Martha and Dusty

In 1965, several Motown groups appeared on Ready Steady Go! along with host Dusty Springfield. Martha and the Vandellas join Dusty for a fabulous version of Wishin' and Hopin' – the original Salt-N-Pepa. 

In this clip, Dusty is backed up by Motown greats. What a show. 😃

Dusty Springfield

Learn about the spectacular Dusty. Short and Long version.

Early Dusty Springfield

The folk group The Springfields sing Island of Dreams, circa 1962. Dusty sings In the Middle of Nowhere with great backup singing.

Motown on Ready Steady Go!

Dusty Springfield introduces Motown to England via RSG! Here's a terrific documentary including the 1965 touring of the Motown Revue in Great Britain before appearing on Ready Steady Go! with Dusty.

Saturday morning dose of Dusty Springfield

How can you not love Dusty?! Great singer and very fun to watch.

The Dusty Springfield Show

Here are some performances by Dusty from her 1960s tv show:

• The Real Thing
• Heat Wave
• Show Intro, Get Ready
• Nowhere to Run
• ending and closing credits 
• Anna (El Negro Zumbon)

Pink Martini does a fabulous version of Anna (El Negro Zumbon). I've seen them many times. One of the best shows out there.





Check out Anna being sung in the 1951 film of the same name.

Ready Steady Go! tv show

Ready Steady Go! aired in Britain from 1963 - 1966. Manfred Mann's 5-4-3-2-1 was the theme song. The show was hosted by Keith Fordyce, Dusty Springfield and Cathy McGowan, known as the "Queen of the Mods" as a result of her hosting gig. Anyone who was anyone was on this program. They ran theme shows featuring The Beatles, Otis Redding and the hugely popular Motown acts.

• Otis Redding Special, 1966
• The Sounds of Motown, 1965

Dusty was instrumental in showcasing Motown on the show.

Kiki Dee

Discovering this song has led me to rediscover Kiki Dee. Maybe it's because I have the music in me, but it's made me so very happy. In 1965, she appeared in the film Dateline Diamonds with Small Faces.

• Itchycoo Park, Small Faces, 1967
• singing backup for Dusty Springfield
• a duet with Elton John

If you have a thing for "originals" like I do, you'll appreciate hearing
Tami Lynn's 1965 recording of I'm Gonna Run Away From You:

favorite theme songs

Mine has always been the I Dream of Jeannie theme created by Hugo Montenegro and Buddy Kaye. Kaye wrote Little By Little and I'm All Cried Out for Dusty Springfield. Here is the first season with intro before the theme changed. Below is the version for Germany. 😛

Dusty Springfield live...

... sounding incredible. Kiki Dee was one of her backup singers. 1965.

1964 American Bandstand

Here are some clips from the show after it moved to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, including complete interviews after the performances.

• Dusty Springfield     • Brenda Holloway     • Terry Stafford
• The Larks     • Sam Cooke     • Betty Everett
• Johnny Rivers     • The Standells     • Bobby Vinton

PopSpot

PopSpot was a 10-minute show which aired from October 1964 to March 1965. It featured one group per week performing three songs. Here are two episodes with Manfred Mann and Dusty Springfield.

Arthur Alexander

Learn about Arthur Alexander and his origins in Muscle Shoals.



Dusty Springfield, above, performs Alexander's Everyday I Have To Cry on Ready Steady Go!. Did she have the hugest hair or what?


Everyday I Have To Cry, Steve Alaimo, 1963

A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, Arthur Alexander, 1962


Anna (Go To Him), Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Beatles' version)


Soldier of Love, Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Beatles' version)


You Better Move On, Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Stones' version)

Live it up, baby!

Hope y'all are livin' it up and enjoying summer. Whooooaaaaahhh!

Live It Up, Dusty Springfield, 1964

Tom Jones

Tom performs on The Dusty Springfield Show in 1967. Here he sings a rendition of Joe Tex's Show Me. On the tv show Beat Room:
• Chills and Fever and What'd I Say, 1964

Tina Britt

Dusty Springfield covers Britt's 1965 tune The Real Thing.

British pop music circa 1964...

...with Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield. Put on your shades and dance. Both of these performances are from Ready Steady Go!