Monday saw the release of the new album ‘The Performance’ and there was also another new release.  A deluxe version of the album ‘Get The Party Started’ has been released for download only on iTunes.  For £4.49 you get 16 tracks including the unreleased Soundscape remix of ‘Get The Party Started’ plus two videos.  The Soundscape mix is unbelievable.  Very good value.  I think this is a special introductory price.  To see details of this click on the link below.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/get-party-started-deluxe-version/id338282548

Part 2 of the 1994 BBC. documentary

The Bassey Blog has a copy of the new album ‘The Performance’ signed by Dame Shirley herself to give away to one lucky fan.  We are very grateful to Dame Shirley and all concerned to be able to do this.  To win this exclusive CD you will need to answer a simple question.  To enter click on the link and away you go!  The competion ends on Monday 16th November and the winner will be notified.  I wish all of you the very best of luck.

http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/reg/reg.pl?id=4171-114850

The Performance

Well was the new album worth the wait?

I spent a little time calming myself down when the album finally dropped through the letterbox.  I was in an absolutely terrible mood and to have played the album immediately would not have done it justice.  I had expected it to arrive a couple of days earlier as I’d paid for special delivery but Royal Mail decided to ignore that.  I’m still waiting for the copies of the deluxe version which were also sent by special delivery and according to the tracking information are ‘on way to hub’ whatever that means!  They’ve been on the way to the hub for 3 days now.  Sorry I digress.  Finally calm enough I put the CD on my audio system and pressed play.

Back of CD Booklet

As soon as the first notes of ‘Almost There’ started to play I was transported into another world.  Then this soft restrained voice singing the first few words came and I was totally lost!  All my anger vanished and all that existed was the feeling that I was listening to something magical and pretty amazing.  Beautiful arrangement and the way the voice builds into the full power towards the end of the song had completely won me over and I hoped the rest of the album would be just as great.  I was not disappointed at all.  Every song brought a new magic with it and I didn’t want them to end.  All too soon the final song ‘The Performance Of My Life’ started and the shivers went down my spine.  Half way through the song my eyes began to fill and by the end notes the tears were flowing.  Only Shirley can do that to me.  She touches every nerve in my body and reaches my very soul.  There was not a single song that I did not like.  Even ‘Nice Men’ which I totally disliked when I first heard it sounded so good.  The quality of the recording is exceptional.  Who would have thought that she could take a simple ‘pretty’ song such as ‘After The Rain’ and sing it so gently as to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end?  This CD certainly shows sides off Shirley we very rarely see and I have to say it does rank as one of her finest ever released.  From the very first note to the last this album stirred up some very special feelings inside me. 

I saw Shirley perform some of these songs at the Roundhouse and although the power of ‘Almost There’ and ‘The Performance ….. ‘ does not come over on the studio recordings I am not disappointed with them.  She has always made a live performance sound  something extra special with songs such as these two.  I would have liked the PSB one to have been sung a little slower on the CD but saying that it has to be my very favourite on the album followed very closely by ‘Almost There’.  ‘Apartment’, ‘This Time’ and ‘As God Is My Witness’ are also brilliant.  Let’s be honest the whole album is superb!  I will not be skipping a single track when I play it and it’s the first time I can honestly say I will have done that.

The album is very nicely presented also.  It looks classy and there are a couple of very nice photographs in the booklet as well as the lyrics to the songs which is something I like.

Well was it worth the wait?  The answer is a bloody great YES!

Next week is a very special and exciting one for fans of Dame Shirley.  Monday sees the official release of the new album ‘The Performance’.  To celebrate this very special occasion The Bassey Blog is to hold a competition.  We have been very fortunate to have been promised a copy of the new CD which has been signed by Dame Shirley which we will offer as the prize to one lucky fan.  Be sure to read the blog on Monday and enter the competition.  You never know it may be your lucky day!

The Performance

For this week I’ve decided to play Shirley Bassey’s version of All That Jazz, recorded in 1998 at the BBC for the programme “Viva Diva” – a lovely recording of a song never released on a CD.

Please could fans send me their suggestions for some songs for me to play. I’d love to be able to play some songs or versions of songs that mean special things for different people, and if you have a special story to share with it, I’d be more than glad to publish it alongside.

All That Jazz

Electric Proms

It’s been announced that Dame Shirley will feature in the new series of ‘Imagine’ presented by Alan Yentob which begins on November 17th.  No date has been given though when the programme on dame Shirley will be screened.  This is something to really look forward.  It was reported that he interviewed her when she was in the recording studio in Ireland as she finished recording the new album.  ‘Imagine’ is broadcast on BBC TV.  As soon as a date is announced I will post it so that you will all know to watch it.

STOP PRESS:  Have just read on a BBC site that it is to be screened on 24th November.

At the Roundhouse

Special thanks to my friend André for the photos.

The Performance

We are now entering the final countdown towards the release of Dame Shirley Bassey’s new CD ‘The Performance’ in less than a week’s time.  I can imagine most of you, like myself, are extremely excited and cannot wait for Monday (or before if we are lucky to receive it early through the post).  It reminds me of being a child and waiting for Christmas!

The album has been receiving very positive reviews from the critics and there has really been very little negativity aimed at it.  It has been advertised as the first studio album for 20 years but that has now been corrected as the first studio album to contain original material in 20 years which is correct.  Her other studio albums have contained covers.

We have heard a number of the songs played on the radio and ‘live’ at the fantastic Electric Proms (what a night that was!).  We’ve also been able to hear samples of all the songs on Amazon.co.uk.  From what I have heard so far this is going to be an exceptional album and I cannot wait to hear it all in its entirity.  I’m going to have to be strict with myself and play it from beginning to end in sequence as I already know I want to hear several on my audio system.  After that first play then I can play in any order I want!

If there are delays with the post then I’ll be waiting at the door of HMV on Monday morning , money in hand, to get a copy so I can play it immediately.  It’ll be on the car stereo before you know it and I’ll be driving straight home to listen to it in comfort.

I hope you all enjoy this album and let’s hope it is a massive success and gives her the incentive to record more!

Below are 2 photos taken by Fabrice Bana at the Roundhouse.  Many thanks Fabrice.

For all new viewers: welcome to our Dame Shirley Bassey blog!

For everybody who wants to know more about our favourite Dame this is part one of a documentary from 1994.

For the blog this week I have chosen two songs taken from a German television programme in the late 1980s. The songs performed are Something and This Is My Life and I particularly love this version of This Is My Life. I hope you enjoy it too and have a great weekend.

Screen Shots from the TV Show

 Something

This Is My Life