Dancing with Demons: The Authorised Biography of Dusty Springfield [Paperback]

However, the book manages to discuss many of the more painful moments in Dusty's life without being sycophantic or judgemental. The book is not a history of Dusty's musical career but prefers to tackle the so called 'demons' that seemed to catch up with her in the 1970s when her success had dried up.

We learn about the somewhat eccentric upbringing she received from parents that preferred to throw food around at meal times rather than discuss emotions. Of her strict Catholic upbringing. Of her feeling that she could never quite please her parents enough. And of course her struggles with accepting her sexuality. Somewhat more disturbing are the stories of her self abuse - cutting herself, drink and drugs and admissions to psychiatric hospitals. It's all a long way from the 60s icon that sang hits like I Only Want To Be With You and You Don't have To Say You Love Me.

Although the unhappy instances (mainly a period of ten years from the mid 70s spent in Los Angeles) are very hard to read they are necessary all the more when we get to the final chapters of the book. Dusty burst back on the music scene in 1987 with the Pet Shop Boys and continued to have success with 2 further albums before her untimely death of cancer in 1999. The fact that she overcame the addictions and the abuse (and maybe even some of the guilt) to reach a happier more settled time makes the troubled times all the more significant.

There are happier times too. We learn about her awe of the Motown artists like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the joy of performing with them. We get a glimpse of the wonderful sense of humour she had and her loyalty to her friends. Her professionalism when it came to recording and performing. And, near the end, the stories of how she petrified friends when she got behind the wheel of a car!

The overriding assessment of Dusty was that she was an intensely private person - never giving all away and never being able to trust anyone completely. Thus, we are left feeling that for all the accounts, how much have we really learnt.

Overall, the book is compulsive if sometimes harrowing reading. There's a real feeling of sadness at the end that we have really lost one of the greatest singers Britain has ever produced and the irony was that her death occured not from drink or drugs but from the dreaded cancer. However, if there is a joy it is that there is a wealth of music out there to explore... Ultimately, it's the music that Dusty will always be remembered for...

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The woman was one of the most gifted singers of our time. Her courageous fight against the ravages of disease - be it bi-polar disorder, addiction, or breast cancer - should be admired. She, like most of us who share those particular inherited maladies, did the best she could. No one knows the torment of the day in day out battle against those ill forces unless they've fought them up close and personal.

If you want to know Dusty Springfield, just listen to her music. It's all there. She didn't get all that "soul" by being a piece of fluff. Dusty suffered for her art. And, make no mistake, an artist she was.

What difference does it make with whom she slept? It was nobody's business when she was alive. Why should it be spread all over these pages now that she's tragically gone?

Insteading of wasting your hard-earned money on this drivel, treat yourself to a copy of "Dusty In Memphis"; and, enjoy the gift she left for all of us. Dusty will be missed forever for those of us who loved her and her music.

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