It’s with great sadness that we make this announcement. Earlier this year we heard whispers of an exciting project by EMI Records to celebrate and commemorate Dame Shirley Bassey’s upcoming birthday.
EMI own recordings from Bassey’s most successful era as a recording artist and despite the record label’s much reported financial difficulties, had invested significantly in unearthing and digitally remastering unheard Bassey material to produce an exciting new 3 CD set.
The track-listing and CD cover are below and will no doubt have Bassey fans everywhere salivating! It was provisionally scheduled for release on January 8th, the date of Dame Shirley’s 75th birthday.
Sadly we are now reliably informed that the CD had to be shelved due to a legal objection from DSB. We sent an email to Dame Shirley Bassey’s lawyer but are yet to receive any comment or statement.
As we think about what gifts to get our loved ones this Christmas and after very careful consideration we decided that as this compilation would have been top of every Bassey fan’s wishlist it is our moral obligation to share this news with all our fellow fans today.
DISC ONE
01. I’ve Got A Song For You (1966)
02. Shirley (1966)
03. Never, Never, Never (1973)
04. For All We Know (1972)
05. Till Love Touches Your Life (1971)
06. When You Smile (1975)
07. Moonraker (1979)
08. And I Love You So (1972)
09. I (Who Have Nothing) (1966) (Alternative Version Unreleased on CD)
10. Fool On The Hill (1970)
11. Light My Fire (1970)
12. Something (1970)
13. My Way (1970)
14. Goldfinger (1964) (From Soundtrack EP 1965)
15. If You Go Away (1967)
16. Burn My Candle (1967)
17. The Liquidator (1966)
18. La Vita (1968) (Italian Chorus)
19. Kiss Me Honey, Honey Kiss Me (1967)
20. As I Love You (1967)
21. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
22. Big Spender (1967) (US Version)
23. The Greatest Performance Of My Life (1972)
DISC TWO
01. Look For Me Tomorrow (I’ll Be Gone) (1967)
02. I Write The Songs (1976) (Previously Unreleased)
03. Without A Word (1968)
04. Everything I Own (1973) (New Mix)
05. Why Can’t I Cry? (1968) (Previously Unreleased)
06. I’m Not Anyone (1974)
07. Night Moves (1979)
08. Vivo Di Diamanti (1971) (Italian Version)
09. My Liquidator (1966) (Film Version)
10. Because You’re Mine (1968) (Previously Unreleased)
11. Runaway (1976) (Previously Unreleased on CD)
12. Ease On Down The Road (1976) (Previously Unreleased)
13. Copacabana (1979) (US Release) (Previously Unreleased on CD)
14. It’s Always 4 am (1969)
15. Moonraker (Disco) (1979) (End Title) (Not Commonly on Bassey CDs)
16. If I Should Love Again (1972)
17. Where Is Love? (1972)
18. I Got Lost In His Arms (1962) (Previously Unreleased)
19. Until It’s Time For You To Go (1971)
20. The Singer (1973) (Previously Unreleased)
21. I Believe in Music (1973) (Previously Unreleased)
22. Don’t You Pass Me By (1968) (Previously Unreleased)
DISC THREE
Shirley Bassey Live at The Royal Albert Hall 1973
With Arthur Greenslade and Orchestra
(Previously Unreleased Album Including Unbroadcast Material)
01. Goldfinger Fanfare
02. Where Am I Going?
03. Shirley
04. And I Love You So
05. Let Me Sing and I’m Happy
06. I’d like To Hate Myself in the Morning
07. Make the World a Little Younger (Previously Unbroadcast)
08. Going, Going, Gone (Previously Unbroadcast)
09. Without You
10. Goldfinger
11. Day By Day
12. Never, Never, Never
13. Somehow (Previously Unbroadcast Version)
14. Greatest Performance of my Life
15. This Is My Life
16. The Party’s Over (Previously Unbroadcast)
17. Something (Previously Unbroadcast)
The video below shows “Somehow” as broadcast on BBC TV New Year’s Day 1974. The new CD featured a digitally remastered recording of this song where the end lyric is performed like the studio version.
United Artists recorded this and an alternative show with intention of releasing but in the end only Live At Carnegie Hall saw the light of day.
The comments are open below if you’d like to. Please note that comments containing swear words are automatically rejected!
The Bassey Blog Team
Dame Shirley Bassey Blog 
damn..
(delete if offended)
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Why!! – I hope Dame Shirley can be persuaded. It doesn’t look too promising for anything new next year like concerts etc while she is in this frame of mind.
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Perhaps she has a new album in the pipeline that she doesn’t want this to clash with…
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Oh thank you Jonathan for that glimmer of hope! Maybe she does have something new on the horizon! My heart is racing at the thought of hearing Dame Shirley singing: I Got Lost In His Arms. It is such a beautifully dreamy song. I am sure she just masters it. I am sorry this won’t be released not, but it gives me something to look forward to in the future. I am sure DSB had her reasons. It makes me feel better knowing that she is the one that rejected the idea. She has given so much through the years it seems, she deserves whatever she wants, even if it means I never get to see a full live concert. I am conflicted as I just typed that last statement. I REALLY,REALLY want to see her perform a full concert. Anyway, thanks for the information.
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It’s odd that she objects to this set, which appears to be well put together, when she’s apparently been happy with the endless EMI releases with practically the same songs on every CD!. Even the cover looks fab!
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The dame gets what the dame wants, and she don’t want this.
Most likely these unreleased songs were withdrawn, in those years when they were recorded, not without a reason. And the dame don’t want them to be released now.
But even the dame doesn’t stand above the law, so perhaps EMI-records are vindicated by the judge.
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ditto Joop….
What a shame, we would have made it a super hit for the Dame !
We will have to wait and see,,,,2013 is 60 years in the business for Dame Shirley, maybe this is more important to her that her age !
She never has,and never will feel her age ! Its not important to her….
2013…… Is !
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OH PLEASE for the Love of Class and Great music work it out folks and release this gem!!!! After all it’s the voice of not just anybody. It’s the GREATEST female vocalist in pop music- SHIRLEY BASSEY!!!!
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I do hope that the Diva is not becoming a “Prima Donna”!Even if she thinks there may be flaws in any of the previous tapings, we her fans are of the calibre to accept them without reservations.
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Hi dear Ed, As a good friend you have proved to be to all of us, I could not be quiet before this situation, I confess that I am too shocked and do not know what to think exactly. DSB has been for me a teacher (as you know I’m a singer), a part of my reason-to-live system, so to say that this decision was something rude, I don’t know if I should, Our Dame must have a so great reason for objecting this release. The salivating has increased now 😀 first because I really would like to hear this unknown songs and versions. Second because I really would like to know what is going, going, gone on her mind. Thanks a lot. Let’s hope everything ‘s gonna be alright. Hugs friends. Eddie from Brazil…
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I can only think of 2 reasons:
1. She’s not getting paid any royalties for this project
2. She has heard the unreleased tracks and they sound really bad and will tarnish her reputation.
EMI/United Artists own the rights to these recordings. They should have the right to release these recordings.
If the Dame doesn’t want any fanfare/celebration for her birthday, she should be left alone.
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COME ON DAME SHIRLEY, IF YOU READ THIS BLOG AND THE COMMENTS YOU WILL KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH THE WORD “FAN” IS SHORT FOR “FANATIC”….WE ARE NOT FANATICS BUT ARE ALL YOUR FRIENDS; SO IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING A CONCERT (PLEASE, PLEASE) FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY YEAR, THAN AT LEAST RELEASE THIS FOR US !!
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I have a lovely unreleased version of Frank Sonatra singing “Evergreen” . Frank was so disollusioned by his own version during the recording that he didn`t finish the last line, but merely whistled it casually. All these years later it is still beautiful, but he felt it underpar perhaps.
C`mon Dame shirley….give us a treat, you`ve nothing to prove.
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Having read the announcement I have to say how extremely disappointed I am to see that this CD set will not be released. We would all love to have this new material – doesn’t Dame Shirley realise that she has an army of loyal fans who would be desperate to buy it? Someone, somewhere MUST get this released!!
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Do not worry fans.There are probably other plans for next year. The set will be released anyway. It will only take a bit longer. I’m so curious about the covers Ease On Down The Road and I Write The Song.
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I just find it odd that the track listing to a CD, which is being held back for whatever reason and whenever it eventually appears, should be listed in its entirety. Can’t see the point in giving people false hope.
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“Please note that comments containing swear words are automatically rejected!”
LOL!!!
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I badly want to hear the unreleased material!!! Hope it isn’t too long before it is ‘out there’ x
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Please please release this . . .
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I normally do not comment as I contribute to this blog but I feel I have to say something on this subject. I’ve been a fan for over 50 years, never openly criticised Dame Shirley or bothered her in any way in her private life. I have to say though that this time I’m more than disappointed with her. Fans do not ask for much and we do understand that now she does not want to tour or record. This is different though. It wasn’t as if she was asked to record, or promote this set – she had to do nothing. Many fans have given her years of loyalty and she has been disparaging about fans in the past. Without us she wouldn’t be where she is now. Are we being selfish asking for this set to be released? I do not think so. I think it is Dame Shirley who is being selfish. Denying fans the opportunity of getting something different instead of the countless releases of the same material (All By Myself, I Am What I Am, Keep The Music Playing etc) doesn’t do her any credit. She has nothing to prove in this stage of her life She could sing ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ and we would love it! Come on Dame Shirley have a change of heart and give the fans ‘something’….
I know some of you will not like or agree with what I have had to say but it’s my opinion.
Oh and just on a footnote : there is to be a CD released for her birthday on January 1st – ‘The Fabulous Shirley Bassey’ (it’s out of copyright) on Hallmark for £2.21 available to pre-order on Amazon. What a big deal!!
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We want this to be released so much!!! One can never get enough of DSB.
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Aha. Perhaps she objected to the cover art. She’s billed as simply Shirley and not Dame Shirley Bassey.
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There seem to be all sorts of assumptions (both here and on the message board) about why DSB has objected to this release. I can’t see that she wouldn’t get a royalty since most of the recordings are less than 50 years old – and anyway she hasn’t attempted to block the release of all the many compilations of out of copyright material.
If she objects to the release of the previously withheld material then I can only respect that. How ever much fans might want to hear it, it is her work and her legacy and if she is not happy for it to be heard then who are we to be offended by that and behave as though she is somehow denying us our due? Take a listen to the Petula Clark/Dusty Springfield duet of ‘Corner Of The Sky’. Dusty does not sound good on it and would never have wanted it released – indeed, since the vocal is not even finished, it was left off previous reissues of material from the same sessions. Who’s to say that the unreleased material here isn’t in a similar condition? Perhaps they are simply guide vocals for tracks that were not completed, for example. Even if we might enjoy to hear them, if DSB isn’t happy with them why shouldn’t she be entitled to keep her own work under wraps?
Perhaps Ed or others in the know can shed some light on the provenance of the unreleased tracks?
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Isn’t it so that since Shirley is only the performer, she neither write nor composed the material, that only the writers or composers could object to this release. And isn’t it so that she was under contract with EMI so that they own all the rights of these recordings and can do what they want with it?
I just question it, I’m not into law, but it seems quite logical to me.
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Very disaapointing to hear that this set is not to be released. Surely it is one of the most exciting Shirley projects in a long, long time. Hopefully sanity will prevail and it will see the light of day.
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I can scarcely credit what I have read about this album being pulled because of Dame Shirley objecting. It is extremely frustrating and very annoying. What on Earth is going on?! Dame Shirley should be pleased that a very cash-strapped EMI have nevertheless thought she is important enough to spend so much money on. I do hope Dame Shirley’s lawyer is able to enlighten us. I can’t believe there is an objection to the quality of the unreleased tracks. After all, those released for the first time on the 1994 box set were superb. Even if she has something new in the pipeline for next year, unlikely I should have thought, this set would not compete with it. It would complement it.
Instead of objecting to things being released, Dame Shirley should be objecting to things NOT being released. She should be instructing her lawyers to find a way of getting all of her back catalogue released including all her television specials over the years, where they are still available, in both DVD and CD format. Why, for instance, was the Electric Proms concert not released commerically? After all, it was surely one of the best concerts of her career. And the BBC series – why have they never seen the light of day?
Come on Dame Shirley: get your people working on preserving and getting released your very substantial musical legacy. That would be a good way of marking your landmark birthday and your landmark anniversary in 2013.
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Well said Peter – I totally agree with your last comment.
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there are many assumptions being expressed here. The only time DSB, to my knowledge has objected to an album was the JAMES BOND album and whilst her appearance at the Palladium miming! `view to a kill` was terrific the cassette I had, later broken, was poor. I think she has always been frustrated by the business but she has endured because she is so proffessional in front of the public. Any artist is only as good as the producers, arrangers, sound, lighting and management allow them to be. I would love to know what the reason is for her objections and I am confident it will be something important.
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I was at the 1973 Royal ALBERT hall concerts. Shirley gave 2 concerts that evening hence differences on `Somehow`It is always a shame that BBC & ITV go to all the time, trouble and expense of these broadcasts then cut songs. I bet Shirley is not consulted.Tragically it is often new material or rarely performed songs which are affected.
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Peter – you are spot on with verything you’ve said.
The last EMI years boxset contained many unreleased recordings and there was no objection to that and if she does have something new in the pipeline then it would complement it.
I am truly intrigued as to what the objection is. Perhaps she is waiting for the 60th anniversary instead?
Such a disappointment though.
When you think of the many Dusty releases and more recently Cilla Black, it is thrilling that EMI were spending time on a worthwhile release rather than the continual re-release of the same old stuff.
I hope we will get a definitive answer on teh reasons behind this…
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With regard to the Dusty reissues, it is well documented that at least some of the ‘new’ recordings that have appeared since her death are of material that Dusty herself did not want to be released. If that is Dame Shirley’s concern – and she is still alive to prevent it – then I’m happy to respect that. Perhaps she was happy with the unreleased recordings on the EMI/UA Years box set – and perhaps some of the other unreleased material slated for this new release didn’t appear on that earlier set because she didn’t want it to.
It would be fascinating to know, though!
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For what it’s worth, I don’t think DSB should be bullied, even by sentiment, into consenting to release of product that was deemed unworthy of release on whatever terms the record company now deigns to offer. If she is allowed a legal right of consent she should exercise it in her own best interest. Even if her best interest is strictly financial, and I am assuming it is because as far as quality is concerned almost all other ‘previously unreleased’ material that has been released from the vaults over the years has been superb. It boggles the mind how “If I Should Love Again” never saw the light of day during the 70s. Anyway, if the material is being packaged as DSB product and marketed to DSB’s millions of fans worldwide, I think we can all agree that she should be royally compensated for it. I am not sure what legal right DSB wields regarding release of this material but there is a battle brewing in the U.S. music industry over an amendment to U.S. copyright law that allows that certain song rights revert to the artist and songwriters in 2013. As a consequence, labels essentially have to ‘re-sign’ artists to secure licensing and distribution rights for catalog recordings beyond 2013. I hope the material is eventually released because I would love to have it. But I only want it released on terms that would fairly compensate DSB for the love, sweat and tears she put into creating the product.
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Thank you for publishing this news, I would not have known otherwise. What a sad and depressing day when devoted DSB fans are forced to concede that we will only get to enjoy this set (and so much else) when she is not around any more to obstruct. You only have to look at the poor range of DVDs available compared with the quality of her unreleased works on Youtube to see how inept those working for her must be – they should be encouraging companies like EMI and the BBC to release quality material to maintain her standing as a recording artist. Regardless of how much money she may receive for this particular set, she does herself no favours by banning the good releases while other companies continue to repackage and re-issue some of her weakest works seemingly unhindered. Fans deserve better and if she is reading this she ought to be utterly ashamed of herself.
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Personally…I’d be very happy if they released her “25th Anniversay Album” on CD for the first time….possibly with her later hits as ‘bonus tracks’. The original album featured Shirley at her peak.
I had the double album on vinyl years ago (long since worn out).
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I would to see a dvd of these 1973 concerts when in my opinion she was at her most vivacious. I vaguely remember seeing it on tv when I was about 12 when I was more into glam rock and thinking ‘who is this mad woman’. Having seen clips on youtube she certainly put on an exciting performance.
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I have to be honest, some of these comments hurt my feelings for Dame Shirley. I know I have only come to love Dame Shirley since October/November 2009, so maybe I am not qualified as some to express my opinion here, since I don’t have the decades vested in loving DSB. But I have been educated on You Tube and this site quite well. I have been so grateful for the DSB community and the memories of the fabulous concerts and first impressions shared. I cherish all of it, and the wonderful friendships that have developed. But the disapproval and criticism of what appears to me to be Dame Shirley’s decision expressed in these comments by her fans is surprising to me. I agree with the comments made by Marc on December 18 at 10:17. Dear Dame Shirley should not be bullied into doing something she does not want to do. She has been in the business for almost 60 years, she has given SO MUCH to her fans. She has already sacrificed so much, given 150+% in her stage shows. We pay to see her perform, we pay to hear her albums, and she delivers her part by outstanding performances. After that transaction is over, in truth, that is it. Nothing else is OWED. We can’t help but love her, and that love lingers and grows. Even though it may be true that she has made disparaging comments in the past about her fans. Who of us has walked a mile in her shoes? Who knows what pressure she was under at the time, and what demands she had endure. She is absolutely amazing in my opinion to have endured a male dominated and racially injust society, and to have done it with such grace and determination. I love her performance in 2009 at the Proms of “I’m Still Here”. It says so much, and she is so sassy and cute. She has done so well despite the tragedies etc. I am saying all of that to say that I think I OWE her RESPECT. Respect of her privacy, respect of her decisions, respect of her persona, just respect for a great lady. I hope these recordings see the light of day too, but if and when Dame Shirley decides to release them. I do love Dame Shirley so much , that I am interested in all the details of her life, I love her interviews because of this, I can never get enough of her or her music. Dame Shirley sang about wanting to know what love is. I can’t help reflect on the definition of love by the apostle Paul: “Love is long suffering and kind,…Love does not look for it’s own interests, …It bears all things,…hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” I want to continue to show my love for her by supporting her in every way that I can. Long Live Dame Shirley!
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I agree with Peter about the Electric Proms concert, I think that would have made a thrilling album, and especially important since she didn’t tour with The Performance material. And whatever happened to the other Japan concert that BGO was going to re-release?
I hope this is not way out line, but as super-fans I’m sure you all understand: do we think this may leak as a bootleg? :-X
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe the English single (non-album) version of This Is My Life has ever been released on CD/digital. That would be a nice addition if this project gets up and running again.
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@Vinny The so called European single version of “This Is My Life”, the one beginning with the drumbeats, was released at two various artists CD’s in the Netherlands. Not on a Bassey CD though.
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In response to Lydia’s message: Yes, DSB has given fans much over the years but you do not consider how much she takes away by the way she allows herself to be managed. If she were a true ‘artiste’ she would be investing time and attention to make sure her recordings from that golden era are available in the best quality for new fans to discover and enjoy, regardless of the royalties she may earn. I sincerely hope that those people entrusted to deal with Dame Shirley’s estate in the future will take better care of her interests and legacy as a recording artiste than her current team do.
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I simply don’t understand why people are getting so angry about this. It’s disappointing but let’s get a sense of proportion. Her entire 70s catalogue is now available on CD – and most people seem happy with the remastering. Essentially, we are talking about a handful of unreleased tracks that weren’t deemed worthy of release at the time.
Thanks largely to BGO and EMI (who released the earlier 60s albums a while ago), most of her ‘legacy’ is out there and more complete than many of her contemporaries. Apart from a few singles, most of her catalogue is – or has been – available on CD. The Phillips releases are patchy but mostly because the original owners chose not to exploit them properly – but, since going out of copyright, they are now easily obtainable if not in an ideal form. We could probably do with a better representation of her live work on DVD since none of the few commercially available concert recordings are her best but, with a few exceptions, few artisists from the pre-DVD era are any better represented.
None of this provides much evidence of DSB wilfully ignoring her own legacy. Indeed, we shouldn’t forget that record companies – EMI included – will not release things they don’t think will sell. I don’t think their interest in Shirley’s 75th would be quite so intense if she hadn’t enjoyed a considerable increase in her profile in the least few years thanks to Glastonbury, The Performance’ and the Electric Proms. Again, for a woman in her 70s with nothing to prove, hardly evidence of neglecting her fans. If she knows one thing after all these years it is how to leave ’em wanting more…
We all ‘love’ her, it seems, but only apparently if she does exactly what we want. But the vast majority of her fans, frankly, don’t care about having every note she ever recorded and are happy to enjoy the considerable amount that is out there.
It would have been lovely to have this collection – I would have been first in the queue at Amazon – and I feel for the compilers who lavished care on it. No doubt it would have sounded terrific but I’m not sure it enhances her ‘legacy’. And I can’t imagine it showcases her talent more effectively than ‘Live at Carnegie’, ‘The Performance’ the 5CD EMI/UA set or, indeed, Electric Proms show.
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Marco, I’m afraid it is incorrect to say that Dame Shirley’s entire 1970s catalogue is available on CD. As the track listing of the sadly shelved album shows, ‘Runaway’ and ‘Copacabana’ are but two tracks from Dame Shirley’s ‘Golden Age’ that are yet to find their way onto CD. Admittedly, they are just two, but ‘Runaway’ is, I think, one of the best things Dame Shirley recorded during the 1970s and it should have been released on CD many, many years ago. Then there is all the material she produced during the 1980s, a lot of which has never had a CD release.
I think a lot of people feel so strongly about this because it does illustrate a wider point about Dame Shirley’s work and legacy: whatever we think of it, it is, for an artist of her calibre, remarkably poorly promoted and respected. Compilation after compilation is released containing largely the same material at ever cheaper prices at a time when there are gems in the vault which may never see the light of day. This is very frustrating.
To the list of releases you mention which demonstrate her talent, with which I agree, we might add the 1973 Albert Hall concert, her performance at ‘The Talk of The Town’, both the BBC series, and ‘La Mujer’. Interestingly, of your list the Electric Proms, one of her career highs, has not and is never likely to be released. Why? I understand that Dame Shirley also objected to the EMI box set you mention. Happily, it was eventually released.
I think one reason for all this is due to Dame Shirley being predominantly a live performer. Somehow her recordings have always seemed secondary to her performances. However, at this stage of her career, when she does not really perform any more, she should, as I have argued before, be concerned with getting as much of her output released as possible in the best possible way not only for the benefit of her fans, but also to ensure that her massive contribution to the music industry is properly respected and cared for. If Sandie Shaw can do it, as she has, then so can Dame Shirley.
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Dame Shirley Bassey knows best,
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I still fail to understand how the fact that, of all her released UA recordings, a B-Side and a 12 inch single (and let’s not forget the TIML remixes) aren’t on CD means her legacy is being neglected.
And, no La Mujer isn’t currently available on CD but was at one point. Most of Tony Bennett’s 60s and 70s albums have never been on CD until the last month or so – and then only if you can afford several hundred pounds for a limited edition box set with no prospect of the individual albums appearing at a price most can afford. RCA have released virtually nothing of Jack Jones’ back catalogue. Much of Eydie Gorme’s work is only becoming available as it comes out of copyright. Some of Nat Cole’s original albums only became available recently – and are already being deleted. And that’s just four examples. And there are endless budget price reissues of many artists’ hits – or one off albums made for independent labels for that matter – it’s hardly unique to Shirley. Poor old Dusty’s material is still being trawled for a few more ‘alternative versions’ which are virtually identical to the originals and can be tacked onto another album of endlessly recycled hits to justify fleecing the fans one more time. Let’s face it, if record companies – rather than the dedicated individuals who track down and preserve these lost tracks – were serious about ‘legacies’ they would release them in some coherent form rather than spread across endless compilations or box sets of already available material.
I’m not sure what BGO would make of the comments about Shirley’s reissues being poorly promoted. And the fact remains, virtually all of what she released on vinyl is or has been on CD, and all the EMI and UA albums have been issued in a more than satisfactory form. Apart from the RAH album (which, in audio only, is of limited interest given that is virtually contemporaneous with ‘Carnegie’ and contains many of the same songs) we’re basically arguing about a dozen or so tracks that she or her record company didn’t want to release in the first place. However good they are – and however much I might want to hear ‘new’ Bassey material – I cannot get cross with her for apparently (we know nothing of the details) wanting to keep them in the vaults – or feel that we are missing a crucial aspect of her recorded work.
I’m sure if EMI think they can make money out of DSB’s 75th they will find a way of releasing something, otherwise they won’t bother – and why, indeed, should they? And, as others have pointed out, if the EMI/UA years release proved anything, it’s that these recordings will probably appear in the end anyway.
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addendum: I am still interested in how the art work and track listing was available but the project is shelved.
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No they will not be releasing something – This was it!
As far as is know DSB hasn’t even heard the recordings to know what they are like!
EMI are now unlikely to consider releasing anything new in the near future.
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Just read the announcement and really sad about its content.
What a brilliant tribute, produced with much love and attention to detail by the guys at EMI. Hopefully, a deal can be sorted and the release can proceed.
If we all imagine the disc on a shelf in HMV, it will happen. Positive mental imagery has a profound effect.
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Martin G, I can tell you that I have wondered too, as I was first discovering Dame Shirley’s magnificence, about the packaging and repetitive content of the few CD’s I was able to purchase in the Midwest United States. I felt that she deserved better representation. ( I had those feelings before I saw the lovely 5 set EMI compilation and before I got David Arnolds nicely packaged Performance CD) That being said, I can also tell you that I never once questioned Dame Shirley’s status as an “artiste”. You said: “IF she were a true artiste….” Webster defines the word: 1: a skilled adept public performer; specifically : a musical or theatrical entertainer
2: an artistic or creative person
The proof is in the pudding regarding Dame Shirley being an “artiste” extraordinaire! That of course is my humble opinion. I respect that you have your opinion too. I choose to view life in general from a glass half full prospective. So I am filled with gratitude for all the Dame Shirley music I can enjoy. I also am pleased, that if she did indeed block the release of this set, that she CAN block it. I think of the lack of control that dear fellow artiste Judy Garland had of her career. Judy felt in order to cope she had no choice but to depend on substances to deal with the pressure and deceptions. We have no idea of the obstacles and sacrifices Dame Shirley has had to endure, therefore I don’t think any of us are in the position to judge her decisions. Again, I am grateful that she is still here and looking so marvelous and sounding so heavenly. Long Live Dame Shirley.
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Dear dear Lydia, your loyalty is so admirable and your words written with such love your comments are a joy to read. Dame Shirley’s incredibleness is indisputable but however full or empty the glass is, it’s very sad that a record company comes up with a fantastic celebration and the “artiste” obstructs it without even listening.
INTEGRITY : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values (Webster) Enough said.
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On my DVD of Royal Albert Hall she doesn’t sing The Party’s Over?
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I have followed the Dame since school days in 1958 when As I Love You went to NO.1
Have most all of her material in some shape and form.
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Martin G – we don’t know for sure that DSB hasn’t listened to them. One thing we do know is that WE haven’t – so who’s to say they’re ‘fantastic’. Since she recorded the unreleased tracks in the first place she’s a darn sight more familiar with them than we are and, until I hear them, I for one don’t feel qualified to challenge her opinion as to how ‘fantastic’ they are. They are her recordings, her voice, her work – I still think she has every right to chooose whether or not anyone else gets to hear them. And I don’t see any conflict there with Webster’s definition of integrity.
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Marco – Since the Bassey Blog wholeheartedly support the release of this CD I think we can draw our own conclusion. Have been following this blog since Peggy started it and I can’t imagine these guys giving such support if the quality was in doubt, can you?
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I think the blog is absolutely wonderful but I don’t know if they’ve actually heard any of the material either. As I say – I can’t pass judgement on it as I haven’t heard it either but I still support the right of any artist to decide what is released. Most have very limited control over their material as it is. Universal are still milking Dusty’s back catalogue for all it’s worth by releasing compilations of well known material with a few ‘alternate’ (ie. rehearsal or guide vocals) which would never have seen the light of day in her lifetime. These are lovingly compiled (though rarely by the record companies themselves!) and I own some of them myself. However, while they are great for fans like me to hear, crucially they are rarely if ever as good as what was released at the time and there is little doubt that Dusty herself would not have sanctioned their release while she was alive. For me the bottom line is still that any artist should get to choose what is heard – and, since it is their work, they don’t have to justify those decisions to anyone other than themselves.
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I think the point actually is not about the right of the artist, but of how helpful the artist is in the first place.
Rather than taking legal steps to block a release, why not work with the record company and discuss what you like and don’t like?
I get the feeling that she is actully touchy about the anniversary it’s self. Perhaps she doesn’t want her age celebrating? May be if this was due to come out at another time she might be more inclined to work with EMI to iron out any problems.
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Some of the comments here refer to the quality of the unreleased material being the reason why DSB is preventing the release of this set. One thing to consider is that it’s unlikely that any material was retained unless it was of a quality that could be released. Occassionally incomplete takes are retained but generally the only material that was retained was complete and good enough for release. Most likely these tracks were not released due to time constraints on the albums they were originally conceived for or other projects came up and replaced these titles. My guess is that DBS doesn’t want a 75th birthday tribute. Given that she is unlikely to be recording too many more albums something like this should be released as it would be a fitting tribute to a great singer. From the look of the artwork it looks like a lavish set and one that has been given time, thought and resources in its preparation. DBS should allow it to be released.
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Fred, you are right. It’s about how helpful the artist is in the first place. Vikki Carr worked with EMI Gold and together, they came out with The Ultimate Collection which is the best 3 CD retrospective on her work. She supplied rare pics and helped with the song selection.
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I am so sorry that the new 3CD set has been shelved. I was in the audience with my wife and parents at the Albert Hall in 1973 when Shirley wore the turqoiuse dress. I t was a good night for all.
Hopefully, Dame Shirley may change her mind. I have most oh her recordings since 1958. Long may she reign supreme.
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Where is it? Any news? Another big big question is….WHERE is the lost Japan ´77 Album? Please answer my prayer…
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