Dusty Springfield's songs might have been popular, but they're not that easy to sing, Tami Neilson tells Shane Gilchrist.
There are more than a few challenges in singing the songs of Dusty Springfield, particularly when a show involves not one but four vocalists, all of whom have favourites they'd like to perform.
Yet it seems the stars of Dust To Dusky, which has a one-off performance next weekend as part of Wanaka's Aspiring Conversations festival, have reached a consensus.
Wish lists were given to the show's instigator, Auckland Arts Festival organiser Tama Waipara, who "did what he could'', according to Tami Neilson, who joins Bella Kalolo, Anna Coddington and Colleen Davis in a show that pays tribute to Springfield's remarkable voice.
"Obviously, everybody wanted to sing Anyone Who Had A Heart and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, but Dusty has so many incredible songs. Tama curated the setlist and he made sure we all got at least one song we really wanted to do.
"In my case, I get to sing I Don't Know What To Do With Myself and Anyone Who Had A Heart. Bella really wanted Son Of A Preacher Man, so she got that.''
The singers traverse a wide range of material by the smoky-voiced British vocalist, who died in March 1999.
They go from Springfield's folk beginnings in England to the pop-soul that provided the basis of a legacy that included no fewer than six top 20 singles in the United States and 16 in the United Kingdom, as well as membership of both the US Rock and Roll and UK Music halls of fame.
Amid all the songs, Dust to Dusky offers theatrical elements, too.
"Colleen carries a lot of the dramatic thrust,'' Neilson says, adding Davis effectively plays the ghost of Springfield, offering diary-like entries that detail her inner turmoil and difficult life.
"She is in character throughout the show and comes on between songs and does these monologues that provide segues. She also sings a couple of songs.''
Auckland-based Neilson, a four-time Tui award winner (for best country album), says Springfield's music might have been popular, but much of it is surprisingly complex.
"Her songs aren't that easy to learn. They are not usually just three chords and a basic melody. Burt Bacharach [who wrote several of Springfield's biggest hits, including Anyone Who Had A Heart, Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa and Wishin' and Hopin'] was insane with his melodies; he'd take a song to a totally different place. That's what you want as a singer.
"Obviously, a lot of the material Dusty performed featured big productions, but we are doing versions that are not exact replicas of the recorded versions. For instance, we don't have a full orchestra, but we do have a four-piece band that is able to create dynamics.
"Initially, I wondered how we'd pull this off but I now don't think the music is lacking anything. It's actually nice to hear arrangements that showcase the vocals and lyrics.''
The depth of vocal talent involved in the show spreads wider than centre stage, too, Neilson says.
"When we aren't singing the lead, we are being backing singers. So much of Dusty's stuff involved that doo-wop style of female backing singers. It would be glaringly empty without that.
"Some of my favourite moments are when I sing a backing part. I travel with a predominantly male band when I'm doing my own shows and have largely grown up singing harmony with males, with the exception of my mum.
"So being able to blend with other females singers is a real treat. It's not something I normally get to do.''
The show
• Dust to Dusky will be performed at the Lake Wanaka Centre on Saturday, April 23 as part of the Aspiring Conversations festival.
