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This blog the second part of the Don Black interview where he talks about ‘Goldfinger’. For the video the ‘Goldfinger’ version from Viva Diva from 1998. At the end of the show Dame Shirley comes down in a lift and the golden sprinkles are coming down. Unfortunately she caught one of them in her throat and a doctor had to be called. Being the professional as she is she sang ‘Goldfinger’ as nothing happened.

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Dame Shirley Bassey 'Viva Diva' 1998

For the video CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE

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For this blog we have a radio interview from last week on British Radio with Don Black who was the co-writer of ‘Diamonds are forever’. In the interview he speaks of an extra verse that, in the end was not added to the lyrics:

Diamonds are forever

I can taste the satisfaction

flawless physical attraction

Bitter cold, icy fresh

Till they rest on the flesh they crave for.

The Italian version of Diamonds Are Forever, Vivo Di Diamanti, was due to be released on CD for the very first time on the outstanding compilation “Shirley” that was so disappointingly halted last month. Even from the cracky and hissing vinyl audio of the video below we can still imagine what this stunning vocal performance may sound like if it were to be released in the sound quality it so undoubtedly deserves.

For a video of  Vivo di diamanti CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE

For a short clip of Don Black on “This is your life” CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE

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Oh I nearly forgot!  There was a CD released to celebrate the occasion!  What CD many fans ask.  Well it was ‘The Fabulous Shirley Bassey’ on the Hallmark label and it cost £2.21 (slightly more expensive now though).  It was a reissue of the 1959 album of the same name that was on the EMI Columbia label and even had the same cover.  Must mention also that all the tracks are out of copyright and I’m led to believe Dame Shirley doesn’t get a penny in royalties!

The Fabulous Shirley Bassey

As if that isn’t disappointing enough the next CD due for release in February (around the 27th) is called ‘Grand Dame Of Song’ on the Xtra label.  This one contains 23 tracks and once again all are out of copyright.

Grand Dame Of Song.

As we all are fully aware EMI had planned to issue a rather special 3 CD set called ‘Shirley’ but for reasons unknown (Dame Shirley and her legal team ignored a request for a statement) it was blocked.  There have been many suggestions as to why Dame Shirley blocked it but all I know is that it would have been a really special release for many fans to have a collection which so much care had gone into.  EMI, who are in financial difficulties, decided to honour her on her birthday and spent money collecting this set together.  All the tracks had been remastered and in spite of some fans misgivings they were complete tracks and worthy of releasing.  Dame Shirley decided to throw this honour back in EMI’s face!  Harsh words maybe but in essence that is what she has done.  Fans are wanting material they have not heard before.  The guy who was in charge of the EMI project put a message on ‘The Shirley Bassey Message Board’ explaining about the CD.  For some strange reason it was hidden amongst other messages and so most probably missed by many fans.  As it is already in the public domain then I do not see any reason why it cannot be shown here.

I am the person who put this collection together. It took many, many hours of research to find and then re-master the tracks. Some came fromn the Capital/UA vaults in the US and most of the others were at Abbey Road. The collection meant as a loving tribute to a great artiste, all of the tracks were re-mastered and I can tell you they all sound absolutely terrific. The live album is also a real find and will challenge any of her live recordings as an ultimate in concert album. We were also thinking of putting the single of ‘Guardian of the Highlands’ on the collection aswell (This is from the yet to be released film ‘Sir Billi’) Please be assured that nothing was done underhanded or for any other reason than to give the fans something special to mark her birthday in January.

It appears to me that a lot of time and effort went into the ‘Shirley’ project.  ’Runaway’ is one of the tracks fans have been waiting so long to have on CD and the opportunity to get another of the Italian recordings also.  Tracks fans have not heard and a whole live concert also.  Many fans who have spoken to me personally have expressed their disappointment that Dame Shirley can easily block something like this which fans would love yet there are many CDs released such as the two I’ve mentioned.  Maybe she and her team cannot stop these releases but why stop something that fans would like and buy?  I counted 43 download albums on iTunes recently that had been released in 2011 on there and they all were of tracks out of copyright!  The proliferation of these recordings is beginning to distort the perception of her as a recording artist.  I spoke to someone who runs an independent record store and he was telling me he no longer stocks these CDs as people are not interested in the same material constantly being rehashed.  He states he still gets asked if any new material is being released as they are only wanting something different.  When I told him of this 3 CD set and it had been shelved he was amazed and indicated it was just the sort of release he definitely could sell.

Although I will buy the 2 CDs mentioned (I’ve already bought ‘Fabulous’) as I collect all CDs by her I hope this is not what we are going to get in the future.  There are still the Italian recordings, the Spanish album and ‘Live in Japan ’77′ to be remastered and put on CD.  Are record companies going to bother doing these if there is any chance of them being blocked?  I’m not sure but let’s hope we do get them all and sooner rather than later.

Out of interest I’ve just checked iTunes and there are 3 albums and one expected 19th January of this out of copyright material released on there since 1st January 2012!

Cover Image

Today Thought I’d Ring You (With Alain Delon)

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(Special thanks to Susan and Peter)

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For the video CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE

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She helped me to cope
with being a teen mum

-Dame Shirley Bassey on her mother-

Superstar Dame Shirley Bassey's mum was her greatest supporter

SHOWBIZ legend Shirley Bassey is best known for recording theme songs to three James Bond movies.
The singer celebrated her 75th birthday yesterday and during her life has kept some secrets better than 007 – such as never naming the fathers of her two daughters, one of whom sadly died.
Twice divorced Dame Shirley, born into poverty in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, to an English mum and Nigerian dad, now lives in Monte Carlo. Here, she talks to GARTH PEARCE about the influence of her late mother Eliza.

MY mother would always say: “Keep some money for a rainy day.” So I have lived well and saved well.

I still have a good luck charm, which was made for me by my mother. It is in the shape of a gold disc, around a bracelet. “So in love,” it says, at the side.

The song So In Love was the flip side of a record I had, which made No 4. I got a silver record and my mother said it should have been gold. So she took this bracelet to a jeweller in Cardiff and had it made. After that, I had a lot of records which went gold and platinum. (Shirley once had five albums in the top 15.) I still remember that Friday night was my mother’s night and she would sit around the fireplace at home and tell ghost stories. I used to be terrified but excited too.

Encouraging

When I left school I worked in a factory and used to sing along with the radio on a show called Worker’s Playtime. I was always being told to shut up.

But my mother would be the opposite, always encouraging me to sing in pubs and clubs after work. She was my greatest supporter.

When I was pregnant with my daughter Sharon I was just 16. It was terrible at the time — the stigma. My mother helped me deal with it.

It is now as common as muck, of course — you know, girls having babies and not getting married. In those days, everything was secret.

But I entered a talent contest and won. Suddenly, there I was. So when I had girls of my own, I wanted to give them the education that I missed. In doing so, I had to go away and work. They were very unhappy about that. At the time they would say: “Why do you have to go away?” When people pointed to my success they did not realise the sacrifices that I made.

I also panic with children, whereas my daughter, Sharon — who has three of her own — never did.

I could not cope with marriage, could not cope with children and I had a career over which I had no control. I started on a tidal wave and I rode that wave for most of my life.

I would be backstage, waiting to go on, thinking: “I do not want to be doing this.”

Nerves

But once I was on and the spotlight hit me, it was magic time. It is an incredible high — you don’t need drugs, drink or anything. It is electric. I give it 101 per cent. I am controlled on stage, the nerves have gone and I am on top of the world. Off stage, though, I am totally different. I would never have believed I could sing in front of thousands.

My career has hurt my relationships. Men of my generation were brought up to think of themselves as the provider, with the woman second place.

They think they can handle a woman like me for a while — but I have seen when they begin to crack and are unable to take it any more.

My former husband Sergio — I hit him once. I gave him a black eye. But instead of telling the truth and making a joke about it, he made an excuse. He said he had bumped into a door.

I was 8st 5lb when I was 19 but I have not kept my girlish body much over the years. In fact, I was not all that girlish at all. I was so thin that my manager insisted my dressmaker pad out my hips.

Everyone thought I had wonderful hips when I was young but it was all a lie. I eventually filled out to 130lb and that is how it stayed for years.

As my mother used to say: “If you’ve got it, show it.”

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