1964 Goldfinger - The Single: In 1964, Shirley Bassey recorded both the movie Soundtrack a
1964 Goldfinger - The Single: In 1964, Shirley Bassey recorded both the movie Soundtrack and the single version of this classic, 'Goldfinger.' Although there are numerous renditions of this song by Shirley, both live and via the recording studio, this one as far as I can tell has never been uploaded to Youtube. In this rendition Shirley beautifully rounds and softens the initial part of each lyrical string and then crisply belts the ending part of each sentence as only she can do. The final note on this version is longer than any others by far. John Barry kept telling Shirley to 'hold it..hold it' until at the end she has stated that she nearly passed out. And, finally in 2008 Dame Shirley Bassey was inducted into USA's Grammy 'Hall Of Fame' with her rendition of this classic song!
Cast of Characters:
Sean Connery - James Bond
Honor Blackman - Pussy Galore
Gert Frobe - Auric Goldfinger
Harold Sakata - Oddjob
Shirley Eaton - Jill Masterton (Jill was painted completely in GOLD for this part and she suffocated to death)
Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn - Q
Bernard Lee - M
Other Information:
The song was composed by John Barry, with lyrics by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. Newley originally sang the song, but Bassey's recording was used in the film and was featured on the soundtrack. Newley's version was released in the 30th anniversary compilation album The Best of Bond...James Bond. The theme was an international hit single, achieving a spot in the Billboard Hot 100 top five. The album went gold, selling over a million copies in the United States alone; it reached #21 in the UK charts.[8] The film score was composed by John Barry with the UK soundtrack featuring 4 tracks that didn't appear on the US soundtrack.
Lyrics:
Goldfinger
He's the man, the man with the midas touch
A spider's touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don't go in
Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death from
Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold
Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death from
Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
Please note that I have tried to upload this clip many times with actual stills from the movie, but the clip has been deleted every time. So, this clip includes mainly movie posters, but it's the pictures of Shirley and the music that we want to hear anyway!
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Added: 1 week ago
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1972: This song, 'If I Should Love Again' just sounds like a classic for all generations.
1972: This song, 'If I Should Love Again' just sounds like a classic for all generations. And, if it's not, then it should be!
Shirley recorded this track during 1972 United Artist Recording Studio sessions when she was making the 'And I Love You So' Album. This was the side (B) song of the 1972 single, 'Ballad Of The Sad Young Men.' Unfortunately, as beautiful as this song is, it was different than the other songs on the album and so it was the one that was cut. Well, moving ahead in time 28 Years later, the remaster of this wonderful album is back for sale as a CD, and it now includes this wonderful song.
Shirley Bassey is a DIVA, there is no doubt, but in addition to her tremendous vocal abilities her interpretation skills are usually right on. Bassey sings this song with a sentimental innocent flair to her voice which makes the listener feel that romance not only is back, but it's here to stay!
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1965: Two beautiful recordings from Shirley Bassey. 1) Secret Love, 2) Secrets.
Shirle
1965: Two beautiful recordings from Shirley Bassey. 1) Secret Love, 2) Secrets.
Shirley recorded 'Secret Love' in 1965 and it was intended to be included in one of the following two albums she was working on during this time...'Shirley Stops The Shows' OR 'Shirley Bassey - 12 Of Those Songs.' But, this song never made it to either album, and was released at a later date on one or more of Shirley's compilation CDs.
The song 'Secret Love' was written in 1953 by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster, and it is one of the songs from the movie, 'Calamity Jane' starring Doris Day. This song won the Academy Award for Best song that year, and Doris Day's rendition was a big chart success as it reached Number 1 on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts back in 1954. Other artists who have recorded this song include Connie Francis, Kathy Kirby, Freddie Fender, George Michael, Spike Jones and even Slim Whitman.
The Second song, 'Secrets' was released in 1965 as the Side (B) of the single that included, 'It's Yourself.' In recent years this song has also been included in one or more of Shirley's compilation CDs.
As usual, Shirley's stirring rendition of both songs is wonderful, as she easily flows from soft and emotional to high register crisp 'big belter' lyrical notes.
(Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, Roman, and so many others)
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Added: 2 weeks ago
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1967: Shirley Bassey recorded this song, 'Dangerous Games' as the side (B) single with sid
1967: Shirley Bassey recorded this song, 'Dangerous Games' as the side (B) single with side (A) being, 'Big Spender.' The Dangerous Games Track never made it on to an 'Original Release' LP, but it was released on a compilation LP in the 70's, and in the 90's it was released again on Shirley's 5 CD Box Set titled, 'Bassey - EMI/UA Years 1959-1979). I haven't found a lot of background on this one, but I would venture to guess that Shirley's record producers wanted to capitalize on her amazingly uncanny ability to give life to the James Bond genre of music. This one could easily be a Bond Song, and thus in this clip I have included stills from various James Bond movies.
(Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, James Bond Movie Production stills, and so many others)
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Added: 2 weeks ago
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1965: This Lionel Bart song, 'It's Yourself' was recorded by Shirley Bassey and released o
1965: This Lionel Bart song, 'It's Yourself' was recorded by Shirley Bassey and released on Columbia records as the side (A)...and side (B) was titled, 'Secrets.' This 'Big Belter' song which is perfect for Bassey who can 'Knock-Em-Out-Of-The-Park' when she lets go, hit the Adult Contemporary Charts and reached #38. Another Bart song that Shirley did very well with was 'As Long As He Needs Me' from the musical Oliver when it reached the Billboard Charts at #2 back in 1960.
(Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, and so many others)
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1977: This classic song, 'Razzle Dazzle' was the Side (B) of Shirley Bassey's single that
1977: This classic song, 'Razzle Dazzle' was the Side (B) of Shirley Bassey's single that included, 'I Let You Let Me Down Again' for Side (A). This song was never included on one of her LP's, but it was finally released in 1994 on Shirley's digitally remastered CD titled, "Bassey - The EMI/UA Years 1959-1979". (Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, studio and musical production pictures, and so many others)
Synopsis of the Musical, Chicago:
This song is from the Broadway musical vaudeville "Chicago". The Premiere had been on June 1, 1975 in the 46th Street Theatre in New York and it was a success with more than 900 performances. But the story goes much further back into history. The story of "Chicago" is from a play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins in 1926. In 1942 a feature film "Roxie Hart" was released starring Ginger Rogers. In the 70's Kander and Ebb then made their vaudeville musical "Chicago" out of it. It was remembered as a triumph for choreographer/director/co-librettist Bob Fosse and his stars rather than for the story. But in the sping of 1996 New York's City Center included "Chicago" in its 'Encores' series of concert versions of forgotten musicals and now the story seemed to have parallels to actual affairs with its story about a murderess who goes free. Somehow the score, which had seemed merely functional 20 years before, sounded much better. Six months later, the show was revived on Broadway to rave reviews and in 1997 London got it's own version. The movie musical was released in 2002 with great reviews. Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma Kelly), Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart), Richard Gere (Billy Flynn), Queen Latifah (Matron "Mama" Morton. Zeta-Jones received an Best Supporting Oscar for her role.
LYRICS - (In Musical, sung by Billy Flynn Character - But that never stopped a DIVA like Shirley!)
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Back in the days of old Methusulah
Everyone loves the big bamboozulah
Give 'em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger 'em
When you're in trouble
Go into your dance
Though you are stiffer than a girder
They let you get away with murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you got a romance
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act that's unassailable
They'll wait a year till you're available
Give 'em the old wobble bammy
Daze and dizzy 'em
Show 'em the first rate sorcere you are
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you got no talents?
Razzle dazzle 'em
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll make you a star
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Added: 2 weeks ago
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1965: This song, 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' was going to be Shirley's second James Bond Movi
1965: This song, 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' was going to be Shirley's second James Bond Movie Theme, eventually giving her a total of 4 with 'Goldfinger' - 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 'Moonraker' but her version apparantly was not exactly what the producers and/or John Barry was looking for. John Barry then decided to let singer Dionne Warwick give it a try and they also provided her with a slightly different orchestral arrangement. Barry has said that he did like Warwick's version but in the end, neither artist received the song. On the Warwick clip of this same song, there is a suggested rumor regarding court action from Bassey to stop Dionne Warwick from singing the soundtrack theme, but this is just unsubstantiated inuendo. If Shirley had threatened a law suit, it's a good bet that John Barry, who himself has the midas touch, would never have worked with her again no matter how great her voice is. In addition, if Shirley had originally signed a contract to sing the Thunderball Theme song, it wouldn't make any difference if the producers decided to change the song. A contract is still a contract, and giving it to Tom Jones to sing rather than Dionne Warwick wouldn't have made any legal difference. Of course, history shows us that Barry and Bassey did successfully team together for two more Bond films and also for the movie, 'The Liquidator' which came out in 1966. What is a fact is that the prior James Bond Movie themes included the movie title in the lyrics and the producers, Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, most likely decided that they wanted this movie to be no different than the others. And, this concept has remained true for all of the James Bond movies. We also know that Shirley Bassey, being the professional that she is, knows perfectly well that in show business you win some and some you just don't win. For the ones you don't win, you just pick youself up and move on and this Dame has had to do this many times in both her personal and show business life.
Shirley's good friend and co-patriot, Tom Jones who at the time was just starting in the recording business, received the big break and was given the Soundtrack Theme with the newly written song titled, 'Thunderball.' Orginally, Barry and Bricusse didn't think they could write song score and lyrics which included the movie title, Thunderball. The original Thunderball song, 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' came from the name the citizens of Italy and Japan used when they referred to James Bond. Upon the decision from the producers to not use the original song, John Barry teamed up with lyricist Don Black and they did succeeed in writing both the new score and lyrics. And the rest, as they say, is history!
After all these years, it is great that Shirley's version of this fun and playful song has finally been released on one or more of her compilation CDs.
(Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, studio production stills, and so many others)
SONG LYRICS:
He's tall and he's dark,
And like the shark, he looks for trouble,
That's why the zeroes double,
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
He's suave and he's smooth
And he can soothe you like vanilla.
The gentleman's a killer.
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Damoiselles and danger
Have filled the stranger's past.
Like a knife he cuts thro' life
Like every day's the last.
He's fast and he's cool.
He's from the school that loves and leaves 'em...
A pity if it grieves 'em!
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang's...not a fool!
Oh, damoiselles and danger
Have filled the stranger's past.
Like the knife he cuts thro' life
Like every day's the last.
He's fast and he's cool.
He's from the school that loves and leaves 'em...
A pity if it grieves 'em!
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang's...not a fool!
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Added: 3 weeks ago
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1961: Shirley Bassey reached for Platinum when this soft love ballad, 'Reach For The Stars
1961: Shirley Bassey reached for Platinum when this soft love ballad, 'Reach For The Stars' reached Number 1 on the British Charts back on September 21, 1961. This song stayed on the charts for a total of 18 weeks. The side (A) of this 45 single was, 'Climb Every Mountain' from the Musical Play, The Sound of Music, and this classic also went to Number 1 for Shirley.
Lyrics:
I reach for the stars
When I reach for your love
For so far above me you always will be
Like a clown longs to be a king in a play
I long for the things that are so far away
I reach for the stars
When I reach for your hand
But stars tumble down
From the clouds to the land
When you come to my arms
In that moment devine
All the stars in the sky
Are mine, all mine
I reach for the stars
When I reach for your hand
But stars tumble down
From the clouds to the land
When you come to my arms
In that moment devine
All the stars in the sky
Are mine, all mine
Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, and so many others)
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Added: 3 weeks ago
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1964/65: This song, 'Strange How Love Can Be' was the (B) Side of the Goldfinger Single wh
1964/65: This song, 'Strange How Love Can Be' was the (B) Side of the Goldfinger Single which was released in the UK in 1964 and then in the USA on January 30, 1965. This 45 Columbia Record single reached #21 in the UK, but climbed to #8 on the Hot 100 USA singles charts, and remained their for 13 weeks. Obviously, this side (B) song never received the attention that Goldfinger did, but it is a great upbeat song and thus deserves to be heard again. This song was also released on Extended Plays in the UK, France, and Spain in 1964 but the track never made it to a full LP. In 1989, it was finally included on the one of Shirley's compilation CDs called, 'Shirley Bassey - I'm In The Mood For Love.' and then again in 2006 on Shirley's 'Columbia/EMI Singles' collection. (Thank-You for the contributions of Peggy's Blog, Astrid, Pieter, Ivan, Gary, Rien, Emma, Hank, John, Dave, Nokiaadje, Enrique, Michael, and so many others)
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Added: 3 weeks ago
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