Stately Homes Tour 2001

From July 13 to July 28, 2001, Dame Shirley Bassey made a short summer tour with concerts in six open air locations in the UK. Additionally on July 15th she performed on the annual Liverpool Summer Pops concert.

The Programme

Reviews

She's Goldsinger! from the "Manchester Evening News"

Concert Review from the Liverpool local newspaper

Thigh-Monds Are Forever from "The Mirror"

A Fans review by the fan Paul

The Song Repertoire

On the opening concert at Somerly House, near Bournemouth Shirley Bassey said at one point:

"I'm going to do something I've never done live before, ... but you have been such a wonderful audience, that I want to perform a song for you that I only sing at private events."

She then started to sing "Summertime" without orchestral accompanyment. The orchestra joined in at the second verse. (Hopefully she'll release a new album with this song soon.)

This is the list of songs being performed on the tour. (Not all on every concert, and not in this order.)

• Medley: Almost Like Being In Love / This Can't Be Love
• I'm Still Here
• Light My Fire
• I'll Be Your Audience
• Big Spender
• I'd Like To Hate Myself In The Morning
• Something
• Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me
• Goldfinger
• Diamonds Are Forever
• How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
• 'Til Love Touches Your Life
• New York Medley
• Crazy
• I Wish You Love
• A Lot Of Livin' To Do
• Never, Never, Never
• I (Who Have Nothing)
• Hey, Jude
• Summertime
• As I Love You
• Born To Lose
• I Am What I Am

The British Summer Weather

The cold, windy, damp UK evenings have had an effect on Shirley Bassey's health. On the second concert at Tatton Park the organizers announced:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this afternoon we really thought the show was going to have to be cancelled as Shirley Bassey is fighting a bronchial infection, but being the true Capricorn that she is, she has decided that the show must go on."

The visitors reported that her voice was beautiful, clear and powerful as always, but she kept drinking hot lemon and honey. She told the audience that they've been her medicine. On the next concert she seemed to be fit again.

On the concert on July 20, at Ragley Hall, it sadly rained throughout the whole concert, and not all fans were prepared for the weather, but Shirley Bassey nevertheless performed unirritated. She said: "I forgot to put my long-johns on!"

The next day at Belvoir Shirley Bassey joked that the visitors looked all well-wrapped up and "look at the bloody thing I've got on!", then adding "I think I need an anorak!"

Photos

Special thanks to my friends for taking the photos and scanning them for all fans.
Click on the images for a larger view.

The following photos are taken and scanned and © copyright by Michael Cooper (Mikey Mike) <mc007b9345@blueyonder.co.uk>. Before using them contact him for permission.

taken at Somerly House on July 13th, 2001

The following photos are taken and scanned and © copyright by Susan <bigspender@easynet.co.uk>. Before using them contact her for permission.

This photo is from the concert in the Blickling Hall on July 27th. Shirley Bassey didn't wore a wig on that concert. I heard that they apparently discovered too late that her wig was damaged, just before her concert that evening. So the director of Toni and Guy in Norwich came to her rescue. Emanuele Valenti blow dried her own hair straight. It was some years ago that Shirley Bassey has been on stage without a wig, but he persuaded her to go with her own hair, and it looked great.

taken at Knebworth on July 28th, 2001

The following photos are taken and scanned and © copyright by Mike Keane <mike@keane57.freeserve.co.uk>. Before using them contact him for permission.

The following photos are taken and scanned and © copyright by Kevin Humphreys <kevster24@hotmail.com>. Before using them contact him for permission.

taken at Knebworth on July 28th, 2001

The following photos are taken and scanned and © copyright by Richard Leevandendaele <Rickvan@btinternet.com>. Before using them contact him for permission.

taken at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire on July 21st, 2001

On Juan Kruger's request, I've removed his Belvoir Castle photos from this page.