Dame Shirley Bassey looking gorgeous at the 2017 Pride of Britain Awards on Monday where she was wearing a fabulous backless dress. Below some pictures and a very short video of the event. The event will be televised on ITV at 8 p.m. on the 7th. of November.

-Shortly after arriving at the ceremony, William greeted Prime Minister Theresa May and celebrities including Rod Stewart and his wife Penny, actress Joan Collins and singer Shirley Bassey-

Today three newspaper articles from 1974 when Shirley Bassey and her husband Sergio Novak returned home after she performed at Batley Variety Club in Yorkshire and they witnessed a car accident in front of them. Shirley helped the three women involved still wearing her stage gown. Below also an interview from 2008 where she speaks about the accident.

Shirley Bassey and Nelson Riddle being interviewed before a Frank Sinatra concert in London in 1962 and two Frank Sinatra standards sung by Shirley Bassey: Strangers In The Night & My Way

Nelson Riddle made an album with Shirley called Let’s Face The Music And Dance.
The sleeve note for the album was written by Shirley’s husband Kenneth Hume.

Sleeve note by Kenneth Hume:
When I was asked to do these notes, I wondered whether it was a very good idea, as whatever I write about Shirley Bassey must be biased strongly in her favour, as I am her husband.

When Vic Lewis booked Nelson Riddle for a tour with Shirley, we were all very excited; being great fans of Nelson Riddle’s from way back. It was only to be a very limited tour around England for ten days, so when someone suggested them doing an LP together, we thought that this would not be possible, remembering that Nelson was under contract with another recording company. We put the idea to Norman Newell, who was very enthusiastic and immediately got to work trying to arrange it. Both Shirley and I will be eternally grateful to him that he did in fact achieve this.

While they were touring, travelling all day and sometimes part of the night, playing a different city every evening, they discussed what songs should go on the LP, and whenever they could find a few minutes to spare, Nelson Riddle, Shirley and Shirley’s own musical director Raymond Long, got together to set keys and discuss arrangements.

A very few days after the tour was over, they started recording. One of the last arrangements being What Now My Love, was written by Nelson Riddle the morning of the recording session and parts of the orchestra score only arrived halfway through the session – the copying being done by an extraordinary organisation, appropriately called Panic Music – but for me, the final result is perfection.

The choice of numbers is inspired and the arrangements have that touch of genius which has put Nelson Riddle so far above the crowd. His arrangement and Shirley’s performance of Let’s Face The Music had the orchestra applauding during the session, which in this business is a very great compliment. I sincerely hope that this is the first of many recordings she may make with Nelson Riddle in the future.

People have been writing, and running out of superlatives, about Shirley for eight years – and recently the press have been talking about “the new Shirley Bassey” – there is no new Shirley Bassey. When we first met, eight years ago, she was just starting and I directed her first television show. She then had an extraordinary voice, but very little control, and a fantastic, completely underdeveloped talent. In these eight years, she has worked incredibly hard and progressed as an artiste and developed her own natural talent, beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. but, as I said at the beginning, I am biased. On this recording Shirley Bassey has arrived – and if she can top this LP, I, for one, will believe it when I hear it.

Review:  (By Bruce Eder, All Music Guide)

Bassey’s fourth EMI/Columbia album is regarded as the magnum opus of her pre-Goldfinger career, bringing her together with conductor/arranger Nelson Riddle. (Ironically, it was Riddle’s still being under contract to Capitol Records, which prevented him from working with Sinatra on Reprise at the time, that made this record possible). Riddle approached this album from the standpoint that less is more, providing elegant and subdued accompaniment that emphasized the strings. Bassey’s voice comes across with a delicacy of nuance that is startling to hear, achieving new levels of subtlety on this album. One may disagree with the order of the songs. This reviewer finds the moodily expressive “I Should Care,” reminiscent of Judy Garland at her best, to be the ideal opener, but not with the overall content of this album.

Throughout Let’s Face The Music, one gets almost a sense of Bassey slipping inside of these songs, becoming part of them and they her, rather than merely performing them. The interpretations are fresh in other respects as well, with works such as “Let’s Fall In Love” or “The Second Time Around” given unexpectedly slow tempos that work beautifully. Riddle is so careful and measured in his every orchestral nuance of this record, that he leaves us open to surprises at many points, perhaps most startlingly the sudden appearance of a harp glissando on “Spring Is Here,” after we’ve been lulled into the expectation that no part of this orchestra will play full out. Re-released in the late 1990’s as part of EMI’s anniversary reissue series, remastered in 24-bit sound.

Track Listing of the album:

01. – Let’s Face The Music And Dance
02. – I Should Care
03. – Let’s Fall In Love
04. – The Second Time Around
05. – Imagination
06. – All The Things You Are
07. – I Get A Kick Out Of You
08. – Everything I Have Is Yours
09. – Spring Is Here
10. – All Of Me
11. – I Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind
12. – What Now My Love

Another beautiful album from Japan this is a 16 track album from the ‘Gold Superdisc’ series and was released in 1978.

To my knowledge this was the first album to be released from this series as the following year (1979) it was reissued twice with different sleeves.  Once again a very high quality thick card sleeve and issued with an unusual top obi which folds over the top of the sleeve.  Normally the obi is a slip with information in Japanese that slides over the sleeve but this one is in card and folded loosely over the top.  The tracks are mostly from the UA catalogue but ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’ are included which could be the Columbia recordings.  Unfortunately I am unable to confirm that as I am unable to play vinyl at the present time.  (Note to self – must rectify that quickly).  As is usual with Japanese releases there is an insert sheet with lyrics etc printed on it.

Another great release from the golden age of vinyl.

Below are the scans of the two reissues of this album.  I particularly love the first one.

People have asked me if I have the records I post about and the answer is yes.  The scans are of the sleeves from records that are in my own collection.

Two days ago a new video appeared on YouTube with the full video of Shirley Bassey on the 1968 San Remo Festival. Till now there was only a short clip of this available.

La Vita
Music written by B. Canfora
Original Italian words by A. Amurri
English lyrics by Norman Newell.

Released in 1968 on an Italian Single and on the Italian album La Vita. Available on CD digitally remastered on the collection Bassey – The EMI/UA Years 1959 – 1979.

For this song the lyrics of the original Italian song “La Vita” were partially rewritten in English by Norman Newell. In the next step he penned English words for the remaining Italian parts of the song and the result was This Is My Life.

In the spring of 1968 Shirley Bassey sang La Vita live at the San Remo Festival in Italy. Shirley Bassey had selected this song to win the festival with. Among the other contestants were Dionne Warwick and Louis Armstrong. Shirley Bassey received the greatest crowd ovation of any performer with her impassioned rendition of “La Vita”, but unfortunately she couldn’t get into the the finals, because of a long outstanding bias against non-Italian contestants, or maybe because of the dialect she has. Although she failed to win the festival, the Italian public fell in love with this Welsh diva.

A single with “This Is My Life” had been released in Italy then and to remember the public about the festival it has the note “XVIII Festival Di Sanremo” on the cover though it contains the English version (UA 3130, B-side: “Without A Word”).

Lyrics:

Funny how a lonely day,
can make a person say:
What good is my life
Funny how a breaking heart,
can make me start to say: W
hat good is my life
Funny how I often seem,
to think I’ll find another dream
In my life
Till I look around and see,
this great big world is part of me
And my life

Ah, la vita
Più bello della vita non c’è niente
E forse tanta gente non lo sa, non lo sa, non lo sa

Ah, la vita
Che cosa di più bello esiste al mondo
E non ce ne accorgiamo quasi mai, quasi mai, quasi mai

Sometime when I feel afraid,
I think of what a mess
I’ve made Of my life
Crying over my mistakes,
forgetting all the breaks
I’ve had In my life
I was put on earth to be,
a part of this great world is me
And my life
Guess I’ll just add up the score,
and count the things
I’m grateful for In my life

Ah, la vita
Più bello della vita non c’è niente
E forse tanta gente non lo sa, non lo sa, non lo sa

Ah, la vita
Che cosa di più bello esiste al mondo
E non ce ne accorgiamo quasi mai, quasi mai, quasi mai

Ah, la vita
Che cosa di più bello esiste al mondo
E non ce ne accorgiamo quasi mai, quasi mai, quasi mai

Ah, la vita
Ah, la vita
Ah, la vita

(Transcribed by Roman supported by Francesco)

Several fans on FB have been commenting about a BBC radio programme that was transmitted at the end of 1972 which featured Shirley and Norman Newell being interviewed and naturally Shirley singing.  Brian Fahey is also featured as he was the conductor for the New Scottish Orchestra.

From what I understand this has been posted on the blog previously but the link is no longer available but they mentioned that I might be able to post it again.  I’d forgotten all about it and wasn’t sure I had it but there it was in my archives!  I listened to it just to make sure it was all ok so hope you will enjoy hearing it.

The photo was taken from the session for the 1972 album ‘And I Love You So’ which was released in 1972.

Chanson d’enfance (Song of my childhood) from the musical ‘Aspects of Love’ is a beautiful song from the 1993 album “Shirley Bassey sings the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber” and is partly sung in French and in English.

Lyrics:

Pas de tendresse
No tenderness
Et pas de joie
And no joy
Loin d’ici
Far from here
Loin de toi
Far from you
Rien de plus triste
Nothing is sadder
Que mes soupirs
Let my sigh
Lorsque vient le jour
When the day comes
Où il me faut partir
Where I must go
Chanson d’enfance
Song of my childhood
Tu vis toujours dans mon cœur
You l’ve forever in my heart
Toi, la plus douce!
You’re the sweetest
Toi, la plus tendre!
You’re the most tender !
What could be sweeter?
Nothing is sweeter
What could be sweeter?
Nothing is sweeter

The official video from “With one look” from the album.

Translation (by Ed)

SHIRLEY BASSEY: DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

FIVE MUCH LOVED PERSONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL OF MONACO, ALL CHOSEN BY PRINCE ALBERT

Shirley Bassey is the voice of “Golfinger” one of the many great James Bond movies. In September the singer is doing a tour of Great Britain: London, Glasgow, Blackpool and of course Cardiff where her family always has the first ten rows.

She was not born looking like she just came back from the hairdresser and possesses more than a hundred hats.
She was born in Cardiff, a Nigerian father and a Welsh mother, and she lives in Monte Carlo. In this magical place she decided to put her bag after two marriages, which have in turn trained in Lugano and Marbella. Solitude sun facing the sea. Alone but rebel at learning the French language. She has tried. One day, she ventured to say “a pea” instead of “a little bit.” Everyone laughed and she did it again. It is the symbolic and sensual voice of three of the most famous James Bond films “Goldfinger”, “Moonraker” and “Diamonds for Ever”. Once again, for the gala of the Legion of Honour at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, she thrilled the spectators with her rubato, its syncopation and its range hoarse. A beautiful singer dressed in black veils and gold glitter. A fire on stage. And at the end of the show, the roses never ended up, flying over her feet. The Queen of England decorated Shirley Bassey ribbon of Order of the British Empire. That day, the singer was wearing a black dress, strict, enlivened with a feathered hat, also black. She is preparing a tour in Great Britain for the month of September. It will be London, Glasgow, Blackpool and of course Cardiff, the capital of Wales, where her family is every time in all the seats of the first ten rows. Then a diva discusses her childhood.

Shirley received a silver disc for the album from Michael Ball

The year 1975 was a very busy year. There was the recording of a BBC show, the album Good Bad But Beautiful was released and there was a world tour. (Europe, Austalia, Japan, USA) Below a video from 1975 of Shirley Bassey in rehearsal where she sings And I Love You So.

Dame Shirley Bassey will perform at an event to honour the life of Sir Bruce Forsyth next week, the day before what would have been his 90th birthday.

The comedian, singer, dancer and presenter – who died in August last year – will be remembered at the BBC Studios event at the London Palladium, the venue which helped propel him to fame.

The show will chart the entertainment legend’s career, and will be hosted by his former Strictly co-host Tess Daly.

Dame Shirley has been confirmed as one of the acts for the glittering tribute, which will be broadcast on BBC One at a later date.

Dame Shirley BasseyDame Shirley Bassey will pay tribute to a ‘talented singer, dancer, actor’ (Matt Crossick/PA)
In a statement via the BBC, Dame Shirley said: “Sir Bruce Forsyth was a born entertainer – a talented singer, dancer, actor – always putting a smile on people’s faces.

“I’m honoured to be performing one of his favourite songs in his memory.”

The BBC has previously said that the hour-long celebration will have music, dance, entertainment and comedy at its heart, and will also feature dance performances and onstage tributes from star guests.

Staged on the eve of what would have been his birthday, February 21, the show will star the live Strictly Come Dancing band and vocalists, led by Dave Arch.

Others set to feature include former Strictly judge Len Goodman and presenting duo Ant and Dec. Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, said: ‘I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Bruce than this celebration at the Palladium – a theater he so loved.

Sir Bruce was was a household name in the UK for generations (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)Sir Bruce was was a household name in the UK for generations (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
Charlotte Moore, BBC director of content, previously said: “I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Bruce than this celebration at the Palladium – a theatre he so loved.

“Bruce was such a favourite with the BBC One audience who I know will savour this hour of entertainment, music and commemoration of a true showbiz legend.”

Sir Bruce cemented his place in the hearts of the nation following his stint as the host of ITV’s Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958.

In 2005, a bust of Sir Bruce’s head was placed inside the Palladium, to mark his long-running relationship with the central London venue.

For a previous post CLICK HERE

Below the 1991 Easter Show that Shirley Bassey was on and where she did a duet with Bruce Forsyth.

It has been reported on social media that Dame Shirley Bassey will be on Blake’s new album out this spring where she will sing The Impossible Dream. Below the video from he Henley festival from in 2016  where she performed with them live on stage, accompanied by the BBC Concert orchestra. 

From a German magazine from the seventies this funny article:

Quarrel in the house of Shirley Bassey

The temperamental Sergio Novak blew up last week. Shirley’s phone bill was once again sky-high: The Italian  phone company sent him an 800 Euro bill for the month of January. Sergio said his wife was sailing close to the wind.
The furious husband in the remote Lugano tried to contact his wife in London. After a four-minute conversation, he learned from the reception of the Hilton that; ‘Madame is out’. Fee for four minutes on the phone: 30 Euro.
After six minutes on the phone with Shirley’s dressmaker Doug Darnell the message was: ‘Madame left the salon 10 minutes ago’.
The understanding wardrobe lady at White Apple took even longer. ‘Miss Bassey is in rehearsal for her new tour and must not be disturbed!’ But then she seemed to sense the heat of Sergio’s now tarnished red head.
Shirley took over the phone, listened to the three-minute surge of Italian-English bad words from back home and then cooly countered (in 5 seconds) : ‘For ten years I am calling my mother every day in Wales. If you are away I always use your telephone but in recent months you were just far too long at home’.
To save money, now manager-husband Sergio had the gold idea: Shirley’s mother will accompany her daughter on the tour. Sergio: ‘It’s much cheaper’. (Thanks to Rien for the article, translation by Ed and Pieter)
 

Two songs that go very well with this article are ‘Pronto sono io’ and ‘Thought I’d ring you.  Below you can see the cover of the single ‘Pronto sono io’. The picture of the cover was taken in front of the apartment building in Lugano in Switzerland where Shirley lived before moving to the villa ‘Capricorn’ on the borders of lake Lugano. 

 Pronto sono io (Hello this is me)

Lyrics:
English translation)

(man’s voice:)

Hello, Hello… this is me
It’s me, darling, please listen to me
Excuse me, but you know
Someone told me that you’re leaving tomorrow
Hello… where are you
Are you listening or not? please answer me
Oh, there you are
Thank you for being there, please listen to me:
Tomorrow you will go away
Tomorrow, you know
That you’ll take my life away with you
It doesn’t matter, my love
That you didn’t say “goodbye”
You did it not to hurt me
Hello… where are you
Are you listening or not? please answer me
Oh, there you are
Thank you for being there, please listen to me:
Tomorrow you will go away
Tomorrow, you know
That you’ll take my life away with you
It doesn’t matter, my love
That you didn’t say “goodbye”
You did it not to hurt me
(phone is hung up on the other side)
Pronto… dove sei
Hello, where are you?
You don’t answer anymore
Goodbye, my love
Goodbye, my love
Goodbye, my love

Here you can listen to both sides of the single that Shirley did with al Corley (from Dynasty) The a-side was ‘Remember’ and on the b-side ‘Thought I’d ring you’.

Remember

Thought I’d ring you

Today some concert reviews from 1976. That year saw a wold tour, the recording of 6 BBC shows and the release of the Love Life And Feelings album.

Today the Bruce Forsyth Easter-show from 1991.
Dame Shirley with a hilarious performance of In The Still Of The Night and with Bruce Forsyth: the Barbra Streisand & Don Johnson duet: Till I Loved You after that her final song How Do You Keep The Music Playing? 

You Take My Heart Away was recorded for the 1977 album You Take My Heart Away and is from the soundtrack of the movie ‘Rocky’ which came out in 1976. The words and the music are written by Bill Conti. Below two videos with live versions of the song. One is from a 1979 BBC show and the other is  from a concert in Sydney from 1978.

CLICK HERE for an interesting article about the song.

(Part of the article): The UK proved to be a legacy music home for the Rocky ballad when a year after its release Welsh singer Shirley Bassey recorded “You Take My Heart Away” as the title track of her 22nd studio album. Bassey, whose powerful voice was behind the themes of three James Bond films, dramatically changed the tenor of the song to a pop style that served as the opening number during her ’70s-era concerts.

Lyrics:

Touch me,
take me in your arm,
shelter me from harm,
let me love you for a million years or more,
I never felt this way before,
before your kiss,
you take my heart away, away.

Love me, love me from your heart,
let us never part,
bring me all the dreams you thought would never be,
we’ll make them all reality,
just you and me,
you take my heart away, away.

You’re my dream come true,
baby I love you,
I confess I need ya,
I will never leave you alone,
oh I love you true,
my whole world is you,
I confess I need ya,
and I will never leave you alone.
You take my heart away, away.

Touch me,
take me in your arms,
shelter me from harm,
let me love you for a million years or more,
I never felt this way before,
before your dreams,
you take my heart away, away.

Love me, love me from your heart,
let us never part,
bring me all the dreams you thought would never be,
we’ll make them all reality,
just you and me,
you take my heart away, away.

You’re my dream come true,
baby I love you,
I confess I need ya,
I will never leave you alone,
oh I love you true,
my whole world is you,
I confess I need ya,
and I will never leave you alone.
You take my heart away, away.

You take my heart away, away.

Last week at The London Palladium was the recording of BBC One’s tribute to the late Bruce Forsyth, which it has been announced will be broadcast on Sunday March 11th.

Shirley Bassey raised the roof with a performance of one of Bruce’s favourite songs ‘Almost Like Being In Love’ – receiving standing ovations and compliments galore on social media from those in attendance…

Dame Shirley is reported in The Express as saying: “Sir Bruce Forsyth was a born entertainer – a talented singer, dancer, actor – always putting a smile on people’s faces.”

This programme was for the 1985 Cardiff Concert that was broadcast on TV later that year