NEWCASTLE STUFF is proud to announce our collection of songs from one of the region’s finest soul divas: Miss Cushty Springfield.

Born Paula Rubenstein in Spittal Tongues, in 1931, Cushty was part of the early 1960s ‘Geordie Invasion’ of America, along with fellow local females Sandyford Shaw, Cilla Blackhall, and former factory worker Petula Clark-Chapman.

She achieved early chart success on both sides of the Atlantic with her debut single Aah Ownly Wanna Be Wi’ Yee. The hits continued with Aah Just Divvent Knaa What To Dee With Meesel and Yee Divvent Hef To Say Yi Love Iz, before her legendary album Cushty In Morpeth yielded her best-known song, Son Of A Preacher Chep.

After a lean period in the 1970s, a chance meeting in Easington Colliery with the Pit Prop Boys lead to a collaboration that produced one final UK and US smash hit: Worriva Done T’ Desorve This?

Cushty remains as relative today as ever: her trademark beehive has even been copied by the region’s current soul diva, Amy Fencehouse.