Dame Shirley Bassey - The Singer (Classic And Undiscovered Gems From The EMI/UA Years 1962-79)

007「ゴールドフィンガー」での歌唱でも知られる歌姫シャーリー・バッシーの代表曲シングルやB面、貴重なサウンドトラック音源など、1962-79年の未発表/初CD化の貴重音源を収録した3枚組アンソロジー。

The Singer - Classic and Undiscovered Gems from the EMI/UA Years 1962-1979 is the long-delayed realization of a 2011 project headed by Martyn Daye and Steven Woof as a 75th-birthday tribute to Dame Shirley Bassey in 2012. It was abandoned when EMI collapsed. In 2021, Cherry Red heard about it, sought Dayes assistance, and embarked on in its resurrection. They called Bassey at home in Monaco; she re-licensed the recordings. There are 45 remastered tracks sourced from original master tape reels, spread over three discs. Discs one and two are composed of singles, movie themes, B-sides, and eight unreleased tracks. Disc three contains a previously unissued 1973 concert from the Royal Albert Hall. The booklet is loaded with photos, track annotations, and an excellent liner essay by Daye. The producers didnt sequence chronologically. Disc ones first two tracks, "Ive Got a Song for You" and "Shirley," are highlights from 1966s Ive Got a Song for You. Theyre followed by 70s singles including the swank 60s pop of "Never Never Never" and a reggae-pop arrangement of "For All We Know" fueled by slippery wah-wah guitar, Farfisa, and strings. Also notable are striking readings of Riz Ortolanis "Til Love Touches Your Life" and her storied themes from Goldfinger (in a new stereo mix), Moonraker, and Diamonds Are Forever. Additionally, it includes covers of the Beatles, the Doors, Don McLean, and singular versions of "My Way" and "If You Go Away." Disc two contains unissued orchestral versions of Beach Boy Bruce Johnstons "I Write the Songs" and Michael Franks "Night Moves" from 1979s The Magic Is You. The rare, Italian "Vivo di Diamanti" (Diamonds are Forever) is the only track reproduced from vinyl. Sammy Cahns "Because Youre Mine" from 1966 is iconic, as is the orchestral pop version of Buffy Sainte Maries "Until Its Time for You to Go" (1971), and it concludes with unissued tracks, among them Mac Davis "I Believe in Music," (1973) and Doc Pomus and Mort Shulmans "Dont You Pass Me By" (1965). The unreleased Royal Albert Hall concert from 1973 begins with a fanfare from "Goldfinger" before Bassey delivers a riveting performance of "Where Am I Going," the hit single from 1972s Talk of the Town. Her reading of McLeans "I Love You So" is definitive in its grandeur and emotional resonance. She delivers an excellent read of John Meyers "Id Like to Hate Myself in the Morning." Further, there are versions of "Goldfinger," George Harrisons "Something" (an encore), Badfingers "Without You," standard "Day by Day" (offered uptempo with bumping bassline and a swinging horn chart)," an anthemic take of "This Is My Life," and Betty Condens "The Partys Over" rendered as a vintage saloon song. In sum, Dame Shirley Bassey: The Singer - Classic and Undiscovered Gems from the EMI/UA Years 1962-1979, is an essential entry in the artists catalog. It serves as both an exclamation point on her career for fans and a wonderfully idiosyncratic introduction to the great ones work for initiates. ~ Thom Jurek