Genre: pop
Rating: ***** (4 stars)
Title: Stay Awhile/I Only Wan To Be With You
Company: Philips
Catalog: PHM 200-133
Year: 1964
Country/State: Hampstead, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: mono pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5839
Price: $10.00
Dusty Springfield is one of my first musical memories - I can distinctly remember hearing 'Wishin' and Hopin' on AFN radio as a child. I'm not sure how, or why, but also have clear memories of her stylized blond hairdo. Interesting how those early childhood memories stick with us and seem to influence us throughout the rest of our lives.
As a member of folk-oriented The Springfields, Dusty quit the group in 1963, quickly reappearing as a solo act. Signed by Philips (which had The Springfields under contract), her solo debut came out later that year:
- 1963's 'I Only Want To Be with You' b/w 'Once Upon a Time' (Philips catalog number 40162) # 12 pop
A top-20 hit in the States, over the next year Philips quickly released a string of three charting follow-ups:
- 1964's 'Stay Awhile' b/w 'Something Special' (Philips catalog number 40180) # 38 pop
- 1964's 'Wishin' and Hopin'' b/w 'Do Re Me (Forget About the Do and Think About Me' (Philips catalog number 40207) # 6 pop
- 1964's 'All Cried Out' b/w 'Wish I'd Never Loved You' (Philips catalog number 40229) # 41 US
As was standard marketing procedure, Philips took advantage of Springfield's chart successes to release a supporting LP in the States - 1964's cleverly-titled "Stay Awhile/I Only Want To Be With You". As a marketing move the album compiled the four earlier 'A' sides while showcasing Springfield's amazing, soul soaked voice on a mixture of popular pop and soul hits. Creatively it wasn't the most original collection you've ever heard, but the material was varied enough to give you a good feel for her varied talents. Most of the set surrounded Springfield with Phil Spector-styled wall-of-sound arrangements. Luckily while many singers would have simply drown amidst the heavy production, Springfield's voice was powerful and distinctive enough to power through the clutter. The big surprise and one of the LP's highlights came in the form of the lone Springfield original - 'Something Special'. You know it took some real effort for Springfield to convince Philips management to let her record an original song. Not that you would have expected anything less from a woman who was kicked out of South Africa for refusing to perform before apartheid segregated audiences.
- To my ears 'I Only Want To Be with You' stands as one of Springfield's most pop-oriented releases. Sporting a breezy, instantly memorable melody and powered by Springfield's instantly identifiable voice, if a song could be labeled fun', this was it. It's been covered dozens of times over the years, but nobody's come close to the original. rating: ***** stars
- In the early 1960s it wasn't unusual for an artist who'd enjoyed a hit to go back to the creative well and release a follow-up song with a similar feel and sound. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not. Tapped as a follow-up single, 'Stay Awhile' sounded more than a little like 'I Only Want To Be with You'. Part of that similarity may have been due to the fact the track was penned by Mike Hawker and Igor Raymonde who'd also written 'I Only Want To Be with You'. Regardless, 'Stay Awhile' was strong enough to succeed on its own. rating: **** stars
- One of three Burt Bacharach-Hal David songs on the collection, '24 Hours from Tulsa' was one of my favorite performances. Gene Pitney had the original hit, but Springfield's slightly modified version of the song (this time out sung from a woman's perspective) was simply amazing. rating: ***** stars
- Springfield was reportedly a big girls group fan and her cover of 'Mama Said' aptly displayed that affection. Maybe not quite up to The Shirelles original, but pretty darn close. Wonderful and perhaps the most playful song on the album. rating: **** stars
- In my humble opinion 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' was one of Springfield's creative zeniths. Cillia Black had the UK chart topping hit with her version, but Springfield's cover was even better. True, the lush, highly orchestrated arrangement (always loved the kettle drums at the end), may sound a little dated today, but there's simply no denying this was a killer Bacharach-David song and Springfield's measured performance was near perfect. rating: ***** stars
- Springfield's blue-eyed soul vocals were always a great fit for Motown and her cover of 'When the Lovelight Starts Shining Thru His Eyes' was one of the best matches. Musically her cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland track didn't stray too far from The Supremes original, but once it kicked into gear, her version took off and never looked back ... Would have made a fantastic single. rating: ***** stars
- The album's third and final Bacharach-David cover 'Wishin' and Hopin'' was released as a US single, providing Springfield with her first top-10 US success. Pretty and kind of funny with respect to the lyrical advice on how to catch a husband. rating: **** stars
- One of the isolated disappointments, her multi-tracked cover of Charles and Inez Foxx's 'Mockingbird' was professional, but did nothing to improve on the original. rating: ** stars
- 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' was another mediocre girls group cover. Forgettable compared to the original. rating: ** stars
- Previously a hit for Leslie Gore, the don't-get-in-my-face 'You Don't Own Me' was a perfect track for the always independent Springfield. It was made even more poignant coming on the heels of the subservient 'You Don't Own Me'. rating: **** stars
- Yeah it was a piece of lightweight pop fluff, but the lone Springfield original, 'Something Special' was also one of the album highlights. Great tinkling piano melody and chorus. rating: **** stars
- Arthur Alexander's 'Every Day I Have To Cry' was a classic 1960s soul tune and while Springfield's cover won't make you forget the original, her upbeat and bubbly version was really good and would have been a nice single. rating: **** stars
Yeah, this album's over 40 years old now but it's a classic. Check your grandparents collection out for a copy ... maybe they'll let you have their copy.
"Stay Awhile / I Only Want To Be With You" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I Only Want To Be with You (Mike Hawker - Igor Raymonde) - 2:32
2.) Say Awhile (Mike Hawker - Igor Raymonde) - 1:50
3.) 24 Hours from Tulsa (Burt Bacharach - Hal David) - 3:02
4.) Mama Said (L. Dixon) - 2:03
5.) Anyone Who Had a Heart (Burt Bacharach - Hal David) - 2:55
6.) When the Lovelight Starts Shining Thru His Eyes (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) -
(side
2)
1.) Wishin' and Hopin' (Burt Bacharach - Hal David) - 2:55
2.) Mocking Bird (Charles Foxx - Inez Foxx) - 2:35
3,) Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Carole King - Gerry Goffin) - 2:41
4.) You Don't Own Me (J. Madara - D. White) - 2:29
5.) Something Special (Dusty Springfield) - 2:00
6.) Every Day I Have To Cry (Arthur Alexander) - 2:23
