Your Sunday Song: Live It Up
“Give a butch roar or a girlish shriek, I don’t mind who does what, sort it out for yourselves!” – Dusty SpringfieldDusty was born an O'Brien into a Catholic family in 1939 London but there is a lot more to her than that. She was furnished with a lot of soul which came forth in many of her recordings. "Live It Up" was recorded in New York City in 1964 and written by Leon Huff, a stalwart of the music of Philly, who would eventually co-produce Dusty's second Atlantic album, A Brand New Me, as a precursor to the Philadelphia International Sound.
Dusty's 60s recordings, especially, were derivative of Classic RnB, but she had no intention of eclipsing it. Instead she celebrated it. Martha Reeves with whom she had a special relationship says as much in the BBC documentary Full Circle. In fact, "Live It Up" is reminiscent of the Vandellas' "Dancin' In the Street." Dusty's vocal is inspired and inspiring.
It's a song, much like "Dancin'," that can help take one away to a better state of mind in spite of the world and its woeful state. Give a listen. Be Happy for a bit.
Now, you work all week just to make that money, yeah
A-waitin' for the weekend to finally come, yeah, heah
So, now that the weekend is finally here
There's nothing but music in the atmosphere
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah
The music sounds good and the beat is so groovy, yeah
It really sounds good 'cause it really, really moves me, yeah
Oh, dancing dances won't cost you a dime
Listen to the beat and you're bound a good time
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah
Listen to the music, 'cause it sounds so sweet
So, come on everybody
It makes you wanna move your feet, oh yeah
Live it up, living it up, oh, live it up, baby
Come on, live it up, live it up, live it up, yeah, heah
The music sounds good and the beat is so groovy, yeah, come on now
It really sounds good, 'cause it really, really moves me, yeah
So, now that the weekend is finally here
There's nothing but music in the atmosphere
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah, I said come on, and live it up, baby
A-come on, and live it up, yeah, ...
[Leon Huff]
A-waitin' for the weekend to finally come, yeah, heah
So, now that the weekend is finally here
There's nothing but music in the atmosphere
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah
The music sounds good and the beat is so groovy, yeah
It really sounds good 'cause it really, really moves me, yeah
Oh, dancing dances won't cost you a dime
Listen to the beat and you're bound a good time
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah
Listen to the music, 'cause it sounds so sweet
So, come on everybody
It makes you wanna move your feet, oh yeah
Live it up, living it up, oh, live it up, baby
Come on, live it up, live it up, live it up, yeah, heah
The music sounds good and the beat is so groovy, yeah, come on now
It really sounds good, 'cause it really, really moves me, yeah
So, now that the weekend is finally here
There's nothing but music in the atmosphere
So, come on everybody, let's live it up, yeah, I said come on, and live it up, baby
A-come on, and live it up, yeah, ...
[Leon Huff]
And tomorrow is All Hallows' Eve and a time to remember those who have gone on! Here is our mini-tribute to La Springfield.
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