Customer Reviews

DUSTY LIVE AT THE BBC : GET READY, HERE SHE COMES - By: Phillysound2, 20 May 2008
Simon Bell's review here (the first review) rules. I've just played this DVD through & thoroughly enjoyed it. Dusty effortlessly goes from Tamla, soul, cabaret classics to folk & Broadway show standards to power ballads allin single live takes. Often she keeps her soul preference to the last song which goes over the end credits. She plays acoustic guitar & sings folk songs like 'My Lagan Love' (Lagan Love links her to Kate Bush as the Springfields' 'Silver Threads & Golden Needles' links her to Linda Ronstadt - she referenced both of these artistsin her 1979 concerts). Things I noticed werein 'I'll Try Anything' she doesn't sing the line 'I'll cheat & I'll lie' & she does a storming version of The Temptations' 'Get Ready'.

She performs mostlyin long restricting dresses. It's onlyin the last episode that we see Dustyin a shorter dress & become more herself (later outside thse BBC productions she would look more comfortablein fashionable trouser outfits). These dress codes symbolise for me her different freedoms. Nevertheless, we see a woman who could sing anything live & it makes me sympathise with her record producers because she could just do itin one take but her quality control, which frustrated all those producers, means we have a catalogue of perfect Dusty recordings to listen to. The extras on this DVD arein colour & include Dusty singing 'I Am Woman' a powerful counterpoint to those passive love songs that soldin drovesin the UK. Directly after 'Woman' she sings ' Since I Fell For You'; I was amazed by the change of gear from anthem to ballad; you get this gear control all through the BBC shows. And we also get an historically important interview around the time of her 1979 'come back' & cancelled UK tour apart from the London dates (why didn't the producer limit her initial concerts to the Albert Hall & perhaps the Palladium where she could have performed for several nights?). Dusty's a bit embarrasssed but what came across to me is that she was just such a nice person. You see her shyness, warmth, humility, sense of humour & joie de vivrein her 1960's BBC performances & alsoin this interview. It's really hard for me to place Dustyin the darkness of her mid-70s L.A. years. She was certainly a strong survivor. Hats off!

I would definitely buy more Dusty DVD sets of Dusty's TV performances (there are numerous good archive clips on YouTube & I already have the People Get Ready DVD). It would be great to have a DVD of Dusty on the Rolf Harris Show singing 'Up on the Roof' (in any available quality) & the USA Burt Bacharach special where she sings 'Knowing When to Leave' - these great tracks are only available so far on an excellent 'Dusty Bulletin' CD. Just buy this DVD. It's an education. That so much soulful music could come out of this quietly spoken, 5' 2" Lady Penelope (Thunderbirds) lookalike is mind blowing.

Universal have produced this DVD with care & attention. Even the packaging is high quality so the DVD makes for a good gift. I played the DVD through a very high quality system - don't listen to any gripes about the sound - it's fine.

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I agree with M. Bobbe, but........... - By: Bill Peter, 19 Apr 2008
I agree with M.Bobbe's review that this is a must-have for fans. However, I now understand why the classic "Dustyin Memphis", plus subsequent albums, like Cameo, failed to be the HUGE hits that they should have been. After watching this DVD I realised what an MOR act Dusty wasin the mid-to-late-60's. We all remember the great hits, plus soul covers, including her hosting the Motown edition of Ready, Steady, Go. However, we forget her "favourite singers", like Jo Stafford & Jack Jones. No self-respecting "serious music" or rock fan would have been seen dead with a Dusty albumin the late-60s/early-70s. It's sad, but by making family TV shows she sealed her fate.

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Sounds and looks great! - By: J. Altair, 03 Mar 2008
My dvd arrivedin Australia today from the UK. I am watching it as I type this review. The audio sounds fine at this end, so I can't quite understand why others have expressed concern about the sound quality.

Didn't Dusty have a fine voice & such a bubbly personality? On this dvd there's not much talking from Dusty & no special guests, just Dusty singing LIVE at her prime.

I wish the whole world could experience just what a great singer Dusty was.

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Soft spot, fond memories, but..... - By: Big John, 12 Feb 2008
I have always had a soft spot for Dusty. As a child I thought she was stunningly beautiful & loved her music so much I was bought "I only want to be with you". So I am something of a Dusty fan. This DVD takes me back into the sixties, of being allowed to stay up & watch Dusty on the TV. From the perspective of today it is obvious she was a far more talented perfomer than I ever recall. But Dusty did fade away during her career & that makes this DVD somewhat sad as you can see this vibrant perfomer losing her way. Dusty's best years were the sixties. After that you like me, might find it gets a little tedious, & rather sad.

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Stunning performances from a legend! - By: Mr. N. R. Partridge, 11 Feb 2008
I was listening to the news & saw that a certain artist had won 5 Grammy's; then followed a live performance from the said artist. The evening before this i was watching this DVD from Dusty, & i melted with her powerful voice & mesmerising stage presence, singing songs that are as relevant & strong today as then.
All i can say is that to see a truly amazing performer who can actually cut it live; choose this DVD, because Dusty delivers every time!