Rating: 
Summary: Dusty on DVD!
Review: At long last a DVD of one of the all time great vocalist. The great thing about this DVD is that you get full clips and not just bits and pieces. There is also some great interview footage that gives you more of an inside to this musical icon. When Dusty Springfield sang a song she was always able to make it her own.
Rating:
Summary: Video of Dusty! First time on DVD.
Review: Finally we see 17 of Dusty's television performances in their full run. Previously some clips have been on the Full Circle tape, but now we can see the whole song. A bonus too, there are a few interview clips with Dusty from the late 60's. Praise for Petula Clark and B. J. Thomas who contribute commentary. You will love the performances, and maybe giggle at the clothes, but for a true Dusty fan we will lovingly take every moment on this DVD. We can only hope it sells well, and the owner of Dusty's television shows (yes folks, Dusty had 3 television series in the UK) will release them restored like Pioneer did with Judy Garland. Dusty Springfield was an icon, and if you did not see her television performances, you really need to see this.
Rating:
Summary: Video of Dusty! First time on DVD.
Review: Finally we see 17 of Dusty's television performances in their full run. Previously some clips have been on the Full Circle tape, but now we can see the whole song. A bonus too, there are a few interview clips with Dusty from the late 60's. Praise for Petula Clark and B. J. Thomas who contribute commentary. You will love the performances, and maybe giggle at the clothes, but for a true Dusty fan we will lovingly take every moment on this DVD. We can only hope it sells well, and the owner of Dusty's television shows (yes folks, Dusty had 3 television series in the UK) will release them restored like Pioneer did with Judy Garland. Dusty Springfield was an icon, and if you did not see her television performances, you really need to see this.
Rating: 
Summary: Leaves You Wanting More
Review: From the other reviews, I expected this to be largely a compilation of lip-synching performances, but that's not really the case. Many are live, and one is a duet with Engelbert Humperdinck, and it's great to have several songs--"Since I Fell For You," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and "People Get Ready"--that don't appeaar on the albums. I also don't object to the commentary by B. J. Thomas and Petula Clark, both of whom are clearly fans. Yes, the comments are sometimes superficial, but Petula, at least, does provide some special insights into backstage Dusty, and there's at least one anecdote concerning San Remo that I hadn't heard before. No, what we have is fine, especially the comments from Dusty herself, although I would love to see more. And that's the problem; I can't help but feel that the producers of this DVD could have come up with more of the goods. I'm not just thinking of performance clips, although her duet with Scot Walker on "Let It Be Me" or anything with the Springfields or the Pet Shop Boys would have been welcome; rather, I'd like to have seen this material coupled with the 1999 BBC documentary. It's a marvelous 58 minutes that includes commentary from close associates like Vicki Wickham and Pat Rhodes. Oh, well, I guess that's for another DVD. In the meantime, I'm happy to have "Refelctions"--as magical an hour as you're likely to spend with Britain's greatest female pop singer.
Rating:
Summary: Leaves You Wanting More
Review: From the other reviews, I expected this to be largely a compilation of lip-synching performances, but that's not really the case. Many are live, and one is a duet with Engelbert Humperdinck, and it's great to have several songs--"Since I Fell For You," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and "People Get Ready"--that don't appeaar on the albums. I also don't object to the commentary by B. J. Thomas and Petula Clark, both of whom are clearly fans. Yes, the comments are sometimes superficial, but Petula, at least, does provide some special insights into backstage Dusty, and there's at least one anecdote concerning San Remo that I hadn't heard before. No, what we have is fine, especially the comments from Dusty herself, although I would love to see more. And that's the problem; I can't help but feel that the producers of this DVD could have come up with more of the goods. I'm not just thinking of performance clips, although her duet with Scot Walker on "Let It Be Me" or anything with the Springfields or the Pet Shop Boys would have been welcome; rather, I'd like to have seen this material coupled with the 1999 BBC documentary. It's a marvelous 58 minutes that includes commentary from close associates like Vicki Wickham and Pat Rhodes. Oh, well, I guess that's for another DVD. In the meantime, I'm happy to have "Refelctions"--as magical an hour as you're likely to spend with Britain's greatest female pop singer.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: I could not be more pleased with this DVD. There are a few songs I had not heard before but they are all great. One particular song I had not heard before is "Losing You." This song alone is worth the price of the DVD. It has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. I ran out and bought a Dusty Springfield CD just so I could listen to it in my car. If you are a Dusty Springfield fan you must get this DVD. If you are not a fan get it and you will be.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD of a magnificent talent
Review: I discovered the unforgettable song 'Son of a Preacher Man' as a child, thirty-plus years ago, and was just riveted. This song is one of those recorded live on this excellent collection, and it apparently features, off-screen, the great musicians that backed her up on the immortal "Dusty in Memphis" album. The rendition is so good, the DVD is worth it for this bit of heavenly bliss alone. It is soulful, beautiful, and passionate. While the disc is brief, at only one hour, to see the legendary singer perform her songs is just fantastic. (And I'm not one to be impressed with 'legend' status; to me all musicians have to prove themselves every time, not rest on their laurels). At several points in the live recorded songs, her singing sends shivers down your spine. As for the lip-synched songs, about half the total, they are nevertheless enjoyable, at least for their musical merit as good songs, but also for a time-capsule style glimpse of the television shows she had, and the look of the period. Hosts B.J. Thomas and Petula Clark offer very insightful and interesting commentary on Dusty's music, thereby providing perspectives on her art, influences, and stature as a singer in the USA and Britain. It is clear throughout the interviews with them that they have enormous reverence for Springfield as an artist. Interviews with DS herself are a great bonus. I have to stop here a moment to mention that there is something otherworldly, intensely beautiful, about the best of Dusty Springfield's music (as if I have to mention that to those who are familiar with her work), that is captured at times in the live renditions here.
Many, many, MANY thanks to those that made this available on DVD, and to B.J. Thomas and Petula Clark for their fine input. Dusty Springfield was much bigger in the United Kingdom than in the USA, and I hope that more of her video material will be released on DVD for the benefit (and education) of people around the world, especially now that she is gone. There is even film footage of Dusty Springfield with Jimi Hendrix, on a VHS available in the UK. I'd like to see that made available on DVD. Another thing worth mentioning, something I've noticed over many years, and in different countries, and across cultures and generations; people of ALL ages and backgrounds are gripped by her music. Try it yourself; find someone who's never heard her music, play them one of her better songs, and watch their reaction.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD of a magnificent talent
Review: It's about time Dusty gets her due on DVD! What took so long? The delay was purely criminal. In any case, perhaps my anticipation and excitement at the first release of Dusty on DVD will cloud my judgement of this 1 hour program that includes full length performances of 17 of Dusty's TV appearances. However, BEWARE, only about 1/2 of the songs performed are performed LIVE, the other half (mostly those from a Dutch program recorded in the early 70s) are just Dusty lip-syching to her records. Now, while it's fascinating to watch Dusty perform (especially in some of the weird settings and even weirder outfits/wigs the Diva dons), whether it be live or lip-synching, nothing compares to the real thing. Part of the excitement in having this DVD is in hearing her live takes of such amazing hits as "Son of A Preacher Man", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", "Losing You", "The Look of Love"(just 1 verse though) and many others. However, there still are 2 absolutely brilliant, stand-out moments on this DVD. The first is the live version of "Since I Fell For You", which Dusty makes totally her own. (I totally forgot who sang it originally) The second is her even better live take on "People Get Ready". Such subtlety, such nuance, such sensitivity! I can't think of another singer who has taken a much overplayed and covered song and made it so fresh and new and yet so heartfelt. Dusty bares her soul completely, and this is what made her special. The commentary between songs by Petula Clark and B.J. Thomas is nice, but nothing special. The interview clips with Dusty throughout the years are much more interesting, although the ones from the Dutch TV show are disturbing to watch, because she doesn't seem to be all there. This DVD is a good start, but in no way does it represent the full majesty of Dusty's abilities with an audience and in a live setting. We have to wait (and hope) for the DVD release of her 1979 Royal Albert Hall concert to begin to feel the full effect of Dusty's magic. The next step would be to release all her BBC and ITV shows from the mid 60s. Until then, this will have to do us. I give it 5 stars just because I'm glad it's out there.
Rating:
Summary: Dusty-FINALLY on DVD!
Review: It's about time Dusty gets her due on DVD! What took so long? The delay was purely criminal. In any case, perhaps my anticipation and excitement at the first release of Dusty on DVD will cloud my judgement of this 1 hour program that includes full length performances of 17 of Dusty's TV appearances. However, BEWARE, only about 1/2 of the songs performed are performed LIVE, the other half (mostly those from a Dutch program recorded in the early 70s) are just Dusty lip-syching to her records. Now, while it's fascinating to watch Dusty perform (especially in some of the weird settings and even weirder outfits/wigs the Diva dons), whether it be live or lip-synching, nothing compares to the real thing. Part of the excitement in having this DVD is in hearing her live takes of such amazing hits as "Son of A Preacher Man", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", "Losing You", "The Look of Love"(just 1 verse though) and many others. However, there still are 2 absolutely brilliant, stand-out moments on this DVD. The first is the live version of "Since I Fell For You", which Dusty makes totally her own. (I totally forgot who sang it originally) The second is her even better live take on "People Get Ready". Such subtlety, such nuance, such sensitivity! I can't think of another singer who has taken a much overplayed and covered song and made it so fresh and new and yet so heartfelt. Dusty bares her soul completely, and this is what made her special. The commentary between songs by Petula Clark and B.J. Thomas is nice, but nothing special. The interview clips with Dusty throughout the years are much more interesting, although the ones from the Dutch TV show are disturbing to watch, because she doesn't seem to be all there. This DVD is a good start, but in no way does it represent the full majesty of Dusty's abilities with an audience and in a live setting. We have to wait (and hope) for the DVD release of her 1979 Royal Albert Hall concert to begin to feel the full effect of Dusty's magic. The next step would be to release all her BBC and ITV shows from the mid 60s. Until then, this will have to do us. I give it 5 stars just because I'm glad it's out there.
Rating:
Summary: Reflections/ Dusty Springfield
Review: This DVD release compiles seventeen video performances by the legendary British pop diva Dusty Springfield. More than half of them are lifted from her second TV series in England. She looks the same (except for changes in dress), and she seems to lip sync to the recording. The remaining clips are extracted from her appearances on other variety shows. "I Only Want To Be With You" from "The Ed Sullivan Show", "I Wanna Be A Free Girl" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" from "The Engelbert Humperdinck Show", "Son of a Preacher Man" from "The Tom Jones Show", "Losing You" and "You Don't To Say You Love Me" from her first TV series (in B&W). "Wishin' and Hopin'" is from an early seventies show. Dusty sings live in these performances. She is simply fascinating to watch, and commentary from Petula Clark and B J Thomas was far more interesting than I expected. Dusty's fans will relish this release. Hopefully, more will follow.
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