Sweet Baby


This week promises to have at least two very interesting performances from two very interesting women both of whom seem eternal: Lesley Gore and Ilene Kristen. Both are blessing the Big Apple with their presences. More reasons to remain committed to New York. Both were born here and both have a lot of talent to expend. Later on this week a story we did with Ilene will be published prior to her appearance at the Triad. In the meantime we will wax on about Ms. Gore.

“You Don’t Own Me” was actually written by two men but it would take a woman to give it the proper send off and very well Ms. Gore did indeed. With the advent of that song to her repertoire gone were the adolescent humiliations of “It’s My Party” and the weeping that ensued. There is a new version of “You Don’t Own Me” on her new album, Ever Since which has been critically acclaimed. Her shows at Joe’s Pub 425 Lafayette St in New York are sold out. They are adding two more there in August.

When the much loved Dusty passed on in 1999, Lesley wrote a eulogy for Time Magazine which said just as much about its author as the subject:

I met Dusty Springfield in 1963 on the BBC-TV show Top of the Pops when I was promoting “It’s My Party.” Her talent was obvious the moment she opened her mouth – a sound so unique that she could take someone else’s song and make it her own. She sang live with the band and sounded totally awesome …

Our Paths crossed again in Los Angeles in the 70s. We both enjoyed watching women’s tennis and developed quite a friendship … When she recorded a song I wrote, “Love Me By Name” Dusty knew exactly what she wanted. She handpicked the musicians and worked with the arranger for weeks. When she went into the vocal booth, put on the headset and closed her eyes, she reached down into the depths of her soul and made magic. As Dusty is wailing and the record is fading she ad-libs two little words: “sweet baby.” She reserved this phrase for songs she most loved. It was the Springfield seal of approval …

La Springfield’s ad lib may very well have been referring to the author of the aforementioned song. It comes from an album of the same title that Gore released in 1975 under the guiding hand of Quincy Jones. It, too, was a critically acclaimed album of Gore originals. There was a terrific duet that popped in the 80s with Lou Christy, but Lesley tells us that for the most part she’s been practicing for the last 30 years. Looks like practice makes perfect..

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