Dusty has been labelled as the "white hope" among girl singers, and it will be a far from easy task for her to live up to most of the critics' expectations. Expecially at a time when the majority of girl soloists are being forced into the background.
Furthermore, although so many girl singers are hampered by their inability to exploit their singing ability, Dusty is loaded with charm and personality. And it's a personality which appeals to members of her own sex just as effectively as to the boys--which is so important in an age when the bulk of record buyers are girls.
I chatted with Dusty ouver lunch the other day and, although she was by no means confident that she would succeed, she was obviously eager to accept the challenge.
She also has a clear-cut mental blueprint of the manner in which she would like her career to develop.
"I'd like to be another Petula Clark," she told me. "I don't mean that I intend to model myself on Pet, but simply that I would like to achieve her degree of international success--and her personal happiness, too."
Dusty said that when the Springfields took the decision to split, she didn't realise the major significance of what they were doing until after the group's farewell performance.
"The full impact of the break-up, or the way in which it would so drastically alter my career, just didn't hit me," she chuckled. "Then quite suddenly, when the curtain fell on that final Palladium show and I realised the Springfields were no more, I burst into tears.
"But I have no regrets. Now is the time to look forward, not back. Even if we were asked to get together again for some very special engagement, I doubt if we would. Our decision is quite irrevocable."
And so today, Dusty arrives at the crossroads of her career. For her first solo record has come bursting into the charts. And the whole of show business is wondering . . . is this an initial gimmick impact, or will she be able to maintain the promise and potential she has shown?
Her disc debut is an interesting one because "I Only Want To Be With You" was written, arranged and sirected by Ivor Raymonde--who accompanied the Springfields on all their major hits, including "Island of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There." The lyricist was Mike Hawker, who supplied the words for all Helen Shapiro's early hits.
The coupling [B-side] is one of Dusty's own compositions, "Once Upon A Time." This is not her first venture into song writing--she has written several numbers, including the already recorded "Something Special."
To help launch her as a soloist, Dusty has been lined up for a string of TV and radio dates.
Tomorrow Dusty makes her solo debut in Saturday Club, and this is followed by Light Programme's Beat Show (28th), Parade of the Pops (December 4) and Easy Beat (18th)--and she is guesting on Thank Your Lucky Stars on November 30. All this exploitation points to the record climbing much higher in the charts in subsequent weeks.
A pretty impressive line-up, which will keep her very busy--especially as she is also in the process of cutting her first LP.
Yes, Dusty Springfield is certainly launching an all-out attack in her new role as a soloist. And take it from me, if determination opens the doorway to fame, she is already on her way to the top.
For, as Dusty climbed into her new and very expensive Continental car, she called over her shoulder: "You know, I've just got to be a success to own a car like this!" Don't worry, Dusty--I'm sure you won't have to trade it in for a mini.
Derek Johnson
(Publication unknown)
November 1963