This is the
‘Definitively Dusty’
told by
Dusty Springfield herself through her own words...
(from unheard interviews
and broadcasts)
...and via her development in music, revealed by the exclusive archive of Dusty in the studio creating her music during her legendary recording sessions
'...such an amazing documentary, loved every second - a sentimental journey of everything I loved growing up … def a triumph, so visual it felt like watching a biopic - we need more serious music journalism like this …! honestly the most brilliant doc I have ever listened to.' BARKER EVANS
Dusty chatting about her early singing opportunities
Definitively Dusty
Episode 1: Island of Dreams
TX Date: 14 April 2019 on BBC Radio 2, at 9pm
Episode 2: A Brand New Me
TX Date: 21 April 2019 on BBC Radio 2, at 9pm
Episode 3: Reputation
TX Date: 28 April 2019 on BBC Radio 2, at 9pm
Presenter: Dusty in her own words
with Tris Penna
Co-Producers Tris Penna, Vicki Wickham &
Sue Clark:
Sound Designer:
Peregrine Andrews
Researcher: Paul Howes
Reporter: Christian John Wikane
Comms Producer:
Yvonne Macken
Contributors include: manager and best friend, Vicki Wickham, life-long PA Pat Rhodes, Lana Sister Lynne Essex, backing vocalist and friend Simon Bell, Bass player and Musical director Dougie Reece, singer song writer and friend, Nona Hendryx, singer Sandie Shaw, girlfriends and singer/songwriters Norma Tanega and Carole Pope and from the music industry: Simon Napier Bell, Jerry Greenberg, Gary Moore, Keith Altham, Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, Keith Mansfield, Kenny Gamble and Tom Shapiro along with author and Dusty uber-fan Paul Howes.
Norma Tanega recalls fond memories of first meeting Dusty and the fun parties they shared
Lynne Essex chats about Dusty and the Lana Sisters' treasured meeting with Nat King Cole
Dusty in the studio
EPISODE
1
Island of Dreams
SUNDAY 14 April 2019 - 9pm
Dusty’s Birthday is 16th April and this year if she were still alive she would be 80 on that date. Her fans gather every year on the nearest Sunday to that date, and this year ‘Dusty Day’ will also be marked by a new music documentary series for BBC Radio 2 produced by Sue Clark Productions.
Definitively Dusty is a three x 1 hour chronological documentary series which examines in detail the music, art and artistry of one of the greatest singers Britain has ever produced - Dusty Springfield. With access to hours of previously un-broadcast interviews with Dusty, and many new interviews with those who worked closely with her and her friends, Definitively Dusty includes a wealth of music including hitherto unreleased material from her recording sessions.
Dusty tells us about the musical influences of her childhood, listening to Carmen Miranda and MGM Musicals and how she played Belgravia supper clubs as a teenager. We hear from Lynne Essex, member of The Lana Sisters about Dusty’s audition for the band and talks about Dusty’s time in this all-girl vocal trio. We hear how Dusty left The Lana Sisters to form a folk trio with her brother Tom - The Springfields - who became very successful both in the UK and the USA. And it was on a trip to Nashville to record an album with The Springfields that Dusty, during a stop-over in New York, fell in love with black pop music. Dusty talks about the records she then heard in a Time Square record shop that went on to shape her whole career.
We hear from good friend and latter-day manager Vicki Wickham how she booked The Springfields onto a brand new pop TV programme Ready Steady Go! only to find out that the group were splitting up - and how Dusty became a compere and launched her debut solo hit I Only Want To Be With You. Dusty’s lifelong PA, Pat Rhodes tells us about the birth of Dusty’s solo career and how she was in the recording studio. Singer Sandie Shaw remembers how Dusty stood in for her during a performance of Always Something To Remind Me - and admires her exceptional taste in songs. 1960’s NME journalist and PR executive Keith Altham talks about Dusty’s love of soul music and we learn how Dusty was instrumental in helping to launch Motown in the UK.
Dusty tells us about enjoying the life of a successful artist and a mid sixties trip to Rio with her brother Tom, Madeline Bell and Martha Reeves and how the carnival music was unlike anything else she had ever heard.
Dougie Reece, the bassist from her backing band, The Echoes, tells us about the ill-fated concert trip to South Africa in 1964, when Dusty was deported back to the UK for refusing to play to segregated audiences.
Dusty talks about the San Remo festival and discovering a song Io No Vivo Senza Te - which she just knew would be a hit for her - and was to become her signature tune You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me.
BACK TO TOP
Dougie Reece on their audition in Wandsorth
Dusty on first hosting Ready Steady Go!
Definitively Dusty
Episode 1 – Island of Dreams
MUSIC PLAYLIST
You Don’t Have to say You Love Me
Jelly Roll Morton: Jelly Roll Blues
Son of a Preacher Man
Dusty & PSB: What Have I Done to deserve this?
Peggy Lee: Why Don’t You Do Right?
Peggy Lee: Till There Was You
Lana Sisters: You Got What It Takes
Lana Sisters: Mister Dee-Jay
Lana Sisters: You Got What It Takes
The Springfields: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena
Carmen Miranda: Chica Chica Bum Chic
The Springfields: Breakaway
The Weavers: Goodnight Irene
The Springfields: Caelito Lindo
The Springfields: Midnight Special
The Springfields: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
The Springfields: Island of Dreams
The Springfields: Little by Little
The Exciters: Tell Him
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make me Over
Baby Washington: That’s How Heartaches
Are Made
Garnett Mimms: It Was Easier to Hurt Her
It Was Easier to Hurt Him
Manfred Mann: 54321
(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me
Every Day I Have to Cry
Dusty & Martha and the Vandellas: Wishin’ & Hopin’
I Only Want to Be With You
Stay Awhile
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: Heatwave
Marvin Gaye: Hitchhike
The Temptations: The Way You Do The Things You Do
The Shirelles: Mama Said
Antonio Jobim: The Girl from Ipanema
Library music: Rio De Sambadrome
Little by Little
24 Hours from Tulsa
In the Middle of Nowhere
I Just Don’t Know What to do with Myself
You Don’t Own Me
Pino Donaggio – Lo No Vivo Senza Te
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
EPISODE
2
A Brand New Me
SUNDAY 21 April 2019 - 9pm
In programme 2, Dusty tells us how Mary O’Brien 'becomes' Dusty Springfield and we hear about her goofy sense of humour and parties she threw in the 1960s. She was voted World’s Best Female Vocalist for several years in succession and we learn how she began to exercise artistic control in the studio and choose the material that she sang. Dusty speaks about her love for Bacharach and David and how her recordings of Carole King songs landed her with her sought after contract to record in America with Atlantic Records. We hear from Atlantic Records executive Jerry Greenberg how the songs were chosen for the 'Dusty in Memphis' album and fascinatingly how Dusty herself was the instigator in getting Led Zeppelin signed to the label. We hear in detail about Dusty's A Brand New Me album sessions from Philadelphia producer and songwriter Kenny Gamble.
We discover how, in 1970, Dusty made the very brave decision to come out as bisexual in the British press - something which made her an unwitting LGBT pioneer - and how she came to the decision to live permanently in California, thinking that it would open up a new career for her. After a couple of years of inactivity in the USA, we hear how Dusty started to make music once again - songwriter Nona Hendryx talks about writing for Dusty and we hear all about Dusty’s performances at Drury Lane and the Royal Albert Hall. Girlfriend Carole Pope talks about Dusty’s daring artistic qualities and writing songs for her - Dusty’s Standing Now So Low, it was for an album that was unreleased in the UK at the time.
BACK TO TOP
Definitively Dusty
Episode 2– A Brand New Me
MUSIC PLAYLIST
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
Some of Your Lovin’
Give Me Time
The Goons - Ying Tong Song
I’ll Try Anything
Midnight Sounds
I’ve Been Wrong Before
The Sand Pebbles – Love Power
Love Power
I Close My Eyes & Count to Ten
Am I the Same Girl
The Colour of Your Eyes
I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Some of Your Lovin’
Goin’ Back
Memphis Horns – Soul Bowl
Just One Smile
Son of a Preacher Man
Breakfast in Bed
A Brand New Me (instrumental)
Star of My Show
A Brand New Me
Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love
MGM fanfare - from Dusty’s Shirley Temple sketch from Live at Talk of the Town – BBC 15 Sept 1968
Diana Dors – So Little Time
On the Good Ship Lollipop (Live at
Talk of the Town – BBC 15 Sept 1968)
I Start Counting (instrumental)
Yesterday When I Was Young
What Good is I Love You? (instrumental)
Take Me to the Pilot (Live)
The Look of Love (instrumental)
Who Gets Your Love?
That’s the Kind of Love
Checkmate
I’m Coming Home Again
60s Medley (live) – Stay Awhile/
I Only Wanna Be With You/ Close My Eyes & Count to Ten
Soft Core
Quiet Please There’s a Lady on Stage
EPISODE
3
Reputation
Sunday 28 April 2019 - 9pm
In the final programme we hear how life in California didn’t go as well as Dusty had expected and we hear how depression, addiction and self-harming plagued her for much of her life. In the late 80s, the UK saw a revival of 60s nostalgia in music, fashion and across the media, and 60s performers were regarded as respected states people. The Pet Shop Boys were the first to work with their 60s idol – Dusty Springfield; and Neil & Chris and Dusty talk about how they came to work together. We hear how she was in the studio and the way she perfected her sound. Dusty tells us how she had wanted to record in Nashville and about the album A Very Fine Love. Producer Tom Shapiro tells us how Dusty loved the song selection and the musicians but was self-conscious of her voice and would turn the headphones up so loud she couldn’t hear herself. He said that despite Dusty’s doubts her performances were outstanding. PA Pat Rhodes went on that trip with Dusty and recalls how she had a lot of problems with her voice which led them to seeking medical advice. It was this doctor who suggested she get checked out on her return to England and test results revealed cancer. Dusty underwent radio therapy and the cancer went into remission and she was able to promote the A Very Fine Love album with a special appearance on Later with Jools Holland accompanied by Alison Moyet and Sinead O’Connor. Sadly this proved to be her last album as cancer recurred and Dusty died in March 1999 at the age of 59. Gone but certainly not forgotten, we hear how her music continues to spread and many of her close friends and colleagues talk about her lasting legacy and their favourite songs.
Dusty wished that she could have retired and opened an upmarket cattery with Pat! However with that voice that wouldn’t have been possible – her music lives on now and forever...
BACK TO TOP
Definitively Dusty
Episode 3– Reputation
MUSIC PLAYLIST
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty - What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Wherever Would I Be?
Sometimes Like Butterflies.
But It’s A Nice Dream.
In the Winter
Allee Willis & PSB (demo) – What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty – What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Nothing Has Been Proved
Occupy Your Mind
In Private
Reputation
Daydreaming
Arrested By You
Son of a Preacher Man
Millicent Martin – I’m Still Here
A Very Fine Love
Roll Away
All I Have To Offer You Is Love
Go Easy On Me
Dusty & Daryl Hall - Wherever Would I Be
Dusty, K.T. Oslin & Mary Chapin Carpenter - Where is a Woman to Go?
Soft Core
Goin’ Back (instrumental)
Spooky
Live it Up
I Had a Talk with My Man
If You Go Away
I Don’t Want to Hear It Any More
I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love
The Look of Love
Goin’ Back
BACK TO TOP