DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY - The Performance

2009-11-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

DSB, as she's known to her followers these days, has not only embraced social media (she's on Twitter for flip's sake) but she's recorded a new album. Her first in 20 years. Produced by David Arnold, it features songs from the legendary John Barry and Don Black, artistes du jour such as Rufus Wainwright (the frankly bonkers but brilliant 'The Apartment'), Manic Street Preachers (the very sweet 'The Girl From Tiger Bay') and Gary Barlow (the rather classy 'This Time'). There are also songs from Arnold (a rejected Bond song for Quantum Of Solace perhaps in 'No Good In Goodbye'), the vampish 'Nice Men' courtesy of K T Tunstall and the achingly lovely 'After The Rain' from Richard Hawley.

It comes to a triumphant and heart rending climax with a song from Pet Shop Boys, 'The Performance Of My Life', which, whilst brief, completely sums up DSB's long career. What comes across here is Shirley's vulnerability. Yes, you do get the goose-bumpy 'belter' moments but producer Arnold has also revealed qualities in Shirley's voice that are pregnant with the half-known tragedies of her private life. It's rather special and beautifully orchestrated by Arnold.

The Performance - Dame Shirley Bassey (Polydor 2720780 CD - Released 9th November 2009)

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DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY - The Performance