Parere personale. Si è parlato troppo (talvolta inappropriatamente) e scritto veramente poco in occasione del decimo anniversario dalla scomparsa di De Andrè. A tal proposito avrei voluto inventarmi una pagina geniale, ma non conoscendo nel dettaglio l'opera del cantautore genovese, ho preferito declinare nella speranza che qualcuno lo faccia al mio posto.

Tuttavia è sempre la ricorrenza di un altro triste anniversario a spingermi a scrivere di un' artista a me altrettanto cara che è riuscita ad impreziosire, in maniera a volte frizzante, a volte con colori intrisi di malinconia, sorprendenti paesaggi in musica. Mi riferisco a Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), personaggio icona in patria (inglese di Londra) dal timbro inconfondibile, esplosa in piena british invasion (quella dei Beatles per intenderci), che, a partire dagli anni sessanta allo stesso modo della Mina nazionale e di Dalida, riuscì a trasformare complesse partiture, a firma dei più grandi nomi dell'epoca, in brani accessibili e di ampio respiro. In una parola: Pop di altissimo livello.

Etichettata già al suo esordio da urlatrice in "I Only Want To Be With You" come prima vera voce soul bianca, Dusty si distinse per peculiarità timbrica ed impeccabile consapevolezza tecnica, nonché, e da non sottovalutare, grandissimo allure e fascino-persona. Dispiace, infatti, riconoscere che nonostante le numerosissime interpretazioni la cui voce rimanda, l' immagine di Dusty, donna delicata e raffinata, abbia fatto breccia in maniera meno incisiva rispetto alle canzoni.

Fortunatamente, a ridare giusto equilibrio fra queste imprescindibili metà, ci pensa la raccolta "Simply... Dusty" (2006) splendidamente curata, sia nella scelta delle canzoni, che nell'apparato fotografico-narrativo. Quattro cd ed un book per dare merito ad un'artista che, oltre ad essere stata esempio altissimo di un fare musica nel massimo rispetto di autori ( ricordiamo fra gli altri Bacharach, Wrexler, King, Newman, Bergman, Costello...) ed ascoltatori, ha rappresentato quella parte di Englishness tutta charme ed eleganza che veniva con successo esportata assieme ai baronetti.

Il supporto fonografico ripercorre, lungo quattro cd, la carriera di Dusty, dagli esordi col fratello nei The Springfields al primo solo in Denim (la copertina, ricordate?) di "A Girl Called Dusty"; dalla fase melò-orchestrale di "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" alla magniloquenza di "Son Of A Preacher Man" (Dusty... in Memphis), dalla sobrietà del Philly Sound ("From Dusty With Love") alla misconosciuta grandezza di "Cameo". Dal buio dei tardi anni settanta alla riscoperta in salsa synth-pop di "Reputation" firmata Pet shop Boys.

Novantotto brani (!) fra discografia ufficiale ed un-released (bellissimi i quattro estratti dal mai realizzato "Longing" e la versione di "You've got a friend") a dimostrarci quanto i commenti in appendice (Costello, Midler, King, E. John, Pet shop Boys, B. Bacharach, McCartney, The Carpenters, P.Clark, Cliff Richard) siano sinceri e partecipi nel raccontare l'affezione verso una straordinaria interprete scomparsa troppo prematuramente.

Mai come in questo caso mi sento di consigliare questa raccolta che riunisce splendidi classici (Losing You, Wishin' and Hopin', I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, The Look Of Love, All Cried Out, Doodlin', See All Her Faces, Am I The Same Girl, Going Back,...) ad un apparato fotografico-documentale ricco e complementare.

Questa volta la musica e le immagini davvero si fondono sincronicamente alfine di illustrare frammenti importanti di costume e storia musicale. Una storia che indubbiamente non sarebbe stata la stessa senza la voce "polverosa" ed il meraviglioso vibrato di Dusty Springfield.

P.S. Per chi non conoscesse Dusty Springfield questa raccolta (a prezzo molto contenuto) rappresenta un acquisto definitivo. Per chi invece volesse anche approfondire suggerirei senza dubbio l'ascolto di: "Dusty In Memphis" (1968), "A girl Called Dusty" (1964), e "Cameo" (1973).

Elenco tracce testi e video

01   Dusty Springfield (01:54)

02   Ragtime Selection (02:27)

03   The Lane Sisters / (Seven Little Girls) Sitting on the Back Seat (02:14)

04   The Springfields / Far Away Places (02:53)

05   The Springfields / Island of Dreams (02:38)

06   The Springfields / Say I Won't Be There (02:52)

07   The Springfields / No Sad Songs for Me (02:59)

08   I Only Want to Be With You (02:37)

09   Once Upon a Time (01:54)

10   Stay Awhile (01:57)

Stay awhile, let me hold you
Stay awhile, 'til I've told you, oh, oh
Of the love that I feel tonight, oh yeah

Stay awhile, what's your hurry?
Stay awhile, 'cause I worry, oh
Any time that you're out of sight

I hate to see you go
Tell you what I'll do
I'll be good to you
I'll make you glad that you are mine
So come on baby

Treat me right, must you run now?


For the night's just begun now, oh
Honey please, won't you stay awhile with me?, oh yeah, yeah

Oh, I hate to see you go
Tell you what I'll do
I'll be good to you
I'll make you glad that you are mine
So come on baby

Treat me right, must you run now?
For the night's just begun now, oh
Honey please, won't you stay awhile with me?, oh yeah, yeah
Stay awhile with me

11   Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (02:40)

12   Wishin' and Hopin' (02:56)

Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreaming each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms

So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care

Show him that you care just for him
And do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and a-hopin'

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart

So if you're thinkin' heartbreak
True love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his

(You gotta)
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and a-hopin'

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart

So if you're thinkin' heartbreak
True love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his

13   I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself (03:05)

I just don't know what to do with myself
Don't know just what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through

I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you
I just don't know what to do

Like a summer rose
Needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love
To beat all the pain

I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do

Like a summer rose
It needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love
To beat all the pain

I don't know just what to do with myself
I don't know just what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come on back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do

No, no, no, I don't know what else to do
I'm still so crazy for you

No no no no, I don't know what else to do.. no no no..

14   All Cried Out (03:05)

(Kaye / Philinger)

I stayed up cryin' all night (all night)
I knew the end was in sight (in sight)
And now you're walkin' out on me (on me)
You're wonderin' where the little tears can be (can be)
Well, baby....

I'm all cried out, I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now, that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you

Last night I knew we were through (we're through)
It hurt 'cause I still loved you (loved you)
Went home and couldn't fall asleep (asleep)
'Cause sleep just won't come into eyes that weep (that weep)
And that's why....

I'm all cried out, I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you, oh yeah

I'm all cried out
I just cant cry no more, no, no
No, no, no, no, oh
All cried out
And that's why....

I'm all cried out, yes I'm all cried out
All my little tears are all dried out, oh yeah
Now that you say we're through
I'm all cried out over you

Listen to me when I'm a-gonna say
I'm all cried out, yeah, over you
Listen to me when I'm a-tellin' you
I'm all cried out, yeah, over you
Over you

15   Losing You (03:02)

(Tom Springfield / Clive Westlake)

How many tears do you cry
If love should break your heart in two?
How many tears will I cry
Now that I know I'm losing you?

I can't stop wanting you
And no matter what you do
You're still a part of me
Even though I'm losing you, oh

How many years will go by
Before my heart begins to mend?
Waiting and wondering why
I never thought our love could end

I try forgetting you
But you're still here on my mind
It would take a miracle
But someday maybe I'll find

That I'm in the loving arms of someone
That I'll know, know he's the someone
Who'll kiss all the heartache away
And come that day
I won't mind losing you

Yes, I try forgettin' you
But you're still here on my mind
It would take, yeah, a miracle
But someday maybe I'll find

That I'm in the loving arms of someone
That I'll know, know he's the someone
Who'll kiss all the heartache away
And when he comes to me that day
I won't mind losing you, oh, oh
I won't mind losing you, yeah
I won't mind losing you

16   Summer Is Over (03:45)

(Tom Springfield / Clive Westlake)

The night runs away with the day
The grass that was green is now hay
The world goes around without even a sound
And it looks like the summer is over

The rains tumble down in the sky
Young swallows have learned how to fly
The leaves that were green are no longer so green
And it looks like the summer is over

The sun and the moon take turns in the sky
The days drift on by too soon
The meadows are kissed by a cool autumn mist
Far away now is June

The birds fly away to the sun
The leaves touch the ground one by one
The breeze hurries by without even goodbye
And it looks like the summer is over

The sun and the moon take turns in the sky
The days drift on by too soon
The meadows are kissed by a cool autumn mist
Far away now is June

The birds fly away to the sun
The leaves touch the ground one by one
The breeze hurries by without even goodbye
And it looks like the summer is over

And it looks like the summer is over

17   I Will Always Want You (03:36)

18   Your Hurtin' Kinda Love (02:40)

19   I Wanna Make You Happy (02:27)

20   In the Middle of Nowhere (02:48)

(by Buddy Kaye / Bea Verdi)

Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
Will it soon pass me by?
In the middle of nowhere

Baby, won't you tell me
What am I to do?
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Getting nowhere with you

Mmm, where did my heart land?
In the middle of nowhere
Where are the dreams I planned?
In the middle of nowhere

Listen to me baby
Listen to my plea
I'm in the middle of nowhere
And it's worrying me

Over and over again
You tell me you need my love
If what you say is true
Why can't we be together?

Over and over you tell me
I'm all that you're thinking of
Baby you know that I love you
But I can't wait forever

Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
How can you let it die?
In the middle of nowhere

Are you gonna leave me?
Leave my heart astray
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Come and show me the way

Over and over again
You tell me you need my love
Baby you know that I love you
But I can't wait forever

Where does our love lie?
In the middle of nowhere
How can you let it die?
In the middle of nowhere

Are you gonna leave me
And leave my heart astray
I'm in the middle of nowhere
Come and show me the way

Hey, where does out love lie?
Come on now
Where does our love lie?
Right slap in the middle of nowhere
Right slap in the middle of nowhere
Right slap in the middle of nowhere

21   Baby Don't You Know (02:50)

22   Some of Your Lovin' (03:04)

Gerry Goffin / Carole King)

You gotta give me some
Give me some of your lovin'
You gotta give me some of your lovin'

Now I'm not a greedy girl
I don't need the world
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh, oh, oh, oh

Now I don't expect you to guarantee
Your faith and devotion to only me
I'm aware you got a lot of wild oats to sow
But baby when I need you
Don't you tell me no

You gotta give me some
(Give me some of your lovin')
Oh yes you do now
You gotta give me some of your lovin'

Now I'm not a jealous child
My demands are mild
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I know a man likes to feel that he's been around
Before he decides to settle down
I've no doubt
Some day you're gonna feel that way too
But baby, just remember
(Until you do)

You gotta give me some
(Give me some of your lovin')
Oh yes you do now
I mean to tell you
(You gotta give me some)
Of your lovin'

Now I'm not a greedy girl
I don't need the world
(Just give me some)
Some of your lovin' now, oh oh, oh, oh

You gotta give me some, some of your lovin'
I mean to tell you
(You gotta give me some of your lovin')
Oh, don't forget about me now
I mean to tell you, oh
Ah, you gotta give me some of your lovin'
Some of your lovin'

23   Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)? (03:25)

24   Doodlin' (02:48)

25   I've Been Wrong Before (02:24)

26   Little by Little (02:19)

(Buddy Kaye / Bea Verdi)

Little by little by little by little by little
Little by little by little by little by little

You're messing up my life
Tearing me apart
Breaking up my world
And I'm giving up my heart
Little by little by little by little

I'm losing all my pride
It's really getting bad
Hurting deep inside
Is a-making me go mad, ooh
Little by little by little by little

Little by little
Bit by bit
I'm going crazy and you're causing it
Little by little
Bit by bit
I should stop caring
But my love won't quit

Little by little by little by little by little, yeah
Little by little by little by little by little, all right

I don't know where to turn
Don't know what to do
I'm walking on thin ice
And it seems I'm falling through, ooh
Little by little by little by little

Little by little
Bit by bit
I'm going crazy and you're causing it
Little by little
Bit by bit
I should stop caring
But my love won't quit

I'm the queen of fools
Know the deck is stacked
On a losing streak
But I'm a-gonna get you back

Little by little by little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Yeah, little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Ah, ah, ah, little by little
(Little by little by little by little by little)
Little by little, mmm
(Little by little by little by little by...)

27   If It Hadn't Been for You (02:26)

28   You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (02:50)

29   Every Ounce of Strength (02:20)

Carico i commenti...  con calma