The Look of Love is the perfect/not perfect song for Dusty Springfield. I like it because it allows you to really swim in her voice as opposed to say, I Only Want to Be With You! Fascinating life story. Came out as bisexual in a 1972 interview, that just wasn’t done back then as far as I know. An Irish girl born and raised in London. Alcohol and drugs likely sped up her death (taken by breast cancer in 1999 at just age 59).

“With her oddly erotic, throaty voice” – an odd way to put it but accurate I think. I knew of her voice before I ever knew what she looked like. Which is partly why I chose the video I did to lead off the post with. Its not a particularly flattering photo, but the vocals in that track are so amazing. I’m not the only one enamored with her. She was an early entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was dubbed the the Queen of Blu-eyed Soul.

Although she had spurts of success after the sixties, it was never like the early days. That is so often the case, and it is an entirely baffling phenomena to the casual onlooker. For a singer with such a unique tonal quality and to be so beautiful, it amazes you that continued success wasn’t a slam dunk. I used to watch Miss America and Miss Universe pageants as a kid. Often for the talent portion the contestants would sing. Very good technically, I noticed later where they failed to standout was a lack of a “oh my God what a beautiful sound” quality to their voices. Technically proficient, just nothing that captures the heart (like a Garland, Carpenter or Cass).