Shirley Bassey - For All We Know (1973 Carnegie Hall) / The Joker (1972 Talk Of Town) video free download

1973 / 1972: (Shirley Bassey, Live, on her vocally electrifying wild side). The first song, 'For All We Know' was a big hit for Shirley in the UK and throughout Europe at the same time it was a hit for the Carpenters in the USA. She performs this song live during her 1973 Carnegie Hall shows. The second song, 'The Joker' was written by Anthony Newley (Who co-wrote Goldfinger) and Shirley performs it live in 1972 at the Talk Of The Town. Shirley appears with Anthony Newley towards the end of the second song. Newley was to co-write the song Goldfinger along with Leslie Bricusse, John Barry and Don Black, shortly after this appearance.

These are two favorites of mine and I hope that you enjoy this clip. The song For All We Know in particular represents a different side of Shirley's musical style, which always comes out during her live concerts. When you have exceptional VOCAL PIPES as Shirley does you are able to sing songs in a studio recording as the producer wants them sung, and then sing them differently as you want to sing them during live performances. Here, Shirley demonstrates her wild high energy note choices, with raw power and electrifying vibrato intensity as she easily moves up and down the scales through each lyrical bar. If you listen to Shirley's studio recording of For All We Know, the sound is more lyrically round and soft even during her higher notes. I personally enjoy both sides of Shirley's music, and I'm sure that most of you who take the time to listen will do so as well. The studio recording, For all We Know, was a top ten hit for both Shirley and the Carpenters back in the 1971, which tells you something about how great this song is. The song, The Joker which was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, demonstrates Shirley's fun/upbeat personality and it's songs like these which allow her to move around the stage and have a little of her own fun during her concerts.

LYRICS - For All We Know:

Love, look at the two of us

Strangers in many ways

We've got a lifetime to share

So much to say

And as we go

From day to day

I'll feel you close to me

But time alone will tell

Let's take a lifetime to say

"I knew you well"

For only time

Will tell us so

And love may grow

For all we know

Love, look at the two of us

Strangers in many ways

Let's take a lifetime to say

"I knew you well"

For only time Will tell us so

And love may grow

For all we know

Strangers (, strangers, strangers)

For all we know

ABOUT the song, The Joker:

"The Joker" was co-written by composer Leslie Bricusse and lyricist Anthony Newley for The Roar Of The Greasepaint - The Smell Of The Crowd; it was performed in the show by Newley as the lead character, Cocky. Newley also directed the show. For some reason, producer David Merrick is said to have hated it, and tried to have it dropped, even going so far as to remove the sheet music from the orchestra pit. Fortunately, Newley felt just as strongly about retaining it, and won the battle of wills. It was performed in Act I of the show, which opened at the Shubert Theatre, Broadway (after seven previews) on May 16, 1965, running for 231 performances. "The Joker" is a song for the odd man out; there's one in every crowd, the saying goes. This is a sad song which packs a punch, and one with which many of the more unfortunate amongst us will identify.

LYRICS - The Joker:

There's always a joker in the pack

There's always a lonely clown

The poor laughing fool falls on his back

And everyone laughs when he's down

There's always a funny man in the game

But he's only funny by mistake

But everyone laughs at him, just the same

They don't see his lonely heart break

They don't care as long as there is a jester, just a fool

As foolish as he can be

There's always a joker, that's a rule

But fate deals the hand and I see

The joker is me

There's always a funny man in the game

But he's only funny by mistake

But ev'ryone laughs at him, just the same

They don't see his lonely heart break

They don't care as long as there is a jester, just a fool

As foolish as he can be

There's always a joker, that's a rule

But fate deals the hand and I see

The joker is me

The joker is me

The joker is me

Special Thanks to Pieter and Astrid from the Shirley Bassey blog and all those who have provided wonderful pictures of Shirley!