Dusty Springfield’s Long-Lost Masterpiece Finally Arrives on Vinyl

In the early 1970s, Dusty Springfield—a powerhouse vocalist best known for her blend of British soul and pop—relocated from England to Los Angeles, seeking fresh inspiration and new opportunities. She signed with ABC/Dunhill Records and released the 1973 album Cameo, a sophisticated and emotionally resonant record that, despite showcasing her iconic sound, didn’t gain the commercial traction it deserved outside of the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.

For her next project, Dusty took a different route—both creatively and geographically. In 1974, she traveled to New York City to work with producer Brooks Arthur, known for his work with Phil Spector and many of the era’s girl group luminaries. This time around, the sound leaned into the 1970s singer-songwriter aesthetic. Arthur curated a set of deeply introspective and moving songs written by artists including Janis Ian (“In the Winter”), Melissa Manchester & Carole Bayer Sager (“Home to Myself”), Colin Blunstone (“Exclusively for Me”), Stephen Schwartz (“Corner of the Sky”), Chi Coltrane (“Turn Me Around”), and Barry Manilow (“I Am Your Child”).

Many of the writers joined the sessions, playing keys on their own songs at Arthur’s 911 Studios. Even Bruce Springsteen was known to drop by in admiration. These sessions captured Dusty’s voice at its most emotionally raw and artistically refined.

However, despite the quality of the material and the strength of her performances, Dusty was grappling with emotional exhaustion and a growing sense of professional uncertainty. As a result, the album was shelved, and she parted ways with ABC/Dunhill before its completion. A few of the songs were revisited during her later stint with United Artists, but most remained unheard by the public.

That changed in 2001 when nine of the tracks resurfaced as part of a CD anthology of Dusty’s ABC/Dunhill work. Now, over 50 years after the original sessions, the complete album finally makes its debut on vinyl—with all ten tracks, including a new solo mix of “Corner of the Sky,” previously only available as a duet with Petula Clark.

This dual CD and vinyl release features new mixes of eight songs and comes with vintage artwork, rare images, and detailed track-by-track notes by Dusty biographer Paul Howes. The vinyl is pressed on eco-conscious PET black plastic, combining sustainability with a long-overdue celebration of Springfield’s brilliance.

Tracklist:

Side One

1. Turn Me Around

2. In the Winter

3. Exclusively for Me

4. A Love Like Yours

5. I Am Your Child

Side Two

1. Home to Myself

2. Make the Man Love Me

3. Beautiful Soul

4. Angels

5. Corner of the Sky

From the haunting melancholy of “In the Winter” to the spirited soul of “Turn Me Around” and the tender optimism of “Home to Myself,” this collection offers a portrait of an artist at the height of her interpretive power, even while facing personal crossroads. It is both a time capsule and a revelation—showing us once again why Dusty Springfield remains one of the most compelling vocalists in pop history.