Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Hello Old Thing, Hello New Thing:
"Motown" Special

Dusty Springfield: Uptight (Everything's Alright) (BBC Session, 1966)
Of course, it's actually more Faux-town than Motown, but you see where we're going with this. Anyway, I've been listening to this great Dusty Springfield compilation for a few weeks, but her Stevie Wonder cover is the one I keep going back to and not just because of the fantastic Brian Matthew intro. I think Dusty's version is actually better than Stevie's. Which is sort of ridiculous, but it's also true. Oh yes.


Hello Saferide: I Was Definitely Made For These Times (Regal, 2007)
Annika Norlin - she is Mrs Saferide - says, "My aim with this was to write a song that was both stupid and smart at the same time, in true Motown style." So there's my link. I think Norlin is a tremendous pop explosion just waiting to happen. How can anyone - anyone - not love a song that sounds like the ecstatic first night of the summer holiday of your dreams, mentions bad nutrition and High Fidelity before promising, "I'll not commit to you, but I will hold you when you cry"? Hmm? Answer me that...

Enjoy!

13 comments:

James Franco said...

Dusty better than Stevie???

Wash your mouth out with soap and water young man!

Rob said...

Dusty squashes all-comers under foot, James!

Simon said...

I love HS. She's everything a pop star should be - full of great songs and loads of fun.

Her band member Maia Harasawa is pretty good. If they could just change their names world domination would surely follow.........

Tony said...

Rob - does 'The Word' want to sell ice cream on its stand at the Cornbury Festival? It can be arranged.

Rob said...

Simon: She is - you're right! Do you know Ms Harasawa?

Tony: We might do - email me...

Silvana said...

She sings it a million times better than Stevie!

Simon said...

Not personally, I'm afraid. This is one of the more bizarre videos I've seen in a while http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRIyb8Sqol8 - not sure whether she is great or really quite scary!

Rob said...

whoever came up with that video treatment needs treatment... Nice song tho'

Anonymous said...

Dusty better than Stevie?!! Sacrilidge! (Rushes off to have a listen).

OK - I'm back; I'm sorry but I have to differ on this one. I vote for Stevie.

Dusty's voice is amazing; my shower time torch song of all time is 'I Don't Know What To Do With Myself'.
That girl could sing!

Anonymous said...

I was listening to the Stevie Wonder original last night and you are so very wrong. Dusty is great but this version just doesn't have the sheer energy and thrill and energy of little Stevie. The original sounds like a party on vinyl.

Rob said...

Spymum and MG: I hear what you're saying, but Dusty's version - backed by a great band - takes the song somewhre entirely new. It sounds like the same party a few hours later, when things have got a bit looser and more interesting. She sounds like she's lived more than Stevie, too Well, it does to me, anyway...

rilly super said...

if this is all about Dusty Spingfield then why the photo of Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds?

Thanks ever so for the link by the way. That's lovely.

Anonymous said...

I think Dusty would have been highly flattered by that, Rilly!

(And I'm very embarrassed at my complete inability to spell 'sacrilege' properly without having to look it up. The shame!)