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Bassey's third album is a pleasing if momentarily uneven collection of 13 songs, accompanied by Geoff Love and his orchestra with the Rita Williams Singers. Once one gets past the most questionable track here (the opener, no less), a version of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" that Bassey belts out to a too-loud accompaniment, everything is a winner. The best cut here, and one of the highlights of her early recording career, is "The Nearness of You," a dark and moody, totally sensual experience in which her voice gently washes over the listener, like a female analog to Nat King Cole at his most subtle. "Fools Rush In" isn't far behind, though on that particular cut the orchestra may even be a little under-recorded -- the Rita Williams Singers are very tastefully used on that track, however, in a successful, understated manner. They're a little more prominent but still most effective on the beautiful "Who Are We?." "This Love of Mine" and "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" are sung by Bassey solo, the former with a hauntingly beautiful held note on the fade-out. She also acquits herself well on the bluesy "Angel Eyes," which breaks up the pacing and mood around all of this charmingly ethereal pop. Producer Norman Newell also bolsters the songwriting department with "Goodbye Lover -- Hello Friend," which Bassey turns into a beautifully dramatic vehicle for her voice -- she might even be a little too dramatic on Rodgers & Hart's "Where or When," but is so overpowering in her intonation that the slight excess can be forgiven. In all, this is a delightful and rewarding release from her early career, and is worth tracking down, particularly in the 1997 reissue as part of EMI's 100th anniversary CD series.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
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Shirley Bassey, Vocals, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Francis Webster, Composer - Sammy Fain, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Ned Washington, Composer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Johnny Mercer, Composer - Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Rube Bloom, Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - The Rita Williams Singers, Chorus
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Norman Newell, Producer - Paul Francis Webster, Composer - Jerry Livingston, Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - The Rita Williams Singers, Chorus
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Earl Brent, Composer - Matt Dennis, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Pierre Buisson, Composer - Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Carl Sigman, Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Charles Danvers, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Jimmy McHugh, Composer - Harold Adamson, Composer - The Rita Williams Singers, Vocals - Geoff Love and His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Henry Sanicola, Composer - Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Frank Sinatra, Composer - Sol Parker, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - The Rita Williams Singers, Vocals
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Norman Newell, Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Michael Carr, Composer - The Rita Williams Singers, Vocals
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Vocals, Performance, MainArtist - Richard Rodgers, Composer, Lyricist - Lorenz Hart, Composer, Lyricist
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Jimmy McHugh, Composer - Harold Adamson, Composer
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Shirley Bassey, Featured Vocalist, Performance, MainArtist - Norman Newell, Producer, Produced by - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II , Composer - Geoff Love & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Denis Wright, Arranger - Geoff Love and His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Album review
Bassey's third album is a pleasing if momentarily uneven collection of 13 songs, accompanied by Geoff Love and his orchestra with the Rita Williams Singers. Once one gets past the most questionable track here (the opener, no less), a version of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" that Bassey belts out to a too-loud accompaniment, everything is a winner. The best cut here, and one of the highlights of her early recording career, is "The Nearness of You," a dark and moody, totally sensual experience in which her voice gently washes over the listener, like a female analog to Nat King Cole at his most subtle. "Fools Rush In" isn't far behind, though on that particular cut the orchestra may even be a little under-recorded -- the Rita Williams Singers are very tastefully used on that track, however, in a successful, understated manner. They're a little more prominent but still most effective on the beautiful "Who Are We?." "This Love of Mine" and "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" are sung by Bassey solo, the former with a hauntingly beautiful held note on the fade-out. She also acquits herself well on the bluesy "Angel Eyes," which breaks up the pacing and mood around all of this charmingly ethereal pop. Producer Norman Newell also bolsters the songwriting department with "Goodbye Lover -- Hello Friend," which Bassey turns into a beautifully dramatic vehicle for her voice -- she might even be a little too dramatic on Rodgers & Hart's "Where or When," but is so overpowering in her intonation that the slight excess can be forgiven. In all, this is a delightful and rewarding release from her early career, and is worth tracking down, particularly in the 1997 reissue as part of EMI's 100th anniversary CD series.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:40
- Main artists: Shirley Bassey
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Parlophone UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
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