Remember Dusty Springfield? She was a bona fide chart-topping princess of pop music in the 1960s. If her name doesn’t ring a bell, her big hits like “Spooky” or “Son Of A Preacher Man” might just ring a bell. She was a fascinating presence in that particular mainstream pop era.
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Despite becoming so huge so fast, she fell into a sudden period of inactivity in her career. Her downfall was the result of a taboo statement that was blown out of proportion. Luckily, Springfield was eventually able to kick off an incredible comeback in 1990. And it just took a little help from a band known as Pet Shop Boys.
The album in question is the 1990 pop-dance record Reputation. It was Springfield’s first record since her 1982 album White Heat, which did poorly upon its release. Reputation was just on another level, and listeners recognized her talent. The record returned Springfield to the charts that she rightfully belonged on.
How Dusty Springfield Took Her Power Back With a 1990 Comeback Album
It’s a great album, but the fact that Springfield had to make a big, ceremonious comeback is a bummer, considering her career only fell apart because of the homophobia of the 1970s. Springfield came out as bisexual during an interview on The Evening Standard in 1970, and her way of talking about it wasn’t even that taboo, either.
“Many other people say I’m bent, and I’ve heard it so many times that I’ve almost learned to accept it,” said Springfield. “I know I’m perfectly as capable of being swayed by a girl as by a boy. More and more people feel that way and I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”
That statement would go on to derail her career and her relationships with at least two women would be covered quite terribly by the media.
That didn’t stop Springfield from trying, especially as the world grew and evolved through the years. In 1987, a group called The Pet Shop Boys became dead-set on making sure the woman who inspired their dance-pop synthy tunes would get the comeback she deserved. And it worked. The band collaborated with Springfield for their hit song “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”
It became Springfield’s first major hit since she released “Son Of A Preacher Man” in 1969. From there, they collaborated again for songs like “Nothing Has Been Proved” and “In Private”. Pet Shop Boys would produce her 13th studio album Reputation and release it in 1990. It became a massive success in the UK, and Springfield’s career would be back in action. Truly inspiring.
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