A Very Fine Love
Encyclopedia
A Very Fine Love is the fourteenth and final studio album by singer Dusty Springfield
, and thirteenth released. Recorded in 1994 with producer Tom Shapiro
and released in 1995, A Very Fine Love was a Columbia Records
release in both the US
and UK
, Springfield's first such simultaneous release since Living Without Your Love
in 1979.
, but her record company "decided against it, in the belief that it would lead audiences to mistakenly expect a country album.". A Very Fine Love was to be promoted by the TV documentary Full Circle, a 90 minute career retrospective featuring British comediennes Jennifer Saunders
and Dawn French interviewing Springfield in their inimitably irreverent way – Springfield herself was a big fan of French & Saunders
' and their goonish
sense of humour – as well as interviews with friends, fans and colleagues like the Pet Shop Boys
' Neil Tennant
, Dionne Warwick
, Burt Bacharach
, Elvis Costello
and Martha Reeves
, and footage from the recording of the upcoming Nashville album.
During the three months of recording of the album, Springfield often had bouts of laryngitis and other undiagnosed health issues. Upon returning to England
, she saw a specialist and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer
. Upon learning Springfield was to undergo radiotherapy, her manager, Vicki Wickham
, was able to convince Columbia Records to delay releasing A Very Fine Love until Springfield was well enough to do promotion work.
Springfield's cancer went into remission, and in June 1995, A Very Fine Love was released. It made little impact on the US album charts, but did reach #43 on the British charts. The title that got the best critical reception was the blues-tinged closing track "Where Is A Woman To Go?", written by Jerry Gillespie
featuring guest vocals by K. T. Oslin
(who had recorded the song herself in 1988) and Mary Chapin Carpenter
. (The song was originally recorded in 1984 by Dottie West
.) When promoting the album in the UK on TV-show Later With Jools Holland
Springfield performed the track live, then instead with backing by two longtime fans of hers; Sinéad O'Connor
and Alison Moyet
. One track from the album "Wherever Would I Be?", a Diane Warren
-penned duet with Daryl Hall
was featured in the movie While You Were Sleeping
, and was a minor chart hit in Britain, along with Will Jennings
' gospel-flavoured "Roll Away", the last charting single of her lifetime. The album also included the Warren-penned song Lovin' Proof, which was originally recorded by Celine Dion
for her The Colour Of My Love
album two years previously.
Due to modest sales of the album, Springfield and Columbia Records decided not to renew the contract, and as the cancer recurred in late 1996, and Springfield died in 1999, it proved to be Springfield's final album.
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
, and thirteenth released. Recorded in 1994 with producer Tom Shapiro
Tom Shapiro
Tom Shapiro is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, as well as the Songwriter of the Decade award from the Nashville Songwriters...
and released in 1995, A Very Fine Love was a Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
release in both the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Springfield's first such simultaneous release since Living Without Your Love
Living Without Your Love
Living Without Your Love is the eleventh studio album recorded by singer Dusty Springfield, and tenth released. The album was recorded in summer 1978 and released in early 1979....
in 1979.
Background
The album was originally tentatively called Dusty in Nashville, to tie in with the 25th anniversary of Springfield's keynote work Dusty in MemphisDusty in Memphis
Dusty in Memphis is a landmark album by Dusty Springfield, released in 1969. It was produced by Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin and engineered by Tom Dowd. "So Much Love", "Son of a Preacher Man", "The Windmills Of Your Mind", "Breakfast in Bed", "Just One Smile", "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore",...
, but her record company "decided against it, in the belief that it would lead audiences to mistakenly expect a country album.". A Very Fine Love was to be promoted by the TV documentary Full Circle, a 90 minute career retrospective featuring British comediennes Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Jane Saunders is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.She first came into...
and Dawn French interviewing Springfield in their inimitably irreverent way – Springfield herself was a big fan of French & Saunders
French & Saunders
French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
' and their goonish
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
sense of humour – as well as interviews with friends, fans and colleagues like the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
' Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
, Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
, and footage from the recording of the upcoming Nashville album.
During the three months of recording of the album, Springfield often had bouts of laryngitis and other undiagnosed health issues. Upon returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, she saw a specialist and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Upon learning Springfield was to undergo radiotherapy, her manager, Vicki Wickham
Vicki Wickham
Vicki Heather Wickham is an English talent manager, entertainment producer, and songwriter.-Career:She is most known for producing the 60s British television show Ready Steady Go!, and managing well known pop/soul acts Labelle and Dusty Springfield....
, was able to convince Columbia Records to delay releasing A Very Fine Love until Springfield was well enough to do promotion work.
Springfield's cancer went into remission, and in June 1995, A Very Fine Love was released. It made little impact on the US album charts, but did reach #43 on the British charts. The title that got the best critical reception was the blues-tinged closing track "Where Is A Woman To Go?", written by Jerry Gillespie
Jerry Gillespie
Jerry Wayne Gillespie is an American country songwriter. He co-wrote "Do You Love as Good as You Look", a #1 song in 1981 for the Bellamy Brothers and wrote "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", a #1 country hit in 1977 for The Kendalls...
featuring guest vocals by K. T. Oslin
K. T. Oslin
Kay Toinette "K. T." Oslin is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for a series of top-ten country hits during the late 1980s and early 1990s, four of which topped the chart.-Early life and career:...
(who had recorded the song herself in 1988) and Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
. (The song was originally recorded in 1984 by Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
.) When promoting the album in the UK on TV-show Later With Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
Springfield performed the track live, then instead with backing by two longtime fans of hers; Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
and Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
. One track from the album "Wherever Would I Be?", a Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
-penned duet with Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
was featured in the movie While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping is a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Daniel G. Sullivan and Frederic Lebow. It stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy, a Chicago Transit Authority token collector and Bill Pullman as Jack, the brother of a man whose life she saves, along with Peter...
, and was a minor chart hit in Britain, along with Will Jennings
Will Jennings
Wilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
' gospel-flavoured "Roll Away", the last charting single of her lifetime. The album also included the Warren-penned song Lovin' Proof, which was originally recorded by Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
for her The Colour Of My Love
The Colour of My Love
The Colour of My Love is an album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on November 9, 1993. It is her third English-language album and 18th overall...
album two years previously.
Due to modest sales of the album, Springfield and Columbia Records decided not to renew the contract, and as the cancer recurred in late 1996, and Springfield died in 1999, it proved to be Springfield's final album.
Track listing
- "Roll Away (Will JenningsWill JenningsWilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
, Marlee Lebow) – 4:12 - "Very Fine Love" a.k.a. "Fine, Fine, Very Fine Love" (Bob DiPieroBob DiPieroBob DiPiero is an American country music songwriter. He has written 15. U.S. Number 1 hits and countless top 20 hits for the likes of Tim McGraw, The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Shenandoah, Neal McCoy, Highway 101, Restless Heart, Ricochet, John Anderson, Montgomery...
, Jim PhotogloJim PhotogloJim Photoglo, born James G. Photoglo, who also performed simply as Photoglo, is an American pop singer from Inglewood, California. He released two charting albums in the early 1980s and had two hit singles, "We Were Meant to Be Lovers" and "Fool in Love with You" .After his career as a pop star...
) – 4:09 - "Wherever Would I Be?" (Diane WarrenDiane WarrenDiane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
) – 3:58- Duet with Daryl HallDaryl HallDaryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
. Note: US edition Walter AfanasieffWalter AfanasieffWalter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
Mix.
- Duet with Daryl Hall
- "Go Easy on Me" (Randy GoodrumRandy GoodrumRandy Goodrum is an American songwriter. Goodrum has written numerous popular songs, including Anne Murray's #1 hit "You Needed Me" and "Broken Hearted Me" , Michael Johnson's "Bluer Than Blue" , England Dan & John Ford Coley's "It's Sad to Belong" , Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie" , DeBarge's "Who's...
, John Jarvis) – 5:36 - "You Are the Storm" (Matraca BergMatraca BergMatraca Maria Berg is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and has charted in the top 40 of the U.S. Billboard country charts with "Baby, Walk On" and "The Things You Left...
, Ronnie Samoset) – 4:16 - "I Can't Help the Way I Don't Feel" (Tom ShapiroTom ShapiroTom Shapiro is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, as well as the Songwriter of the Decade award from the Nashville Songwriters...
, Chris Waters, Michael Garvin) – 3:41 - "All I Have to Offer You Is Love" (Craig WisemanCraig WisemanCraig Michael Wiseman is an American country music songwriter. Active since the late 1980s as a songwriter, he has had his songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, and several other acts....
) – 3:47 - "Lovin' Proof" (Diane Warren) – 3:40
- "Old Habits Die Hard" (Terry BrittenTerry BrittenTerry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
, Graham Lyle) – 3:36 - "Where Is a Woman to Go?" (Jerry GillespieJerry GillespieJerry Wayne Gillespie is an American country songwriter. He co-wrote "Do You Love as Good as You Look", a #1 song in 1981 for the Bellamy Brothers and wrote "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", a #1 country hit in 1977 for The Kendalls...
, K.T. Oslin) – 4:08- Featuring K.T. Oslin and Mary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
- Featuring K.T. Oslin and Mary Chapin Carpenter
Personnel
- Dusty SpringfieldDusty SpringfieldMary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
– lead vocals - Daryl HallDaryl HallDaryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
– vocals ("Wherever Would I Be?") - Mary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
– vocals ("Where Is A Woman To Go?") - K.T. Oslin – vocals ("Where Is A Woman To Go?")
- Kristina Clark – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Kim Fleming – background vocals
- Sandy Griffith – background vocals
- Ron Hemby – background vocals
- Skyler JettSkyler JettSkyler Jett is a singer who has worked with many top musicians, such as Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin. He also was briefly the lead singer in The Commodores, touring with them around the world. He is Grammy recognized for his performance with Celine Dion in "My Heart Will Go...
– background vocals - Conesha Owens – background vocals
- Guy Penrod – background vocals
- Claytoven Richardson – background vocals
- John Wesley Ryles – background vocals
- Audrey Sheeler – background vocals
- Judson Spence – background vocals
- Jeannie Tracy-Smith – background vocals
- Cindy Richardson Walker – background vocals
- Audrey Wheeler – background vocals
- Chris Willis – background vocals
- Dennis Wilson – background vocals
- Simon BellSimon BellSimon Bell is a Scottish session singer based in London who has worked with several noted singers.- Career :Born in Tradeston, Glasgow, Bell first sang in local bands in the 1960s, including the bands The Soundtracks, formed at Shawlands Academy, where he was educated, and Harlem Shuffle...
– background vocals - Lonnie Wilson – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Terry Lee McMillanTerry Lee McMillanTerry Lee McMillan was an American country musician who played harmonica and percussion. In 1973, he became a member of Eddy Raven's band in Nashville, and worked with Raven until 1975. He then started working with Chet Atkins playing harmonica with his touring show. Later, he toured with Jerry...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Glenn WorfGlenn WorfGlenn Worf is one of the premier Nashville session bassists. He was born in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and has concentrated on the bass guitar since he was thirteen. He majored in music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Inevitably his talents forced him to abandon the...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Brian Tankersley – bass, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, drum programming, synthesizer bass - Walter AfanasieffWalter AfanasieffWalter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
– programming - Gary Cirimelli – programming, background vocals
- George Cocchini – electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Dan Dugmore – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
– guitar, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, classical guitar - Jerry McPherson – electric guitar
- Michael Thompson – rhythm guitar
- Biff Watson – guitar, acoustic guitar
- John Jarvis – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboards - Carl Marsh – keyboards
- Steve Nathan – keyboards, Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
- Kirk WhalumKirk WhalumKirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
– soprano sax
Production
- Tom ShapiroTom ShapiroTom Shapiro is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, as well as the Songwriter of the Decade award from the Nashville Songwriters...
– record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, musical arranger - Brian Tankersley – associate producer, engineer, mixing
- Jan Perry – assistant producer
- Walter AfanasieffWalter AfanasieffWalter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
– arranger, co-producer ("Wherever Would I Be", Walter A. Mix) - Dana Jon Chappelle – sound engineer, mixing
- Jay Healy – sound engineer
- Greg Parker – assistant engineer
- Bill O'Donovan – assistant engineer
- Wayne Morgan – assistant engineer
- Shawn McLean – assistant engineer
- John Kliner – assistant engineer
- Steve Ledet – assistant engineer
- Mick Guzauski – mixing
- David Gleeson – mixing assistant
- Craig Silvey – mixing assistant
- Mike Scott – mixing assistant
- Hank Williams – mastering
- John Geary – illustrations
- Recorded at Javelina Recording Studios, The Bennett House, Recording Arts, Woodland Digital, Eleven Eleven Sound, GBT Studio (Nashville) & Schnee Studio (Hollywood), late January to early April 1994.
Sources
- Howes, Paul (2001). The Complete Dusty Springfield. London: Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. ISBN 1-903111-24-2.