There are many facets to Dusty Springfield's career, and this brief set tells only part of the story. But for as much as it takes on--Springfield's hits from the start of her solo career up to (but not including) her triumphant soul album, Dusty in Memphis--it shows an artist of immense talent, range, and self-assurance. From the start, Springfield was very selective about her material, but the songs that she did choose she was able to make utterly her own--"I Only Want to Be with You," an homage to the great girl-group records produced by Phil Spector; her ultra-sultry reading of Bacharach/David's "The Look of Love"; her dynamic, sexually direct take on "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." The Very Best of Dusty Springfield offers a more generous selection of cuts for a few extra bucks, but there's much to recommend this one, too. --Daniel Durchholz