Shirley Bassey - Electric Proms 2009

This is Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey, performing live with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Electric Proms, Roundhouse London, England on the 23rd October 2009.

One of the aims of Beehive Candy has been to provide variety and diversity in musical styles and genres. This has ensured that those who contribute tend to listen to music they might otherwise just pass by. Shirley Bassey is a superb live performer and this concert both reminds us of some of her wonderful hits across decades and that really good artists can appeal to audiences across different generations.

It was announced in July 2009 that Shirley Bassey was recording a new album, with David Arnold as producer. By September 2009 artists who had written songs for the album included Manic Street Preachers, Gary Barlow, KT Tunstall, Pet Shop Boys, Kaiser Chiefs, John Barry and Don Black. The 11-track album, entitled The Performance, was released on the 9th November 2009.

Shirley Bassey headlined at the BBC Electric Proms in her only full live set of 2009.

Source: FM Radio Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps.

Genre: Popular Music.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

01 - Introduction by Paul O'Grady
02 - Diamonds Are Forever
03 - I'm Still Here
04 - Talking With Audience
05 - Apartment
06 - Never Never Never
07 - Kiss Me Honey Honey
08 - Almost There
09 - After The Rain
10 - What Now My Love
11 - Big Spender
12 - Talking With Audience
13 - The Lady Is A Tramp
14 - Talking With Audience
15 - Performance
16 - As Long As He Needs Me
17 - Something
18 - Light My Fire
19 - Talking With Audience
20 - The Girl From Tiger Bay
21 - I Am What I Am
22 - Talking With Audience
23 - Goldfinger

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Quoting from the BBC electric Proms website: "BBC Electric Proms was proud to present a true British legend. Dame Shirley Bassey graced the Roundhouse stage with a unique performance celebrating 50 years at the top of show business. Dame Shirley was joined on stage by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Mike Dixon, performing some of her most famous tracks alongside new songs from her forthcoming album, 'The Performance'. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

Britain's most successful female artist ever, Dame Shirley Bassey is rightly famous for her commanding renditions of classics Big Spender, Light My Fire and Something. Her Bond themes - Goldfinger, Moonraker and Diamonds Are Forever - are perhaps the finest in the series. This evergreen artist continues to influence a new generation of musicians. In 2007, at Glastonbury festival, Arctic Monkeys paid tribute to the Dame performing a version of Diamonds Are Forever. The same song was reworked by Kanye West for his hit Diamonds From Sierra Leone.

At the Roundhouse, Dame Shirley Bassey was joined by Tom Baxter, Richard Hawley and the Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield. Dame Shirley treated the Roundhouse to numbers from her much-loved songbook whilst premiering new work. Said the artist, "What I'm most looking forward to at the BBC Electric Proms is performing songs from my new album 'The Performance' for the first time - it really will be a special moment for me." It is worth noting that this was Dame Shirley Bassey's only live show this year. BBC Electric Proms is delighted that she chose to celebrate 50 years of song with this very special intimate concert".

Download links (two) in comments below.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Shirley Bassey

Aerosmith - The End Of The Summer Nights 1988

This is Aerosmith on the final night of their US 1988 tour. The gig took place at the Pacific Amphitheater, Costa Mesa, CA, USA back on the 15th September 1988.

The album 'Permanent Vacation' was released in September 1987, becoming a major hit and the band's bestselling album in over a decade (selling 5 million copies in the U.S.), with all three of its singles 'Dude (Looks Like a Lady)', 'Rag Doll', and 'Angel' reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The group went on a subsequent tour with label mates Guns N' Roses who have cited Aerosmith as a major influence. The tour was reportedly 'intense at times' because of Aerosmith's new struggle to stay clean, amidst Guns and Roses well publicized rampant drug use.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Rock.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

Disc 1
01 Rats In The Cellar
02 Same Old Song And Dance
03 Heart's Done Time
04 Let The Music Do The Talking
05 Permanent Vacation
06 Lord Of The Thighs
07 Rag Doll
08 My Fist Your Face

Disc 2
01 Come Together
02 Milk Cow Blues
03 Perry Solo
04 Draw The Line
05 Dream On
06 Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
07 Sweet Emotion
08 Mama Kin (with Axl Rose & Slash).

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Circulated as a double 'silver disc' CD, this was the final night of the tour and Axl Rose & Slash guesting on the final number. This version was rather fittingly entitled 'The End Of Summer Nights'.

Reloaded 21/June/2015 link in comments.

Beehive Recommends - City Light

Shamelessly copying and pasting from their MySpace site here's the background on another band to watch out for in 2010.

'City Light was started by Seattle singer songwriter Matt Shaw with long time friend and bay area producer Nick Andre, who's releases have featured Gift Of Gab, Lateef, Lyrics Born and more. As the project progressed they called upon musician and producer Denver Dalley from Desaparecidos, Statistics, and Intramural and Seattle singer songwriter Andy Fitts from Airport Cathedral and Aqueduct. Together the four of them worked to create one record from three corners of the country that mixed genres of indie-pop, rock , and hip hop. The end result is a dark and unique pop record full of catchy tunes, experimental electronica, and driving beats'.

The album 'Burned Out Bright' is due for release on the 26th January 2010, and having just listened through, this one is going on my personal play again list. You can also here more over on their MySpace site. More album release details in due course.

Listen:
'Someday Maybe'



Website: MySpace

Their PR adds 'Blending gritty, earnest vocals (ala Bright Eyes) with sunnier, subdued melodies and driving beats, City Light has struck the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. BURNED OUT BRIGHT is sure to please City Light’s existing fan-base, and will undoubtedly bring the group much deserved attention over the next year'.

“Expect hooks, melodies and reluctant angst of a highly enjoyable nature.” – Noise Pop

“…an album that will knock you on your ass.” --
Exoduster.com

Warren Zevon - Live in London 1988.

Time flys by and it's is already over six years since the passing of Warren Zevon. There has been some dispute over the source of this broadcast, Warren clearly mentions the venue as London and the BBC did indeed broadcast his London concert in 1988 however the song order slightly differs. As far as I can gather this is a rebroadcast of the London show by a Dutch radio station, who may have edited the original a little.

Leaving the detail aside this is an excellent concert from Warren Zevon accompanied by a superb band. The original performance was on the 25th January 1988 at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256 & 320kbps.

Genre: Singer Songwriter, Rock.

Set: Edited Broadcast Set.

Set List:

1. Lawyers, Guns & Money
2. Detox Mansion
3. Boom Boom Mancini
4. Johnny Strikes Up The Band
5. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
6. Reconsider Me
7. Excitable Boy
8. Sentimental Hygiene
9. Accidentally Like A Martyr
10. Werewolves Of London
11. Play It All Night Long
12. Ain't That Pretty At All

Links: Official site HERE. Informative Wikipedia HERE.

Comments:

If you visit Warren Zevon's official site please consider signing the petition for his much overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. This particular concert has traded in the past as 'Ain't That Pretty At All'.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Warren Zevon