Mary Catherine Isobel Bernadette O'Brien. I suppose with a name like that you had to come up with something that would fit on a record label !!
Dusty dominated the 60s in one form or another. Along with her brother Tom (real name Dion) and firstly Tim Feild then Mike Hurst they had hits as The Springfields. 1962/63 saw 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles', 'Island of Dreams' and 'Say I Won't Be There' all being popular.
As a solo artist all through the 60s she was constantly on the charts with amazingly powerful stuff like 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', 'I Only Want To Be With You', 'Stay Awhile' .. so many great songs and her own TV musical variety series. Known for her distinctive look - bouffant/beehive hair and heavy eye make-up, she became an icon for the 'Mods'.
At the start of the 70s she was massive. Then, her sales slowed down, her releases didn't sell and even though she was still around, nothing much was happening. For a long time.
During the 70s and 80s she suffered from alcoholism, drug addiction, self-harm and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Although she had many relationships with women she struggled with the fear of losing her career if she was exposed.
Cut to 1987, almost 20 since the height of her fame. A collaboration with the massively popular Pet Shop Boys on 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' brought Dusty front and centre back into the limelight.
Like many people, I then started looking seriously at her back catalogue. I'd never collected her singles back in the day, so I started with compilations to fill the gaps. There was one album though that always had more weight, more reputation, more mythology than the others. A bit like 'Pet Sounds' by the Beach Boys or the Beatles 'Revolver' .. 'Dusty in Memphis' was too good, too different not be be included on it's own in any Dusty Springfield collection.
When the album was released in 1969 it was critically acclaimed but it bombed. It barely scraped into the US album charts at 99 and didn't make the British Top 40. It needed time and space and reflection before it gained it's title as one of the greatest albums of all time.
The most well known song from the album (originally written with Aretha Franklin in mind) is 'Son of a Preacher Man'.
'Breakfast in Bed' was written for Dusty by Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts and has a nod to one of her 60s biggest hits ..
"Breakfast in bed
And a kiss or three
* You don't have to say you love me *
Breakfast in bed
Nothing need be said
Ain't no need"
Although Dusty does a great version, the song probably became more well known when it was done by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde in 1988.
Dusty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994. After going into remission for a while it returned and Dusty passed away in 1999 just before her 60th birthday.
'Dusty in Memphis' is a landmark album. It went a long way to earning her the title "The Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul".
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