Today a review of the Mike Douglas show from April the 8th. 1969. The show starts with two duets that have been on the blog before: You’re Just In Love & Bill Bailey (Won’t You Please Come Home). Other songs I (Who Have Nothing) & Big Spender. There was some controversy over the dress Dame Shirley wanted to wear on the show because it showed too much skin for the taste of the American viewers. In Europe it was not a problem for her to wear the dress on TV or for shows and she even met Queen Elizabeth wearing the dress. Also she wore the dress 2 years earlier on the 1966 Show of the Week.
Fifty years ago today, Dame Shirley Bassey released Never Never Never as a single. A staple of The Dame’s live act – or should we say, what was her live act – since Never Never Never is the English version – thank you, Mr Norman Newell!
Also 50 years ago today she appeared on Russell Harty where she sang Never Never Never on TV for the first time.
All that is left to say is ‘Happy Birthday ‘Never, Never, Never’ and thank you for all the memories you’ve given us over the past half century’, not least The Dame’s comments about having found it while married to The Italian!
Never, Never, Never Music written by Tony Renis. Original Italian lyrics by Alberto Testa and Fabio Testa English lyrics penned by Norman Newell.
Recorded: December, 1972 Released: UK: February, 1973 on United Artists single UP 35490 US: March 7, 1973 on United Artists single UA-XW211-W Charted: UK Single: #8, March 3, 1973 US Easy Listening: #8, May 12, 1973 US Pop: #48, May 19, 1973 Released in 1973 on the album Never, Never, Never and on some singles. The single “Never, Never, Never” reached position number eight in the charts. In 1984 it was recorded again with the London Symphony Orchestra on the album I Am What I Am.
The original Italian song “Grande, Grande, Grande” was performed by Mina before Shirley. See also an Italian site about Mina. Norman Newell penned the English lyrics to the song to reach an international audience. Since then this song was part of almost every live concert until today. Therefore it is available on many live albums and collections and videos.
A remix of Shirley’s version by the “Groove Armada” has been released in September 2000 on The Remix Album…Diamonds Are Forever.
Celine Dion released this song 1997 on her album “Let’s Talk About Love” as a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. She only slightly modified the lyrics and called it then “I Hate You Then I Love You”.
Vikki Carr recorded this song too, but in Spanish and she kept the original title “Grande, Grande, Grande”.
Lyrics:
I’d like to run away from you, but if you never found me I would die I’d like to break the chains you put around me, but I know I never will You stay away and all I do is wonder why the hell I wait for you But when did common sense prevail for lovers when we know it never will Impossible to live with you, but I know, I could never live without you For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you
You never treat me like you should, so what’s the good of loving as I do? Although you always laugh at love, nothing else would be good enough for you Impossible to live with you, but I know, I could never live without you For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you
You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me live, you make me die, for you You make me sing, you make me sad, you make me glad, you make me mad, for you
I love you, hate you, love you, hate you But I’ll want you till the world stops turning For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you
I love you, hate you, love you, hate you But I’ll want you till the world stops turning For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you
I love you, hate you, love you, hate you But I’ll want you till the world stops turning For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you
Continued thanks to Ian (this blog’s appointed Gown Guru)
The Pearl Rope Gown (Lot 29 in catalogue., also on Love, Life And Feelings album sleeve and tour programme 1976)
Designed by Doug Darnell for Dame Shirley’s tour in 1973. A beautiful peppermint green sequinned gown, with halterneck and a scooped back with strands of imitation pearls, graduating in size.
Dame Shirley wore this gown for her 1973 UK tour. (see the video below)
This is my own personal favourite of all the gowns and would look as good a design today!
Again, we would love to hear from whoever bought this gown at auction, and know what became of it.”
Christie’s Description & Notes
A dramatic stage gown by Douglas Darnell, the fitted bodice and peppermint green silk chiffon ground encrusted with pale green iridescent sequins, the halterneck and scooped back edged with strands of imitation pearls graduating in size from the imitation emerald jewelled clasp at the base of the neck, the back elaborately embellished with fifteen additional strands of imitation pearls graduating in size from neck to lower back and cascading from the clasp in a decorative cage effect, the skirt with flowing train lined in silver silk tissue; and a corresponding pair of stiletto heeled sandals customised by Darnell, stamped on the insole Hand Made By Peppino Vasso and with the retailer’s name F. Pinet.
Weight of gown: approx. 2kg.
She wore the gown for the cover shoot of various albums including: Love, Life And Feelings, 1976, Twenty Greatest Hits and Let Me Sing And I’m Happy.
In 1967 The Album And We Were Lovers was released. The album contains 10 songs and almost all the songs are shorter than 3 minutes. In Australia in 1971 Shirley Bassey was presented with a gold disc for this album, during her yearly visit to Australia and New Zealand. This was the first gold disc awarded to a female recording artist in Australia.
Below some newspaper articles from 1967 and a live performance of one the songs from the album Somebody Like me from The 1972 concert at the Talk of the Town.
Today a review of the Mike Douglas show from April the 8th. 1969. The show starts with two duets that have been on the blog before: You’re Just In Love & Bill Bailey (Won’t You Please Come Home). Other songs I (Who Have Nothing) & Big Spender. There was some controversy over the dress Dame Shirley wanted to wear on the show because it showed too much skin for the taste of the American viewers. In Europe it was not a problem for her to wear the dress on TV or for shows and she even met Queen Elizabeth wearing the dress. Also she wore the dress 2 years earlier on the 1966 Show of the Week. 
Dame Shirley Bassey Blog 
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