks – are “up” - a mixture between pop, soul and Motown. Side Two is more varied – from jazz to folk and mellower. – “late-night listening” to quote Dusty. I think the first side is great. It starts with “Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone” – which was co-written by Norman Whitfield, Sylvia Moy and Cornelius Grant, which is what you would expect from Whitfield. Then is proof – if proof were needed of how good a singer Dusty Springfield was - “Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart” where Dusty compares very favourably with Irma Franklin and Janis Joplin. “Another Night” is by Bacharach & David, “Mr Dream Merchant” which Jerry Butler recorded originally and Madeline Bell had recorded in 1967 follow – both very good. Then there is Ashford & Simpson’s “I Cant Give Back The Love I Feel For You”. Now, I see that Wikipedia that the version on the CD of “Dusty…Definitely” that I have is the WRONG ONE! Whoever put the CD together used a 1998 remix. Oh well, I don’t know the original album so it doesn’t matter. It might if I had got the original vinyl record. The Side closes with “Love Power – which is terrific. So far so good.
What was Side 2 begins well, with a nice version of “This Girl’s In Love With You”. The sleeve notes say the hit was by Sacha Distel – I don’t think so! Herb Alpert did. Anyway Dusty does this Bacharach & David song very well. The next track, “I Only Wanna Laugh” I don’t like. – It reminds me far too much of Billy Cotton Band shows and all round family entertainment. Dusty says she did this and “This Girl’s In Love With You” when she did her club act. It sounds like it. Not good. Far better is Dusty’s version of “Who (Will Take My Place) ” by Charles Aznavour and even better than that is Dusty’s version of Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today” which is wonderful. “Morning (Bom Dia)” is a Brazilian song with English lyrics by Norma Tanega(more of her later) is very nice but the closing “Second Time Around” by Sammy Kahn & Jimmy Van Heusen ventures into the “Great American Song Book” and while Dusty could and did do that sort of thing extremely well, I can’t say I am that keen on it. Still 10 out of 12 is a very good hit rate and the two tracks I don’t like is down to my tastes than any fault in the performances. The album finishes with the sound of breaking glass – and that may be significant – but probably isn’t.
There are four additional tracks on the CD I have – issued in 2001. “No Stranger Am I” is a song by Norma Tanega with whom Dusty had a tempestuous relationship. Tanega is best known for “Walking My Cat Named Dog” and is a one-hit wonder but wrote several songs for Dusty and I seem to remember had a pretty good reputation. She remained friends with Dusty until Dusty died, tragically early, in 1999.
The next one, is another of those things that does not appeal to me – “Meditation” so I will move swiftly on to the last two songs – “The Colour Of Your Eyes” – a B-side and co-written by Tanega and finally Dusty’s version of “Spooky”, the B-side of “How Can I Be Sure” – released in 1970 but recorded in January 1968. It’s great.
“Dusty…Definitely” would be eclipsed by its predecessor but it’s a pretty good record. Finally, I know someone has an audio recording of Dusty singing “Mocking Bird” with Jimi Hendrix from her TV show. Sadly the BBC wiped the tape – it would be nice if it turns up at some point!
And the USA was about to become very important in Dusty Springfield’s career because in 1968, she signed to Atlantic Records in the States, while remaining on Philips in this country. Atlantic and Jerry Wexler had big plans for Dusty and by the time that “Dusty…Definitely” came out (November 1968), she was already working with Wexler, Arif Mardin & Tom Dowd on her masterpiece “Dusty In Memphis”. And Atlantic were not all keen to release British produced records – so “Dusty…Definitely” did not get an American release – until 1999 when some tracks appeared on the compilation – “Dusty In London”.
“Dusty…Definitely” is something of a transitional record. 12 tracks – selected by Dusty because she liked them. She also gets a co-production credit with veteran producer, Johnny Franz. Now Dusty Springfield was a perfectionist but she was also notoriously insecure about her voice, sexuality, just about everything. Jerry Wexler thought she had “A massive inferiority complex”. However, in 1968 she was on something of a roll, given the Atlantic deal and the TV show and this album reflects that. It is not in the same league as “Dusty In Memphis” but it is a pretty good record. I have no idea who plays on it – Wikipedia says Madeline Bell, Kay Garner & Lesley Duncan provided banking vocals. It is also fair to assume that John Paul Jones played bass as he arranged and conducted two of the tracks. Incidentally Dusty was apparently responsible for getting the band Jones was to find fame with, to Atlantic Records. They were, of course, Led Zeppelin. Other arrangers and conductors on the record are Keith Mansfield and Peter Knight – best known for The Moody Blues’ “Days Of Future Past”, Derek Wadsworth and Jim Tyler.
What was the first Side – the first 6 tracks – are “up” - a mixture between pop, soul and Motown. Side Two is more varied – from jazz to folk and mellower. – “late-night listening” to quote Dusty. I think the first side is great. It starts with “Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone” – which was co-written by Norman Whitfield, Sylvia Moy and Cornelius Grant, which is what you would expect from Whitfield. Then is proof – if proof were needed of how good a singer Dusty Springfield was - “Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart” where Dusty compares very favourably with Irma Franklin and Janis Joplin. “Another Night” is by Bacharach & David, “Mr Dream Merchant” which Jerry Butler recorded originally and Madeline Bell had recorded in 1967 follow – both very good. Then there is Ashford & Simpson’s “I Cant Give Back The Love I Feel For You”. Now, I see that Wikipedia that the version on the CD of “Dusty…Definitely” that I have is the WRONG ONE! Whoever put the CD together used a 1998 remix. Oh well, I don’t know the original album so it doesn’t matter. It might if I had got the original vinyl record. The Side closes with “Love Power – which is terrific. So far so good.
What was Side 2 begins well, with a nice version of “This Girl’s In Love With You”. The sleeve notes say the hit was by Sacha Distel – I don’t think so! Herb Alpert did. Anyway Dusty does this Bacharach & David song very well. The next track, “I Only Wanna Laugh” I don’t like. – It reminds me far too much of Billy Cotton Band shows and all round family entertainment. Dusty says she did this and “This Girl’s In Love With You” when she did her club act. It sounds like it. Not good. Far better is Dusty’s version of “Who (Will Take My Place) ” by Charles Aznavour and even better than that is Dusty’s version of Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today” which is wonderful. “Morning (Bom Dia)” is a Brazilian song with English lyrics by Norma Tanega(more of her later) is very nice but the closing “Second Time Around” by Sammy Kahn & Jimmy Van Heusen ventures into the “Great American Song Book” and while Dusty could and did do that sort of thing extremely well, I can’t say I am that keen on it. Still 10 out of 12 is a very good hit rate and the two tracks I don’t like is down to my tastes than any fault in the performances. The album finishes with the sound of breaking glass – and that may be significant – but probably isn’t.
There are four additional tracks on the CD I have – issued in 2001. “No Stranger Am I” is a song by Norma Tanega with whom Dusty had a tempestuous relationship. Tanega is best known for “Walking My Cat Named Dog” and is a one-hit wonder but wrote several songs for Dusty and I seem to remember had a pretty good reputation. She remained friends with Dusty until Dusty died, tragically early, in 1999.
The next one, is another of those things that does not appeal to me – “Meditation” so I will move swiftly on to the last two songs – “The Colour Of Your Eyes” – a B-side and co-written by Tanega and finally Dusty’s version of “Spooky”, the B-side of “How Can I Be Sure” – released in 1970 but recorded in January 1968. It’s great.
“Dusty…Definitely” would be eclipsed by its predecessor but it’s a pretty good record. Finally, I know someone has an audio recording of Dusty singing “Mocking Bird” with Jimi Hendrix from her TV show. Sadly the BBC wiped the tape – it would be nice if it turns up at some point!
Published
538 232-2 CD (2001)
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The modern opinion seems to be that beyond the appropriately celebrated Dusty in Memphis, the career of Dusty Springfield was little more than a brace of pop-hits, a handful of disappointing by comparison post-Memphis albums and a late-in-the-day collaboration with Pet Shop Boys. After her sad death there has been a little bit of career resurrection, but this has primarily focused on her Memphis recordings and the endless compilation of her pop hits.
All of this leaves the solid and enjoyable Dusty... Definitely in something of a limbo state, it being an unashamed pop album recorded just at the time when the popular format for music was graduating from the three minute single to the thirty five minute long player. As a result it’s not one thing or the other, being neither a promotional tool to back up singles, nor a definitive standalone statement of creativity. It’s just an album with songs on it, nothing more, nothing less.
As a pop album, the material on Dusty... Definitely isn’t as mature as her most critically acclaimed work, but it was still a step up from her big singles hits from earlier in the decade. Perhaps some of the arrangements are not as sophisticated as Dusty was perhaps hoping, but that doesn’t stop her putting in a top-draw performance herself throughout the album. This was always Dusty’s strength though, regardless of how lightweight or throwaway the actual song was, she always had the talent to make it sound amazing.
If you’re a Dusty Springfield fan, this is a great album that has been unfairly overshadowed. If you’re a 60s pop fan, then there’s much to enjoy here. If you just want the critics favourites you’re better off with a decent singles collection and Dusty in Memphis.
All of this leaves the solid and enjoyable Dusty... Definitely in something of a limbo state, it being an unashamed pop album recorded just at the time when the popular format for music was graduating from the three minute single to the thirty five minute long player. As a result it’s not one thing or the other, being neither a promotional tool to back up singles, nor a definitive standalone statement of creativity. It’s just an album with songs on it, nothing more, nothing less.
As a pop album, the material on Dusty... Definitely isn’t as mature as her most critically acclaimed work, but it was still a step up from her big singles hits from earlier in the decade. Perhaps some of the arrangements are not as sophisticated as Dusty was perhaps hoping, but that doesn’t stop her putting in a top-draw performance herself throughout the album. This was always Dusty’s strength though, regardless of how lightweight or throwaway the actual song was, she always had the talent to make it sound amazing.
If you’re a Dusty Springfield fan, this is a great album that has been unfairly overshadowed. If you’re a 60s pop fan, then there’s much to enjoy here. If you just want the critics favourites you’re better off with a decent singles collection and Dusty in Memphis.
Published
538 232-2 CD (2001)
Classy. Sophisticated. Cool. In total control. She's all of that and more. My late mothers favorite singer. We heard her a lot in my house, when I grew up. Lately I've been coming back to her. Sure beats the shit out of the Britneys and the Pinks of this world.
This is fine, fine album with superior songs and tasteful arrangements.
If you really want to get to know Dusty, this boxed set is close to perfect: Simply Dusty.
If you wish to sample the merchandise first, this in a fine primer: Goin' Back: The Very Best Of
This is fine, fine album with superior songs and tasteful arrangements.
If you really want to get to know Dusty, this boxed set is close to perfect: Simply Dusty.
If you wish to sample the merchandise first, this in a fine primer: Goin' Back: The Very Best Of
Published
Well this is "definitely" a pop album rather than the deep soul of the following "dusty in memphis" .
Whilst it doesnt arrive at the genius of that record "definitely" does show that dusty was at her best as a soul singer as the likes of "little piece of my heart" "love power" and "i cant give back" demonstrate . But she is nothing if not versatile and she can handle cabaret stuff like "morning" or MOR "this girls in love with you" "mr dream merchant" and interpret songwriters like randy newman pretty well .
I prefer dusty singing soul stuff to be honest ,but its an ok record - trivia fans might note some arrangements from pre led zep john paul jones.
Whilst it doesnt arrive at the genius of that record "definitely" does show that dusty was at her best as a soul singer as the likes of "little piece of my heart" "love power" and "i cant give back" demonstrate . But she is nothing if not versatile and she can handle cabaret stuff like "morning" or MOR "this girls in love with you" "mr dream merchant" and interpret songwriters like randy newman pretty well .
I prefer dusty singing soul stuff to be honest ,but its an ok record - trivia fans might note some arrangements from pre led zep john paul jones.
Published
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Pure class. One of the great sixties voices. The female equivalent of Scott Walker. That's really saying something!
Published
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