LIMITED EDITION 150 COPIES ONLY

AVAILABLE FROM FRIDAY JANUARY 23rd @ 7AM (GMT)

EARLY SHIRLEY – FIRST RECORDINGS IN STEREO

1. BURN MY CANDLE (AT BOTH ENDS) [LISTEN]
2. STORMY WEATHER 
3. THE WAYWARD WIND [LISTEN]
4. BORN TO SING THE BLUES 
5. AFTER THE LIGHTS GO DOWN LOW 
6. IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME 
7. THE BANANA BOAT SONG 
8. TRA LA LA 
9. IF I HAD A NEEDLE AND THREAD [LISTEN]
10. TONIGHT MY HEART SHE IS CRYING
11. YOU, YOU ROMEO [LISTEN]
12. FIRE DOWN BELOW
13. PUH-LEEZE MISTER BROWN 
14. TAKE MY LOVE, TAKE MY LOVE 
15. HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
16. AS I LOVE YOU
17. KISS ME, HONEY HONEY, KISS ME [LISTEN]
18. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A NIGHT 
19. LOVE FOR SALE 
20. CRAZY RHYTHM 
21. MY FUNNY VALENTINE
22. HOW ABOUT YOU
23. NIGHT AND DAY [LISTEN]
24. THE GYPSY IN MY SOUL
25. THE WALL
26. FROM THIS MOMENT ON

All tracks mixed and mastered by Ted Carfrae

Continuing Stage Door Pop's "On Demand" series is Early Shirley, a retrospective of Bassey’s Philips recordings from 1956–1959, now available for the first time in Digitally Extracted Stereo, produced by Ted Carfrae.

Bassey’s early Philips recordings (1956–1959) capture the formative years of one of Britain’s most distinctive voices. Long before she became a global icon synonymous with Bond themes and grand orchestral drama, Bassey was raw, ambitious, and exploring the space between British pop, jazz, and light entertainment.

Signed to Philips at just 19 after early stage work in touring revues, Bassey debuted with “Burn My Candle (At Both Ends),” controversially banned by the BBC for its daring lyrics. Between 1956 and 1959, she honed her craft across torch songs, jazz-inflected numbers, and ballads, revealing a gift for phrasing, drama, and emotional intensity. Hits like “As I Love You” (UK No. 1), “Kiss Me, Honey Honey Kiss Me” (No. 3), “The Banana Boat Song” (No. 8), and “Fire Down Below” marked her first chart successes.

These recordings document Bassey learning to command her instrument within the constraints of 1950s studio technology. By the end of her Philips tenure, her voice clearly demanded bigger arrangements, bolder material, and a confident artistic identity—signposts of the superstar she would soon become.

In 2025, producer Ted Carfrae revisited these original mono recordings, creating Digitally Extracted Stereo versions that reveal Bassey’s voice with unprecedented clarity. The orchestral backings gain depth and space, and her performances emerge more vivid than ever, honouring the original recordings while letting listeners experience the early brilliance of Bassey in full stereo sound.

Early Shirley is a limited edition pressing of 150 units only. Presented in a stunning full gloss digipak, the CD is available from Friday January 23rd at 7AM (GMT). Be sure to secure your copy, when they're, they're gone! 

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Questions? Email: info@stagedoorrecords.com