The Ritz Hotel Casino in London was the swanky setting for last night's launch of Dame Shirley Bassey's new album The Performance. The album is the celebrated 72-year-old diva's first new studio recording for 20 years.
Dame Shirley - resplendent in a sparkly hoodie - was joined by Gary Barlow, Rufus Wainwright, Richard Hawley and Tom Baxter, all of whom contribute to the new record. In turn they were watched by the album's producer David Arnold and lyricist Don Black, who wrote Bond theme Diamonds Are Forever for Dame Shirley in 1971. Black contributes two tracks, No Good About Goodbye and Our Time Is Now - a collaboration with Bond composer John Barry.
Manic Street Preachers, KT Tunstall and Kaiser Chiefs' drummer Nick Hodgson round off the track selections.
Dame Shirley gushed at the event: "This is the most nerve-wracking moment of my life. I can't believe I've got all these amazing people, who I can now call my friends, wanting to work for me."
And afterwards, on Twitter, she said "Wow - what a launch! Was so fab to finally meet all the talented artists who wrote songs for me!"
In other news, Dame Shirley will celebrate her 50-year career with a special performance at the Electric Proms event at London Roundhouse on October 23. Playing tracks from The Performance alongside a clutch of classics with the legendary BBC Concert Orchestra, this will be her only live appearance this year.
Tickets, priced £25 plus booking fee, will be onsale from 8am tomorrow here: www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms
The Performance will be released on November 9 via Geffen Records.
Q predicts a riot...
12:35 PM | 22/09/2009
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