The Wild Reed: Classic Dusty

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Classic Dusty

If you’re a regular visitor to this blog, you would know that the late, great Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) is one of my all-time favorite female vocalists.

Years ago I started a series that I called “Classic Dusty,” in which I shared songs and videos of the woman hailed as “Britain’s best ever pop and soul singer.” Dusty’s most sustained period of commercial success was between 1963 and 1970. Many memorable songs and TV appearances mark this time, one which I call her “classic” era. That’s not to say, of course, that Dusty didn’t have both artistic and commercial success after this time. She definitely did. But it wasn’t as consistent or recognized and celebrated as her output throughout the 1960s.

It’s been 16 years since I’ve shared a Dusty track as part of The Wild Reed’s “Classic Dusty” series. I resume this series tonight with its sixth installment, one which shows Dusty, looking utterly iconic in a beautiful gold gown and ornate necklace, singing her rendition of the classic pop ballad, “How Can I Be Sure.” This decidedly psychedelic clip is from a 1970 Dutch TV special that showcased Dusty and her music. . . . Enjoy!

How can I be sure
In a world that’s constantly changing?
How can I be sure
Where I stand with you?

Whenever I
Whenever I am away from you
I wanna die
’Cause you know I wanna stay with you

How do I know?
Maybe you’re trying to use me
Flying too high can confuse me
Touch me but don’t take me down

Whenever I
Whenever I am away from you
My alibi is telling people
I don’t care for you

Maybe I’m just hanging around
With my head up, upside down
It’s a pity, oh yeah, I can’t seem to find somebody
Who’s as wonderful, baby, as you

How can I be sure?
I really really really wanna know
Really really really wanna know, yeah

How’s the weather?
Whether or not, we’re together
Together we’ll see it much better
I love you, I love you forever
You know where I can be found

How can I be sure
In a world that’s constantly changing?
How can I be sure?
I’ll be sure with you

Notes Paul Howes in his indispensable book, The Complete Dusty Springfield:

Aware that her American recordings, with the exception of “Son-of-a Preacher Man,” had not been doing well in England, Dusty decided in 1970 to record a song specifically for the U.K. market. “It’s a song I’ve been in love with for some time,” she explained, “and that’s a good sign. I think it should go well because it’s a very Eueopean sound, although it is American, and that sort of thing is usually popular.”

The song was “How Can I Be Sure” – yet another number with a title reflecting her insecurities [others include “Where Am I Going,” “Am I the Same Girl,” “See All Her Faces,” and “Mixed Up Girl”]. It was written by two members of the [Young] Rascals and had been a hit for them in the U.S. on Atlantic Records in 1967. Dusty’s treatment of the song is fairly similar. After a quiet start, the whole thing just takes off wih an accordian and string-driven melody that is so infectious it’s hard to believe it never became an enormous hit.

Despite being showered with accolades from the music press (“Dusty’s quality performance,” “Will she ever stop producing these brain-blowing goodies?” and “Another great record”), the disc barely charted. And this time it could not be put down to lack of promotion. The song had received its debut airing on ITC’s Des O’Connor Show [right] a few months before its release and Dusty did numerous television and radio dates when the record actually came out. But the British public was just not interested.

To add insult to injury, it was only two years later that David Cassidy took the song to the top of the UK charts, which must have dented Dusty’s already fragile confidence considerably.