The Lady Is A Tramp – Dutch Concert Footage Unearthed in TV Archives

In 1972 a full Shirley Bassey concert was recorded at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for Dutch TV. The concert was broadcast that year but unfortunately there were no means or possibilities to record it at the time.

After much research in the Dutch archives, emails and phone calls, I am afraid we have to come to the conclusion that the concert really got lost. The only part that was saved is this clip of unedited footage we found and was used for several other programs on tv. For this concert Dame Shirley was wearing the famous ‘Something Gown’.

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The Something Dress – a sensational bias cut stage gown by Douglas Darnell, the sleeveless citrus yellow sateen applied with paisley cones embroidered with Swarovski clear crystals, turquoise beads and imitation pearls with strategically placed cut-out shaped sections; with matching voluminous stage coat of citrus yellow velvet, the sleeves, collar and opening trimmed with a deep border of yellow ostrich feathers, the sleeves applied with paisley cones similarly embroidered and scattered with crystals and beads, lined in electric blue silk tissue; and a pair of stiletto heeled sandals, the thin leather straps and heels painted yellow to match the gown; accompanied by a corresponding album Something, United Artists, 1970.

This dress is closely associated with Dame Shirley’s 1970 hit single written by George Harrison, Something. The gown was worn for the photo shoot for the front cover of the United Artists’ album of the same name released that year. In an interview for the BBC Wales television programme I Am What I Am, 1994, Dame Shirley said that she thought this dress was …sexy, without being over the top…. She also recounted a story of wearing the dress on stage in the Empire Room at the Plaza Hotel, New York. When introducing the song I Capricorn she said “I happen to be a Capricorn” and a voice in the audience called out “I’m a Capricorn too”, peering into the crowd she saw that it was Ava Gardner “looking gorgeous”…she said as she wasn’t ringside and couldn’t get to her easily, she hitched up the gown and walked over to her across the tables – defying any man on the way who looked as though he would attempt to touch her flesh through the holes in the dress, not to. Sold at Christies Gown Auction in 2003. Final Price £6,000.

FROM THE ARCHIVE 335 -1979-

Moonraker
Music written by John Barry (Jonathan Barry Prendergrast) and lyrics by Hal David.
Recorded: April, 1979
Released:
on United Artists soundtrack album:
August 8, 1979, UA-LA971-I
on United Artists singles:
UK: June, 1979, UP 602
US: June 25, 1979, UA-X1308-Y
Charted:
Album US: #159, 1979

Written as the theme for the James Bond movie “Moonraker” in 1979. It was released on a single, and also on the Soundtrack LP.The song did not chart and the soundtrack LP only reached position 159 on the LP charts. This was the third official James Bond recording for Shirley Bassey and her last recording for the United Artists label. Shirley Bassey repeatedly said that she hated “Moonraker” and only did it as a favour to John Barry.
The original soundtrack album contained two versions: the “Main Title” which was playing in the beginning of the film, and an up-tempo “End Title” which is from after the film during the credits. You can listen to both versions here.

The soundtrack album is available on CD digitally remastered. The Main Title is also available on the collection Bassey – The EMI/UA Years 1959-1979, and was on the Reader’s Digest collection Shirley Bassey – This Is My Life, and is on many James Bond and John Barry collections. Another recording has been released 1992 on the Bassey Sings Bond album.

The note about Goldfinger from the 30th anniversary Bond collection:
The big news about the next Bond, “Moonraker,” was that “Jaws is back!” The towering Richard Kiel – who’d portrayed the recurring evil henchman, Voltaire, in TVs “Wild Wild West” – apparently found a following in “Spy” and was therefore called back for “Moonraker.” As the steel-toothed Jaws, he was a likeablebad guy who could never get hurt (thanks to Bond’s masochistic penchant for punching him in the mouth).
Directed by Gilbert and written by Chris Wood, one of “Moonraker” ‘s bright spots is the presence of the beautiful French actress Corinne Clery in the small but memorable role of Drax associate Corinne Dufour. John Barry, Shirley Bassey and Hal David all came back to add some musical gusto to the proceedings.
It has been said that in a radio interview Shirley Bassey did in New York, she said that she walked out of the premiere because the sound on the song was so low, and she thought it should be louder. The interviewer asked her what she thought of Roger Moore, she said: “Wet! Wet! Wet!”
It has also been said that the job to write and record the song for this Bond movie was originally offered to Kate Bush, but she turned it down and so John Barry got the job again.

It has also been suggested that this song was originally written for Dionne Warwick, but she could not sing it, and then John Barry bumped into Shirley in an L.A. hotel and asked if Shirley could sing the song and she did, but it has also been suggested that Hal David and Dionne Warwick had gone their separate ways some years before.

Finally, it has been suggested that this song was intended for Johnny Mathis but he was sick and had to drop out.

Moonraker (Main Title)

 

Moonraker (End Title)

 

Lyrics:

Where are you?
Why do you hide?
Where is that moonlight trail that leads to your side?
Just like the Moonraker goes in search of his dream of gold
I search for love, for someone to have and hold
I’ve seen your smile in a thousand dreams
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me
You love me
Where are you?
When will we meet?
Take my unfinished life and make it complete
Just like the Moonraker knows his dream will come true someday
I know that you are only a kiss away
I’ve seen your smile in a thousand dreams
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me
You love me

(Transcribed by Roman)

Extra: 

A poll from Radio Times!!!!!!! Vote for a Dame Shirley song as your favourite Bond song! Dame Shirley is at number one at the moment. Let’s keep her there. To vote CLICK HERE

Special: Shirley Bassey Live in Amsterdam -1980-

Today we’re proud to present the fabulous 1980 concert from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, very famous for its acoustics.

This new high quality version is without subtitling and other intrusions found on the TV broadcast. It is one of the best ever recorded Bassey concerts and the only venue that had stairs to the stage – Dame Shirley makes the most elegant entrance imaginable.

Songs:
Stargazer
Something
New York New York
Time After Time
I’ll Be Your Audience
Never Never Never
I Could Have Danced All Night
What Now My Love
If I Never Sing Another Song
This Is My Life

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SHIRLEY BASSEY: STUNNING

“They used to call her the tigress of Tiger Bay in the dusty neighbourhood of coal town Cardiff where she was born in 1937 as a daughter of a Nigerian seaman and an English mother. Now the whole world knows her as SHIRLEY BASSEY, the stunning and sensual singer of great songs like: ‘Hey, Big Spender, Goldfinger and Diamonds are forever’.

Shirley was in our country some time ago to do two gala concerts in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The concert in Amsterdam, on the 5th of April was recorded for television and is being broadcast next Saturday.

“It is a reflection of her superb performance in a sold out venue with an audience that is cheering her” says director Fred Rombouts.

“It was the kind of atmosphere you never capture in a television studio, it only works during a live recording. If that atmosphere can be seen on television than I have succeeded”.

Shirley Bassey features songs like: Stargazer, Something, New York Medley and This Is My Life

Her performances in Holland are part of a short tour through the BENELUX.

Rumours that Shirley wants to stop singing are definitely not true. Last year, the 43-year-old singer became a grandmother. She is and remains, active. She is recording a series of shows in England and she also was star-guest on the Muppet show some time ago. It is an episode of the Muppet-show that has not been televised here yet but we are looking forward to it very much.”

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Below some great photos made by John Den Outer plus a picture I made myself a day later at the same concert in Rotterdam where Shirley received a gold record for her 25th anniversary album.

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DSB Live in Melbourne -1976-

For today’s Video Showcase we have a wonderful concert from 1976.
Shirley Bassey live in Melbourne (Shirley Bassey ’76)
Songs: Golfinger, Sing, And I Love You So, Something, I’ll Be Your Audience, Diamonds Are Forever, The Way We Were, Big Spender, Never Never Never, Yesterday When I Was Young, My Way.

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