Shirley Bassey - Without You / GOLDFINGER (1973 Live at Royal Albert Hall)

1973 (Royal Albert Hall Concert) ABOUT the song, Without You: Shirley recorded and released this song on her 1972 LP titled, ’Shirley Bassey - And I Love You so’ ABOUT the co-songwriter, Peter William Ham: Peter William Ham (27 April 1947 -- 24 April 1975) was a Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of the group Badfinger. Ham was born in Swansea, Wales. He formed a local rock group called The Panthers around 1961. This group would undergo several name and lineup changes before it became The Iveys in 1965. The Iveys changed their name to Badfinger with the single release of “Come And Get It,“ a composition written by Paul McCartney, and it became a worldwide Top Ten hit. Ham had initially protested against using a non-original to promote the band, as he had gained confidence in the group’s compositions, but he was quickly convinced of the springboard effect of having a likely hit single. His own creative perseverance paid off eventually, as his “No Matter What“ composition became another Top Ten worldwide hit after its release in late 1970 . He followed up writing two more worldwide hits with “Day After Day“ and “Baby Blue.“ His greatest songwriting success came with his co-written composition “Without You“ - a worldwide #1 when covered by Harry Nilsson and released in 1972. This song, ’Without You’ has since become a ballad standard and is covered by hundreds of singers from many genres worldwide, of course, including Shirley Bassey. This song was first released by Tom Jones back on June 13, 1969. LYRICS: Well I can’t forget this evening And your face when you were leaving But I guess that’s just the way the story goes You always smile But in your eyes the sorrow shows Yes it shows No I can’t forget tomorrow When I think about my sorrow I had you there, then I let you go And now it’s only fair that I should let you know What you should know I can’t live if living is without you I can’t live I can’t live anymore I can’t live if living is without you I can’t live I can’t live anymore Well I can’t forget this evening And your face when you were leaving But I guess that’s just the way the story goes You always smile But in your eyes the sorrow shows Yes it shows I can’t live if living is without you I can’t live I can’t live anymore I can’t live if living is without you I can’t live I can’t live anymore Shirley recorded two versions of this song. She recorded the soundtrack to the movie, ’Goldfinger’ and then she recorded a version to be sold as a ’single.’ Both versions are superb, but I believe she holds that big last note longer here, on the ’Single’ version! Simply amazing! And, based on the length of this last note it most likely was during the recording of this version where John Barry kept telling Shirley to ’hold it,,,,hold it,,,,hold it’ until as Shirley says, “I almost passed out!“ ABOUT the song, Goldfinger: “Goldfinger“ was the title song from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. Composed by John Barry and with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, the song was performed by Shirley Bassey for the film’s opening and closing title sequences, as well as the soundtrack album release. The single release of the song gave Bassey her only Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit, peaking at number eight; in the United Kingdom, the single reached #21. In 2008, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The release on vinyl of Bassey’s version sold more than a million copies in the United States (Guinness Book of Records)[citation needed], and it also reached number one on the Japanese charts and the top ten of many European countries. The song has become Bassey’s theme song and she has performed it in most of her concerts since the 1960s, often as an opening number. LYRICS: Goldfinger He’s the man, the man with the Midas touch A spider’s touch Such a cold finger Beckons you to enter his web of sin But don’t go in Golden words he will pour in your ear But his lies can’t disguise what you fear For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her It’s the kiss of death ... From Mister Goldfinger Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold This heart is cold Golden words he will pour in your ear But his lies can’t disguise what you fear For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her It’s the kiss of death ... From Mister Goldfinger Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold This heart is cold He loves only gold Only gold He loves gold He loves only gold Only gold He loves gold