Dancing With Demons : The Authorised Biography of Dusty Springfield

Dancing with Demons -The Authorised Biography of Dusty Springfield by Penny Valentine and Vicki Wickham is a fascinating and profoundly human exploration of one of the most enigmatic and influential female vocalists of the 20th century. Dusty Springfield, widely recognised for her rich, emotive voice and groundbreaking contributions to pop and soul music, lived a life of stark contrasts—glamour and turmoil, success and self-doubt, adoration and alienation.

I first discovered Dusty Springfield as a teenager via the 90s film Pulp Fiction (yes, I am that old). As a fan of Burt Bacharach and '60s girl groups, it was inevitable that the whole sound of Dusty would appeal to me. I even have a signed copy of one of her albums! 'Dusty Is Memphis' is my favourite (I'll get back to that later). 

Published in 2000, this is the first music biography I've read that gets right to the heart of the artist - the art and the person. It seeks to unravel the myths surrounding Springfield’s life and career, offering an honest and compassionate portrait, and I must admit I learnt a lot that I didn't know - this book would make a superb film, by the way. One of the many strengths of this authorised biography is its nuanced approach to Springfield’s struggles with identity and self-worth. As a woman navigating the male-dominated music industry of the 1960s and 70s, she faced immense pressure to conform. Her sexuality—Springfield was one of the few public figures of her time to acknowledge relationships with women—added another layer of complexity to her already tumultuous personal life. The authors explore this aspect of her identity with sensitivity, neither sensationalising nor diminishing its significance. You can tell it was published 25 years ago because this would have been a different story today.

While the book delves into Springfield’s struggles, it never loses sight of her extraordinary contributions to music. Her 1969 masterpiece 'Dusty in Memphis' remains one of the most critically acclaimed albums ever, showcasing her deep affinity for soul music. The biography captures the making of 'Dusty in Memphis', including the doubts that plagued Springfield during the recording, and her ongoing battle with self-criticism despite near-universal praise. I really enjoyed the interviews with those who knew Dusty best: friends, lovers, collaborators, and industry professionals - the book pieces together a career that, while commercially inconsistent, left an indelible mark on music history.

This biography is affectionate and unflinching, which emanates warmth and admiration in its tone, but does not sanitise Springfield’s darker moments. Subjects such as alcohol abuse, self-harm, and erratic behaviour are tackled with honesty and empathy, making it clear that these demons were not the sum of who she was but a part of her story. The book also gives insight into her lengthy career and late renaissance, concluding in her untimely and early death. Its prose is engaging, making it accessible to die-hard Dusty fans and those unfamiliar with her legacy. This book is meticulously researched, is a first-hand account, and one I could read again. 

I gave it 3/5 on Goodreads, but it's a four. 

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Amy, My Daughter: The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling memoir from Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch

A book about Amy Winehouse written by her father must be good, right?

Mitch Winehouse's 'Amy, My Daughter' offers a deeply personal and often heartbreaking account of his daughter, the iconic singer Amy Winehouse. Published after her tragic death, the book serves as both a loving tribute and an attempt to set the record straight amidst the swirling narratives that surrounded her life and struggles. It's a raw, unfiltered look at Amy through the eyes of a father who adored her, battled alongside her, and ultimately grieved her loss.

The book traces Amy's life from her childhood in North London, her early musical inclinations, and her rise to global superstardom, to her highly publicised battles with addiction and mental health. Mitch Winehouse doesn't shy away from the difficult aspects, detailing the family's desperate attempts to help Amy, the frustrations with the music industry, and the relentless media scrutiny that often exacerbated her problems. He paints a picture of a complex individual: fiercely talented, incredibly loyal, but also deeply vulnerable and self-destructive.

One of the book's strengths lies in its intimate portrayal of Amy beyond the tabloid headlines. Readers gain insight into her humour, her generosity, her passion for music, and her deep love for her family and friends. Mitch shares anecdotes that reveal her quirky personality and the profound impact she had on those around her. He also addresses many of the rumours and misconceptions that plagued her public image, offering his perspective on events that were often distorted by the press.

However, the book is not without its critics. Some have argued that it presents a somewhat one-sided view, perhaps downplaying certain aspects of Amy's struggles or the family's involvement. It's important to remember that this is a father's memoir, colored by his love, his pain, and his unique perspective. While it provides valuable insights, it is not an objective biography.

Despite any criticisms, 'Amy, My Daughter' is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the woman behind the voice. It's a poignant and often painful journey, but one that ultimately humanises Amy Winehouse, reminding us of the immense talent and fragile humanity that lay beneath the public persona. It serves as a powerful testament to a father's enduring love and a tragic reminder of the devastating toll of addiction.

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com

This Week I Have Been Mostly Listening To... JAZZ FM

Growing up, my grandfather was a jazz musician and my Dad always played soul music so it was almost inevitable that I would one day discover Jazz music and Jazz FM. 

It was November of 2024 when seeking some new sounds, I came across the RAYO app which offers a selection of podcasts, playlists, archives and live radio. I clicked randomly on Jazz FM and I don't think I've been the same since!  Having some trepidation to start with, I immediately thought of that classic The Fast Show sketch, and I half expected an old fuzzy static sound of some smokey-voiced DJ playing Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone. The station features some of those artists obviously but what surprised me is the utter abundance of new jazz from the UK and around the world this station delivers in bucket loads.

Since November of 2024, I've discovered The Ezra Collective, Mama Terra, and Lady Blackbird in new sounds, acid jazz, chilled jazz, Gill Scott Heron, and Etta James, plus uber cool DJs Danielle Perry and Simon Phillips, to mention a few. Early mornings or late evenings, you can pretty much tune in at any time to find a plethora of new sounds and if live radio isn't your thing, check out the RAYO app. As they used to say on The Fast Show...Nice!, Great!

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

 

BOOK REVIEW - 'Shuggie Bain' - 2020 Booker Prize That Hurt My Eyes!

words by @rybazoxo 

2020 was a year that none of us will ever forget. After I saw Morrissey in Leeds in March of that year, the world decided to close, and lockdown. We were all then subjected to, and brutalised by, face masks, vaccinations, mass-media hysteria and erm…death. All very grim. What I didn't notice in that year, and I'd be surprised if anybody did, was the 2020 Booker Prize handed to Douglas Stuart for his debut novel, ‘Shuggie Bain’. It wasn’t until late last year that, scouring a charity shop for books, I picked this one up for 50p and thought I'd give it a whirl. 

A disclaimer at this point would be that I normally don't read fiction. I'm autistic, so fiction isn't real, and I normally stay clear, preferring biographies, true crime stories and memoirs. However, I read all the praise about this Scottish 1980s set melodrama / coming-of-age drama/alcohol abuse drama and enthusiastically began reading. At over 400 pages, it's not a short one but I thought it was worth it. I mean, a booker prize has got to be good, right? Well, not quite. The first 150 - 200 pages of this book are really good. You route for young Shuggie as he battles with his alcoholic mother (I’ll get back to that shortly), his problematic siblings, his absent father, his blatant homosexuality, and living with his grandparents - all against a backdrop of council estate poverty and Thatcherite policies. 

1980s Glasgow. Image by Raymond Depardon

Where Douglas paints a perfect picture of a grim Scotland (I've never been but read about it) and has strong characterisation, he lacks any fleshing-out of the coming-of-age of the book's main protagonist. This book should be called ‘Agnes Bain’ (Shuggie’s Mum) as she is the main character in this book. Agnes battles booze throughout the novel, and every alcoholism cliche you can think of, including with the wrong men,  only to meet her maker at the end, is by and large, rather disappointing. I thought this was going to be some sort of ‘good outweighs the bad’ kind of book - it is not. Shuggie’s character comes good at the beginning and middle but that's it. 

1980s Glasgow. Image by Raymond Depardon

The end of the story has no real conclusion and the last chapter (there are 30 altogether) introduces another character’s alcoholic mother which just regurgitates content. It's a shame as this could have been a good book, and I think 200 pages would have done it and still won the prize. But, rather like COVID-19, this book was very grim, went on for far too long, and I was so glad when it ended. 

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com