On This Day 20/07/1958 Shirley Bassey..."washed up." ?

Shirley Bassey pictured sitting at the piano as she tries one of her numbers with Cliff Lewis, (pianist), and New theatre manager Reg Phillips - 1958 - Wales Online Copyright

On this day, 20 July 1958, it was reported in the music press that Cardiff singing legend Shirley Bassey’s latest appearance more than confirmed the singer was still a hit and far from being “washed up’”.

The review.

Shirley Bassey’s return to Variety at the Leeds Empire last Monday proved that she was far from being “washed up.”

The plaintive appeal, physical attraction and slick sophistication are still there.

her act, altered for the better to include blues and standards, is still linked with her old eye-catching, ear-bending numbers.

Although publisher Cliff Lewis (replacing Colin Beaton on piano) was making his debut on Monday, the act was polished and brilliant.

The supporting bill was strong, too - Howard Jones and Reggie Arnold are top entertainers, Des O’Connor scores with songs and comedy, and the Metronotes vocal group is worth the top spot in any show.

On this day 11/11/1970 Shirley Bassey

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On this day, 11 November 1970, Cardiff singing legend Shirley Bassey played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.

It had become something of a UK comeback in 1970, leading to one of the most successful periods of her career.

Starting the year with a BBC Television 'Special' The Young Generation Meet Shirley Bassey, recorded in Sweden and shown on BBC1 on 18 March. She returned to the UK with a record-breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub.

Also that year, her album Something was released, and showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements (the eponymous single was more successful in the UK charts than the original recording by The Beatles) – although Bassey would never completely abandon what that had been her forte: standards, show tunes, and torch songs.

"Something" was also a top 10 US hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. Other singles of this period included the hit "Never Never Never", an English version of the Italian "Grande grande grande", reaching the top 10 in the US Adult Contemporary Chart, the UK top 10 and number one in Australia and South Africa.

The success of "Something" (single number four, album number five in the UK) spawned a series of successful albums on the United Artists label.

On this day 16/09/1974 Shirley Bassey

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On this day, 16 September 1974, Welsh music legend Shirley Bassey played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.

Bassey was experiencing a resurgence 1970 leading to one of the most successful periods of her career. Starting the year with a BBC Television 'Special' The Young Generation Meet Shirley Bassey, recorded in Sweden and shown on BBC1 on 18 March.

She returned to the UK with a record-breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Also that year, her album Something was released, and showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements (the eponymous single was more successful in the UK charts than the original recording by The Beatles) – although Bassey would never completely abandon what that had been her forte: standards, show tunes, and torch songs.

Nobody Does It Like Me is a 1974 album by Shirley Bassey. Bassey's recordings had been selling well since 1970, scoring three top ten singles and three ten top albums. Nobody Does It Like Me was recorded with a new producer, George Butler, and brought a partial return to the traditional pop sound of Bassey's pre-1970s career. Here, the title track "Nobody Does It Like Me" and "When You Smile" harken back to the big band era. Bassey's soaring vocals on Paul Anka's "I'm Not Anyone" and the slightly funky "Morning in Your Eyes" contrast with a delicately rendered "Davy". The duet "Davy", recorded with the song's composer Benard Ighner, is one of the rare occasions that Bassey would share the credits with another vocalist; it was also issued as a single and hit #44 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. The album closes with Bassey's reading of Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life". This album failed to chart in the UK, and peaked at #142 in the US. Her next two studio albums would be top 15 albums in the UK.

On this Day 14/5/1957 Shirley Bassey

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On this day, 14 May 1957, Cardiff singing legend Shirley Bassey, played Cardiff’s New Theatre.
Bassey had earlier in the year achieved her first chart placing with her cover of the Banana Boat song reaching number 8 in the charts.

Born on Bute Street, in the Docks area of Cardiff. She grew up in the adjacent community of Splott where she attended Moorland Road school.

Teachers and students alike at Moorland Road School noticed Bassey's strong voice, but gave the pre-teen little encouragement: "...everyone told me to shut up. Even in the school choir the teacher kept telling me to back off till I was singing in the corridor!" A classmate recalled her singing the refrain "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" from Show Boat with such feeling that she made their teacher uncomfortable.

She left Splott secondary modern school aged 14 to work at Curran Steels and, in the evenings and weekends, to sing in local pubs and clubs.