The Best Of Dusty Springfield: 20th Century Masters (Millennium Collection)
There are many facets to Dusty Springfield's career, and this brief set tells only part of the story. But for as much as it takes on--Springfield's hits from the start of her solo career up to (but not including) her triumphant soul album,Dusty in Memphis--it shows an artist of immense talent, range, and self-assurance. From the start, Springfield was very selective about her material, but the songs that she did choose she was able to make utterly her own--"I Only Want to Be with You," an homage to the great girl-group records produced by Phil Spector; her ultra-sultry reading ofBacharach/David's "The Look of Love"; her dynamic, sexually direct take on "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me."The Very Best of Dusty Springfieldoffers a more generous selection of cuts for a few extra bucks, but there's much to recommend this one, too.--Daniel Durchholz