The Remix Album: Diamonds Are Forever

Shirley Bassey

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 4, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B0000589U9
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,302 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Remixes of an Excellent Diva, February 18, 2001

By	Anthony Stokes (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Before this album, I was only familiar with Shirley Bassey from the Bond themes she sang (Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker). I was in a store not long ago and saw the import box set from France, the 10 track CD with a bonus three song CD. I loved it.

Naturally, I was VERY happy to see that all 13 tracks made in on to an American CD. There are certainly no misses on this album. One of my favorite mixes is Propellerhead's funk soundng mix of Goldfinger. Moloko (DJ Skymoo) does an intense, fast-paced mix of "If You Go Away." awayTeam adds a sort of hip-hop sound to "Where Do I Begin" with much success. Superfunk does a twangy mix of "Moonraker" with dialogue throw in at parts. Mantronik contributes two mixes of "Diamonds Are Forever" which seem to both preserve the original song and add a good deal of substance to it by making it sound more modern.

The new mixes seem to make Shirley Bassey's powerful voice stand out even more and give a new electronica spin to some old classics. It's definitely worth checking out and this particular CD is the best value for the money.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true diva, April 14, 2001

By	Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I was first introduced to Shirley Bassey courtesy of the Propellerheads with "History Repeating" a few years ago but it wasn't until of recently when I caught a glimpse of the video "Where Do I Begin" (awayTEAM Mix) from the "Diamonds Are Forever: The Remix Album" that got my full attention. I can say that I am impressed with what I heard. Shirley Bassey can be truly called a "diva" since that word is being thrown around recklessly with more well known but overrated singers nowadays. When I listen to Shirley singing I hear attitude and spunk in her voice which I don't really hear with a lot of female vocalists today.

"Where Do I Begin" is my very favorite track off the remix cd, next to the DJ Skymoo Mix of "If You Go Away". I found it unusual yet compelling to hear Shirley Bassey's vocals be put to a trance beat in "If You Go Away". Her rendition of The Doors' "Light My Fire" is excellent, particularly the Kenny Dope mix. The Propellerheads' mix of "Goldraker" and Mantronik's Diamond Cut Club Mix of "Diamonds are Forever" are also good. A terrific remix album overall as is Shirley Bassey as a singer. She is truly a first class diva.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars as close to perfection as a remix album can get, June 12, 2001

By	"theformersnqueen" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

when i first spotted this cd at other music in nyc, it was as if the rest of the store's contents melted away in a shimmy and the only item to focus on was this magnificent cd. it will have its detractors; killjoys who decrie re-interpretation of classics that, of course, can never stand up against the originals based solely on their composition. however, this album is as much a tribute album as it is a re-interpretation. i don't think any of the artists harbor grand illusions that their remixes surpass the original songs. i strongly advise against buying this album without first familiarizing yourself with ms. bassey's original recordings (and i'm not talking propellerheads here folks). it's hard to appreciate these remixes without first recognizing the starting point of each artist. listening to each remix, the admiration and respect that each artist has for the incomparable vocals of shirley bassey and the horns and orchestration of john barry, is obvious. the most loving touches are provided by groove armada, awayTEAM, nightmares on wax, kenny dope, wild oscar and dj skymoo. these are the highlights of the album. where do i begin has been sampled before, most notably on the classic jungle album "jungle warfare" but awayTEAM are way beyond sampling. they pull away each all orchestration then slam it back in with shirley's powerful voice right as the hardest lyrics hit. wow... the propellerheads, who i neglected to give proper credit to above, stretch out shirley's voice into an arc that would make babs green with envy (i doubt we'll ever see a barbra streisand remix album...shudder...) set against crazy carribbean rhythms, goldfinger feels as if it were feel right at home in live and let die. kenny dope's light my fire is slow and deliberate, very sexy. easy thing to do, remixed by nightmares on wax is simple, almost matter of fact but with a great underlying hip hop vibe. groove armada's never, never, never is lush and achingly gorgeous...a voyage of emotional highs and lows within a space of only 7 or so minutes. if you go away uses elements of trance to accomplish these high and lows...another beautiful interpretation...long live the art of the remix! (the uk import has much cooler cover art..featuring a black and white picture of ms. bassey rising up from the earth, eclipsing an exploding star...)