I always wondered what it would be like for an artist to have one song hit the charts, climb like a rocket, and think that your career was "made", only to never be able to repeat it. Lack of talent? No, I really doubt that would be the reason. Changing attitudes? Maybe, but I doubt that's really it either. But to have gotten that big break, and then..."poof"...it's over? Man, that would be harsh!
I have decided that I would start with 1965, the year I was born.
The theme to the James Bond movie Goldfinger turned out to be the only 'hit' ever released in the U.S. for Shirley Bassey. It was released in 1964, but peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts in 1965. It was the one and only time that she made the top 40 in America, though she'd been to #1 in the UK twice, and the top 10 on 7 other previous occasions.
But wait! There's more!
The song was originally recorded by Anthony Newley, who'd help write it. But it was re-recorded by Shirley Bassey, with the legendary George Martin producing. Here is the real "nugget" of trivia, though. A young, aspiring guitarist sat in on the recording sessions for this song. He later would go on to become a legend in the world of rock and roll, but at the time, he was only a respected session man.
His name? Jimmy Page!
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I never knew that about Jimmy Page. I have also heard that one night, Bob Seger and Jimmy Page got drunk at a party. Jimmy passed out on his back and started vomiting. Bob Seger to the rescue! He quickly rolled him over. The next day, he wrote Turn The Page.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe I made it up, who knows.