And then there was the ending, in which Dame Shirley's admonitions were elevated steadily to urgency, capped by a long-held note as the bombastic orchestra pounds away.
Recorded in London on August 20, 1964, Barry asked for take after takenot because of Dame Shirley's inability to produce a flawless take but because of musicians' errors and technical difficulties. Throughout the all-night session, she remained a good sport.
As for that note, she told Burlingame: I was holding it and holding it. I was looking at John [Barry] and I was going blue in the faceand he's going, hold it just one more second. When it finished, I nearly passed out."
Marc Myers: The vocal attack you got out of Dame Shirley Bassey remains incredible, especially how she holds the last note. Sir George Martin: I've had plenty of attacks from Shirley Bassey [laughs]. Before we did Goldfinger we did I Who Have Nothing, which also was dramatic. She still is something. The days of those kinds of singers are gone.
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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