Thought I would follow up your post on Something
As I said, I used to prefer Shirley Bassey's version too, but I am loathe now to classify anything as "the definitive version" for the fact that improving technology over the years allows re-workings of great songs that can never be achieved by the original artists, which is in a way rather unfair. Most of them have no chance to re-record using better technology. My Beatles recording of Something is on CD but obviously taken from the original Parlophone mono recording which severely limits the dynamic range. Also, as I have continued to grow in age, size and wisdom (the only thing not growing anymore is the hair on my head
) my perception has changed to be far more tolerant of all things in life and look for appreciation everywhere.Of course we all know that our particular liking for a specific version is not just based on the performance, but on our own lives - what it means to us, what we were doing at the time we heard it etc. etc. The switch for me to the original recording came after George Harrison died and I watched the tribute concert for him on TV, where various people like Clapton and McCartney performed Something. It made me go back to listen the original version and I was smitten by the poignancy more than the big sound and awesome vocals of the Bassey version. Must get the DVD of that concert by the way.....
I also have recordings of Something by Frank Sinatra and Joe Cocker, which come much further down my own list of faves.
Terra
