Customer Reviews

The Birthday Concert: Recorded Live July 26, 1997 at Althorp Park, England

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bassey does it again. A captivating and sensuous performance. She still has the magic after all these years. For years I have been saying that Bassey needs no hit records as in the end sheer talent, hard work and a carfeully organized act does the hat trick. Hear the hits from her wide repertoire (She hold the record in the female entertainer category in the UK for the most singles and albums on the charts). The Foreigner song "I want know what love is" and the Beatles hit "Hey Jude" have new meaning when done by Bassey in her "big voice" and smolthering gestures. Definitely the most exciting live performance ever! Listening to the CD placed me right in the audience.

WHAT A CELEBRATION. THE GREATEST ENTERTAINMENT IN THE WORLD OF ALL THE TIMES SHOWS THAY SHE IS UNIQUE. SINGS LIKE A BIRD AND MOVES LIKE ONLY SHE CAN.

ITS ONE OF HER MAGNIFICENTS RECORDS. BUY IT KNOW, SPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER AND WANNA KNOW A DIVA, YES A REALLY DIVA.

This Shirley Bassey 60th birthday concert recorded in the UK in 1997, and recently performed for Southern California audiences in the US, reveals Bassey's mature voice to be a breathtaking surprise: richer, stronger, more powerful than ever before. Included on this CD are her hits of the past decades, as well as hair-raising renditions of "I am What I Am" and "I Wanna Know What Love Is." Bassey's jokes and flirtations with the audience are priceless. If you have never heard Shirley Bassey before, you will be amazed at the power and range of her voice. If you are an old Bassey fan, you will be astonished at how her voice has grown. Not to be missed.

Recorded live at the impressive Althorp Park in Northamptonshire U.K., it's easy to tell why this album was nominated for a Grammy. What a better way to celebrate her 60th birthday then with a live concert! Bassey is vocally superior to counterparts half her age, as she flawlessly belts out all her best on this CD. Having studied voice and music theory myself, I can appreciate the quality of Ms. Bassey's voice that progessively gets better with age. There's no shaky grandma voice here when she hit's those unbelievable high notes in "Hey Jude", "This Is My Life", and "I Wanna Know What Love Is"! Not only is every song a vocal masterpiece, but her audience interaction is fun and playful.

An expanded version of this same concert is available on the Import CD titled "Diamond Collection" and on another CD titled "Contemporary Classics". These versions include the songs "GoldFinger", "Crazy", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "Eleanor Rigby" which were actually extracted from another concert that same year and combined with the "Birthday" CD.

If you've never experienced Dame Shirley Bassey, this CD is an excellent place to start. You won't be disappointed.

This is bassey at her most "mature",when the voice has ripened,and darkened, and become bigger,on listening to this,the last sentence, takes on new meanings, her voice now is not merely big,as "awesome" and yet she still retains all the coy girlishness of yesteryear,in this all the favourites are still there and more,all in all a truly hypnotic combination!

This Birthday Concert Album reminds us that Miss Bassey is still number one in the entertainment business. Her powerful delivery is unforgettable as she takes us through songs such as Diamonds Are Forever, Something, Big Spender and a number of other gems. Yet with all her power, she sings songs like Yesterday When I Was Young with a tenderness that shows control and sensitive interpretation. Listen to This Is My Life and you would realise that this woman can make you feel joy, pain and every other emotion that is part of that song. Finally, she deserves to be recognised as one of the Best entertainers this century and her Grammy Award Nomination is a fitting accolade. Don't just take my word for it, purchase the album yourself, and you won't be disappointed.

This is one of the best live recording I have had the pleasure of listining to. The songs on this album are the best recorded versions. I was lucky to see her during the tour when she appeared at Westbury NY. Rated a+

Many people say life begins at 40s - maybe voice also. Hearing this superb CD from one of my idols - Shirley Bassey - I notice her voice is stronger and much more sexy. Age means excellence for her. Shirley, marry me!

Shirley Bassey is a name that is not exactly a household word to most Americans, and what a shame that is. Best know for the "Goldfinger" theme song, Ms. Bassey has shown a unique and dramatic flair that few artists possess.

The Birthday Concert - 1997 offers listeners a chance to hear her powerful voice and her willingness to tackle varied material. Shirley performs her biggest hits live (no lipsynching here!). Opening with an upbeat take on "S'wonderful," she follows with "Diamonds are Forever." Curiously, "Goldfinger" is missing from the repertoire, usually a Bassey opener. The Bassey classics abound, with "Big Spender," "Yesterday, When I Was Young," "This is my Life and "Never, Never, Never."

This CD is 100% goodies, no duds. Through the entire concert performance (18 tracks), her voice remains strong and vigorous, never faltering. Complementing her dramatic style, the orchestra seems just as tireless as Ms. Bassey herself. This CD is the next best thing to actually seeing and hearing Shirley Bassey in person (a highly recommended experience). A definite Five Star effort.

May "La Bassey" Never, Never, Never stop singing!

The best way to experience the magic of Shirley Bassey is to hear her live recordings. A series has been released - Live at Pigalle and Talk of the Town, Live in Japan & Live at Carnegie Hall. These were a much younger Bassey and this Birthday Concert recorded live at Althorp Park in July 1997 proves that Bassey is one performer who keeps on getting better with age. A must for every Bassey fan's collection