"... a welcome addition to the documentation of mid-'60s music...this set is a giant leap forward from the usual fare, which has tended to be thin on footage and way too long on a short list of talking heads. Indeed, British Invasion's chief assets are the abundance and quality of its visuals and the insights and brevity of its commentaries (from artists and associates-no critics)...Two thumbs up." --SonicBoomers.com, Gene Sculatti, March 5, 2010"And what audio/visual treats these discs are! Meticulously researched and packaged, expertly restored and annotated and whenever possible hosted by many of the actual participants themselves, the songs and stories flow in never less than quick, LOUD frenzies so perfectly reminiscent of those once-Swinging Sixties themselves...this is one British Invasion which truly concentrates, as all such documentaries should but seldom do, on the MUSIC." --thecelebritycafe.com, Gary Pig Gold, March 22, 2010"Born in the U.K. and baptized in Memphis as the queen of blue-eyed soul, chanteuse Dusty Springfield left an indelible mark on pop music in the mid-20th century.  With her ascent, the ex cathedra roster of legitimate soul musicians was suddenly coed, and Springfield cooly on-upped the old boys' club with her charming stage presence and booming brassy alto.  Once Upon a Time, one of the first released in a planned 'British Invasion' series serves as a workmanlike overview of Springfield's career.  This collection spans 20 live song (including the legendary '68 performance of "Son of a Preacher Man" on the Ed Sullivan Show), and a trove of interviews and other archival footage.  Despite slick editing, the presentation suffers from the grainy and faded quality of the source material, but even these ostensible flaws have their own vintage charms.  And most tellingly, those four decades' worth of pops and hisses haven't softened Springfield's stentorian, force-of-will vocals one bit." -MICHAEL SABA --Paste, May/June 2010The year parameters in the title of the performance-driven DVD Dusty Springfield: Once Upon a Time 1964-1969 (Voyage Digital Media/Reelin' in the Years) are somewhat misleading. Especially since the DVD opens with a 1978 interview with Miss Springfield on what appears to be a cable access program, Ryan's Roost. Nevertheless, the interview functions as a suitable jumping-off point, allowing the diva with the distinctive voice an opportunity to reminisce about her career. Hearing her talk about fashion and sense of style is quite informative. Springfield, who never thought she was sexy, described herself as "the Dolly Parton of the 1960s," and went on to say that "drag queens loved me." From there we are treated to performance clips from the 60s, including The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 ("All Cried Out") and an extended sequence from the New Music Express poll winners' concert (where she regularly performed throughout the 60s as the honor was repeatedly bestowed upon her). There is also an interview clip from 1964 regarding the famous anti-apartheid clause in her contract. Interviews with backing vocalists Madeline Bell (1965-69) and Simon Bell (1978-99) provide intimate insight into Springfield's gifts as a performer and songwriter, as well as her skills as a producer in the recording studio. Ms. Bell is also featured in some of the performance footage, where she shared backing vocal duties with Kiki Dee and Lesley Duncan. Composer Burt Bacharach is also featured prominently in recent interviews where he sings Springfield's praises. Clips from a 1970 Bacharach TV special, including a performance of "A House Is Not a Home," are quite entertaining. DVD bonus features include the ability to view all 20 complete musical performances minus the interviews, and a 24-page supplementary booklet. The visual performance component of the music of the 1960s appears to be undergoing a resurgence in popularity, as the DVD of The T.A.M.I. Show (Shout Factory) demonstrates. Described as the "first concert movie of the rock era," the black-and-white 1964 movie featured Jan and Dean as hosts (and later performers). Without much fanfare, the duo introduced the acts, including Chuck Berry, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore (who later came out as a lesbian), The Beach Boys, The Supremes, James Brown and The Rolling Stones. In addition to reminding us how hot Jan Berry, Marvin Gaye, Mick Jagger and Dennis Wilson (of The Beach Boys) were, the movie includes scantily clad women and their male counterparts doing the hip dance steps of the era on platforms or on the stage alongside the performers. DVD bonus features include the original T.A.M.I. Show radio spots, commentary by director Steve Binder and more. --Bay Area Reporter, Gregg Shapiro, March 4, 2009