Dame Shirley Bassey - Imagine

On Tuesday 24th November at 10:35pm on BBC1 there is a program called Imagine. This is a show by Alan Yentob and this week it is about Dame Shirley Bassey and the making of her new album, The Performance. The BBC came over filmed this when Dame Shirley had just finished the recording of the album. I was there and apparently I am around in the background with Paul Carey and co. I bet I look tired as it was a rather long day, but very enjoyable. So, if you happen to live in the UK or Europe and you have Sky TV make sure you get to see it. It was a fascinating interview by Alan Yentob.

Monaco and Monte Carlo

I am off to Monaco this morning. Flying down and I will be driving back later tonight or tomorrow. I am kind of looking forward to the drive back. I will be on my own and it just seems to give me time to think. Also, if I do manage to drive back in daylight, I will no doubt be stopping all along the way to shoot pretty little French things along the way. Mind you, unless I swerve off the the right and slip through the Western side of Switzerland and have a little shoot around there.. It is sooo pretty there as well.

Evening in Monaco
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford













When I was about an house away from the French coast and Calais, the weather changed for the worse. It started raining and was quite horrible. It was just a reminder as to what I am used to back in the UK. When I got to the port we were informed that the ferries were running late as there was storms at sea. I photographed a Seafrance ship loading with a moody stormy sky behind it.
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












Then a short while later we were off ourselves and off on a very rough crossing. Lots of people being sick on the ship. I managed to have a meal though, what a true professional. eh!!

Squeeze

Photo shoot with one of my fav bands of all time, Squeeze. We all met at Glen Tilbrook's recoding studio in South London at about 11 am. Then spent the rest of the day doing various shots. The weather was bloody awful, raining all day. But, we still managed to get some great shots. Well, I thought we did anyway, as I haven't heard from Glen Tilbrook. Chris Difford or there management Matt Thomas yet. Anyway, what an enjoyable day. They were one of the nicest bunch of guys to work with. In fact the whole team, hair, makeup and stylist were all lovely.

Dame Shirley Bassey 'The Performance'

I have just managed to get a copy of the new Album The performance by the living Legend Dame Shirley Bassey. I went to four or five places but it was sold out, which is mad as it only came out yesterday. I have just payed it and it really is fantastic. I had heard the tracks before as I have been around during the making of this album. The whole project is the brainchild of my mate Paul Carey. He came up with concept about two years ago and here it is. The songs are written by some of the worlds greatest songwriters ad songwriter and producer of this album, David Arnold and of course, Dame Shirley Bassey and you honestly do have a 5 Star Winner.

Dame Shirley Bassy & David Arnold
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford. All Rights Reserved













The photo above is one of my photos used on the new album and I took it at Air Lyndhurst Recording Studios earlier this year. I have to say and didn't think I would be saying this in 2009, but Dame Shirley should have a massive hit on her hands with this.
Dame Shirley Bassey, David Arnold & Gary Barlow
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford. All rights Reserved













On the day at Air Lyndhurst Studios, Gary Barlow turned up to play a track he had written for Dame Shirley called This Time. he sat at the above Grand Piano and played her the song and put the same effort in as he would if he was in an arena concert venue like Wembley, Madison Square Garden. It was truly amazing. He is a brilliant songwriter, performer and all round geezer. My association with Dame Shirley really started a few years ago in the thick mud of Glastonbury where she got the party started with a massive mud covered 150,000 odd music fans going mad for her. Then earlier in 2009 I was the photographer who has kind of documented the making of this album. So, all of your Christmas present problems are over. Just get out to the record store or big old supermarkets and buy a copy or two as Christmas presents for the family.