This is a special set. You may be interested to know that the Royal Albert Hall (1973) was not a two night appearance but in those days Shirley did two shows a night on from memory was a 16-city tour. Each performance was shorter than in later years but none the less impressive. How do I know? I was there for both performances. In the gallery, standing and watching the BBC technicians for the first performance and supporting act which I think was at 6pm. Then in the stalls for the second house. Why the BBC recorded both performances then only showed a highly edited version was and remains a shame. The second house with the presentation of 10 gold and silver discs by David Frost should have been shown. I recall one critic said she walked about too much. The entrances and exits are part of the act. Opera singers in concert invariably take breaks in the performance. The set is of special interest for the rare and unreleased tracks. One I have waited years to have is `Runaway` which for some strange reason was only ever a `B` side of a single. To me it is the hit that never was. When you listen to those opening music notes and the soaring voice , just imagine that in concert. I was lucky to see Shirley as a boy first at the Royal Albert Hall in 1972 and many times until finally at Wembley Arena in 2006 when she was on stage for 1hour and 40 minutes in an incredible and varied programme of songs such as `The Living Tree` & Here`s to Life`. the concert recording of the 1973 Royal Albert Hall was never released as she had a superb `live `double album released at the time. `Live at Carnegie Hall` recorded in New York that summer when `Never, Never, Never` had been a major hit in the both sides of the Atlantic. Regarding `For All We Know` The Carpenters and Shirley both had deserved hit singles in 1971. A school friend was a huge Carpenters fan and we watched as both recordings did so well. The performance of Shirleys which sealed my admiration for ever was the televised Royal Variety Show 1971 when she included `For All We Know` and the stunning `Till Love Touches Your Life` ( see YOU TUBE)
It's a little bit of a stunt, but her cover of "Get The Party Started" is fun, and a crowd-pleaser, and shows her with plenty of vocal power at age 69: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNcyFNMfLM
This is a special set. You may be interested to know that the Royal Albert Hall (1973) was not a two night appearance but in those days Shirley did two shows a night on from memory was a 16-city tour. Each performance was shorter than in later years but none the less impressive. How do I know? I was there for both performances. In the gallery, standing and watching the BBC technicians for the first performance and supporting act which I think was at 6pm. Then in the stalls for the second house. Why the BBC recorded both performances then only showed a highly edited version was and remains a shame. The second house with the presentation of 10 gold and silver discs by David Frost should have been shown. I recall one critic said she walked about too much. The entrances and exits are part of the act. Opera singers in concert invariably take breaks in the performance. The set is of special interest for the rare and unreleased tracks. One I have waited years to have is `Runaway` which for some strange reason was only ever a `B` side of a single. To me it is the hit that never was. When you listen to those opening music notes and the soaring voice , just imagine that in concert. I was lucky to see Shirley as a boy first at the Royal Albert Hall in 1972 and many times until finally at Wembley Arena in 2006 when she was on stage for 1hour and 40 minutes in an incredible and varied programme of songs such as `The Living Tree` & Here`s to Life`. the concert recording of the 1973 Royal Albert Hall was never released as she had a superb `live `double album released at the time. `Live at Carnegie Hall` recorded in New York that summer when `Never, Never, Never` had been a major hit in the both sides of the Atlantic. Regarding `For All We Know` The Carpenters and Shirley both had deserved hit singles in 1971. A school friend was a huge Carpenters fan and we watched as both recordings did so well. The performance of Shirleys which sealed my admiration for ever was the televised Royal Variety Show 1971 when she included `For All We Know` and the stunning `Till Love Touches Your Life` ( see YOU TUBE)
A national treasure and an icon. Love her voice and her style.
It's a little bit of a stunt, but her cover of "Get The Party Started" is fun, and a crowd-pleaser, and shows her with plenty of vocal power at age 69: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNcyFNMfLM