Without this retrospective, you're missing out on three decades worth of eminently enjoyable music. Dusty's 35-year career has spanned Motown-esque pop ("Live it Up"), Nashville country-rock ("Son of a Preacher Man") [NOTE: This classic track was actually recorded in Memphis and reflects R&B/soul rather than country], and gay-boy dance mixes (her work with the Pet Shop Boys). She's proven herself both capable and a chart-topper in three different decades. From the beautiful bombastic AM radio standby "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" to a multitude of Burt Bacharach/Hal David compositions like "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "The Look of Love," this collection sparkles like the sequins on one of the diva's delicious evening gowns.

The anthology comes beautifully packaged, full of photos and appropriately gushing liner notes ("Of the five mighty pop divas of the '60s, maybe Dionne Warwick was more polished and Diana Ross sexier and Martha Reeves tougher, and Aretha, well, Aretha," coos one passage. "But Dusty Springfield, the beehived Brit, was always the smartest, the most literate, the wisest.") Plus, all that hair! That panda-style eye makeup! Dusty was a drag queen's dream!

This three-CD set is one of those rare compilations that will please both casual listeners and serious fans - it contains all the hits, including songs that you don't know you know, but will recognize immediately. Longtime Dusty followers will delight in finding "In Private," another joint effort with the Pet Shop Boys - previously available only as a U.K. single [NOTE: "In Private" has always been availabe in the U.S. on the imported Reputation album] - and 76 other tracks that round out a terrific overview of one of pop music's long-standing stars. Remember the heyday of those divas who sang everything by everyone - and always with style?

Lisa Needham
Q Monthly, January 1998