In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dusty Springfield rightfully regained her reputation as one of the best British soul singers of her generation, with the help of some famous collaborators. The fruits of that labor, 1990's Reputation, is being expanded by Cherry Red Records this summer.
While Dusty had dominated part of the '60s with a unique brand of soul-pop on tracks like "I Only Want to Be with You," "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and the Burt Bacharach-Hal David-penned "Wishin' and Hopin'" and "The Look of Love" (not to mention her critically-adored Dusty in Memphis and its Top 10 hit "Son of a Preacher Man" in 1968), the '70s were a time of transition. Two of her albums, 1971's Faithful for Atlantic and 1974's Longing for ABC-Dunhill, weren't even initially released (though Real Gone reassembled Faithful for CD, with liner notes by Joe, in 2015, and an LP is on the way this August). Her most recent album at the time, the synth-driven White Heat (1982), didn't even get a U.K. release.
It was her appearance on Pet Shop Boys' striking single "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" that would get fans old and new to take notice once more; the single peaked at No. 2 on both sides of the Atlantic. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe would write four new songs for Dusty's Reputation, including U.K. hits "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "In Private." (They would produce those recordings as well with longtime collaborator Julian Mendelssohn, the trio also helming a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "I Want to Stay Here" for her as well.)
But Reputation was more than just Dusty and PSB; the record also featured production work from Andy Richards (keyboard player on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax" and George Michael's "Careless Whisper" as well as producer of Pet Shop Boys' chart-topping "Heart"), Paul Stavely O'Duffy (who'd recently produced Swing Out Sister and Was (Not Was)) and Dan Hartman, with writing credits from the likes of Allee Willis, Rupert Hine, Holly Knight and Desmond Child.
Cherry Red/Strike Force Entertainment's "Expanded Collector's Edition" of Reputation, available August 26, features the album alongside its various 12" mixes and B-sides (including the Disco Mix of "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" as a bonus track), as well as the bonus tracks from EMI Gold's Reputation and Rarities reissue from 1997. The package is rounded out with a DVD of promo videos and liner notes featuring insights from Dusty, session singer Simon Bell and Tris Penna of EMI, who helped oversee the original release.
Dusty Springfield, Reputation: Expanded Collector's Edition (Cherry Red Records/Strike Force Entertainment WSFE-048T (U.K.), 2016)
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Disc 1: Original album (released as Parlophone PCSD-111 (U.K.), 1990) and 12" mixes
- Reputation
- Send It to Me
- Arrested by You
- Time Waits for No One
- Born This Way
- In Private
- Daydreaming
- Nothing Has Been Proved
- I Want to Stay Here
- Occupy Your Mind
- What Have I Done to Deserve This? (Disco Mix) - Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield (12" B-side - Parlophone 12R-6163, 1987)
- Nothing Has Been Proved (Dance Mix) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12R-6207, 1989)
- In Private (12" Version) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12R-6234, 1989)
- Reputation (Lots of Fun 12" Mix) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12R-6253, 1990)
- Arrested by You (Extended Version) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12R-6266, 1990)
Disc 2: Remixes and B-sides
- Nothing Has Been Proved (Original Mix) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12R-6207, 1989)
- In Private (Remix) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12RX-6234, 1989)
- In Private (Bonus Beats) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12RX-6234, 1989)
- In Private (Dub) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12RX-6234, 1989)
- Reputation (Lots of Fun Single Mix) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12RX-6253, 1990)
- Reputation (Alternative Mix) (12" A-side - Parlophone 12RX-6253, 1990)
- Reputation (Rep U Dub 1) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12R-6253, 1990)
- Reputation (Rep U Dub 2) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12R-6253, 1990)
- Born This Way (12" Mix) (12" B-side - Parlophone 12R-6266, 1990)
- Any Other Fool (from Reputation and Rarities - EMI GOLD 1077, 1997)
- When Love Turns to Blue (from Reputation and Rarities - EMI GOLD 1077, 1997)
- Getting It Right (12" B-side - Parlophone 12RX-6253, 1990)
- Nothing Has Been Proved (Instrumental) (single B-side - Parlophone R-6207, 1989)
- Daydreaming (Edited 12" Master) (B-side to "Wherever Would I Be" CD single - Columbia 662059, 1995)
Disc 3: DVD
- Nothing Has Been Proved (promo video)
- In Private (promo video)
- Reputation (promo video)
- Arrested by You (promo video)
- I Want to Stay Here (promo video)
Mark Bumgardner says
I was listening to "Nothing Has Been Proved" on a VA 12" mix compilation just yesterday. It's easy to forget what a great song it is. This looks like an excellent release. Thanks for the heads-up.