DSB & Princess Diana

Today we remember Princess Diana who tragically died in a car crash 20 years ago in Paris along with her friend Dodi al Fayed. Dame Shirley Bassey and Diana met each other several times over the years at charity events they both attended.

Four days before this tragic event Dame Shirley gave her Birthday Concert at Althorp Park where the princess is buried.

Below two interviews with Dame Shirley from 1997 where she speaks about Princess Diana. (Special thanks to Peter for the pictures)

1974 Programme

 

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DSB ON THE PAUL O’GRADY SHOW -2009-

The Dame stopped by The Paul O’Grady show for a chat and performed album track ‘Apartment’ written for her specifically by Rufus Wainwright. She came. saw and conquered which resulted in a very relaxed and funny episode of this show.

Paul O’Grady would have been the perfect host for her 80th. birthday show. To read an interesting article by Pete Price about this and his encounter with the Dame CLICK HERE

Lyrics Apartment:

I’m runnin’ away from Cinderella
Don’t want to go to Rapunzel’s hairdresser
Get me outta this
This, this here fairytale
According to me dreams are hell

I don’t wanna kiss that faggot (or freaky) froggy
Don’t want to fall in love
With the beast or the beauty
Get me outta this
This, this here fairy tale
According to me dreams are hell

All I want is an apartment
All I need is an apartment
If you’ve any leads on an apartment
Tell me please
Cause I’m runnin’ away from Cinderella

I don’t wanna fly on a dragon
God knows I’ve had so many drags
So many of them
Get me outta this
This, this here fairytale
According to me real life is swell

All I need is an apartment
All I want is an apartment
If you’ve any leads on an apartment
Tell me please
Cause I’m runnin’ away
I’m runnin’ away
I’m runnin’ away from Cinderella.

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Record Sleeves From The Past -18

Released in Holland on the EMI Columbia label this is a 14 track compilation album.  Unfortunately once again there is no date on the sleeve or label for the year it was issued.

This release has the same track listing as the album ‘Golden Hits of Shirley Bassey’ that was issued in the UK.  All the tracks are taken from her Columbia recordings.  Obviously the big hits are included such as ‘As Long As He Needs Me’, ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, ‘Reach For The Stars. and ‘What Now My Love’.  They also had to include ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’.  There are some other lovely recordings too.  The front of the sleeve carries a photo of Shirley I have never seen on any other album sleeve and the back features the track listing and a black/white photo.

When the album was initially issued it carried a different photo on the reverse of the sleeve to the one shown above.  The photo they used unfortunately was not one of Shirley.  Although someone just glancing at the photo may be forgiven in thinking it is Shirley it is in fact someone called Brenda Arnau.  The record company must have realised their mistake and and further copies of the album carried the above photo.  Below is a scan of the reverse of the original copy of the album I bought.

Ms Arnau appeared in the James Bond Film ‘Live And Let Die’ as a cabaret singer.  Sadly she died in 1989 of a brain tumour.