Any Shirley Bassey Fans out there?

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:48 pm

Well done Amazon--it arrived today--bang on schedule---really looking forward to listening to this one.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:59 am

Hi Mariana

Did you like it?

For years some fans could not stand the Yesterdays album. But BGO seems to have succeeded in taming some of Shirley's harsh/grating voice on the tracks. Over The Rainbow was the worst. Can you stand it?

Looks like their next release is a pair of Dame Shirley's live albums.......Live At The Talk Of The Town & Live At The Pigalle. Can't wait.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:11 pm

Hi Terebnce-I like some of the songs on "Yesterdays"--"Time after Time" being my favourite, which I always love---"Over the Rainbow" sounded good-and she sang the chorus, that always helps.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:36 pm

Hi Mariana

Regarding Shirley Bassey's United Artists albums of the 70s, have you noticed a change in her voice and phrasing after the Never Never Never album?

The 1st few albums were great.....Something, Something Else, I Capricorn, And I Love You So until Never Never Never. Then she went to USA to record Nobody Does It Like Me where they mixed her voice so low you had to crank up the volume to hear her.
The next few albums were downhill in my opinion, gradually of course. She sang in harsher tones and her phrasing was odd though distinctive. Her enunciation too came under scrutiny as she suddenly pronounced some words in a rather odd way. Fans lapped it up as dynamic. Detractors said she was crude and coarse. She hit that all-time low with the album Yesterdays. The next album "The Magic Is You" had her singing in a low key throughout the entire album. UA dropped her off their roster of artistes after this album. Sad but true that Dame Shirley was at her best in front of an audience. I was told she hated recording & the confines of a recording studio.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:52 pm

Hi Terence-I am sure that you are right, but I do not have many recordings of Shirley's. You take my heart away was my only one for many years, and I just have a few now--mostly 2-on 1's.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:42 pm

Lots of big-money items on ebay for Shirley Bassey at the moment--a signed Gucci belt-currently Â£200.00- Japanese 2 lp live in Japan--Â£55.00 Bond Collection cd Â£49.99 Mexican Lp--Â£35.00 Spanish cd Â£34.00.

I like the sound of the Bond Collection-I gather that Dame Shirley sings all the Bond songs that are on this cd.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:03 pm

Hi Mariana

The Bond CD which has Dame Shirley singing all the Bond songs is so bad she went to court to stop its release. But it was too late and some copies were already sold. The backing is so amateurish the Dame sounds like she is in a karaoke club. It doesn't help that she put in one of her throwaway efforts. Maybe she did not find the arrangements inspiring? If you would like a copy, just let me know. By the way, I have all the Japanese & Spanish CDs as a true fan would.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:50 pm

Hi Terence--yes I guessed that you might have those recordings in your collection.

I would love a copy of the "Bond Themes"---thanks.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:44 am

Get This Party Started is now at #21 in the US Billboard
â€œHot Dance Club Playâ€

It has spent 3 weeks on the charts rising from 40 to 32 to 21.

Go to no. 1 Dame Shirley.....we know you can do it!

Mariana,
Would you like a copy of the Lost Horizon soundtrack as well? I remember we were discussing the song "If I Could Go Back" which was a minor hit for Vikki Carr and you said you haven't heard it.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:23 pm

Thanks Terence-that would be great.

I guess we are all keeping our fingers crossed for Dame Shirley--I betr she never expected all this when she signed up to do that ad !

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:10 pm

Hi Mariana

I have received my copy of the new Bassey twofer. What a pleasant surprise it is to find that YESTERDAYS is so much better than when I last heard it on vinyl. Dame Shirley has become more classy as the new remastering has brought out more nuance in her singing voice and it is not as brassy or coarse.
I hear feeling and expression where previously I only heard belting. You are right. Her OVER THE RAINBOW is a revelation!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:21 pm

Hi Terence--glad you are enjoying it. Some really nice songs o "Yesterdays", although I do not like them all-------on "You take my heart away" the only track that I do not like ios Â£Stargazer"

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:36 pm

Hi Mariana

Here's my review at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Take-Heart- ... merReviews

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:39 pm

Hi Terence-great review from you--looks like being a popular re-issue.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:31 am

Itâ€™s gone from No. 16 to No. 13 this week in the Billboard charts!

Matt Monro Forum

Any Shirley Bassey Fans out there?

how's the sound?

her change in vocal style

Bassey's at #21

Subdued Bassey

my review

Get This Party Started