"Goldfinger" - Shirley Bassey

With discussions of '80s and '90s hits dominating the message board lately, I thought I'd throw in an oldies question for a change of pace. I'm wondering if the 45 version of Shirley Bassey's 1965 hit "Goldfinger" has ever appeared on CD in stereo? Someone on the "Both Sides Now" chat board (bsnpubs.com) reported that it can be found in stereo on track 1 of the CD The Best Of Shirley Bassey (EMI / Capitol's Ten Best Series) (sorry, I'm not sure of the catalog number). I was always under the impression that the 45 version only exists in mono. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Pat?

The version of Goldfinger on "Best Of - Ten Best Series" is clearly the LP version.

John, on the stereo LP version, Shirley runs out of gas on the final, sustained "gooooooooooooooold," and it's up to the orchestra to continue alone for several beats until the end of the song.

The mono 45 version has a different ending spliced in where Shirley begins that final "gold." This time, she sustains the note up to the end of the song. It's a rather obvious edit, and it sounds like the re-done tag was not recorded at the same session.

This version was also available on at least one LP. My mono copy of Shirley's 1965 LP Shirley Bassey Belts The Best! (United Artists 3419) includes the same version of "Goldfinger" as is found on the 45.



Edited by Yah Shure

Our commercial copy of "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey (United Artists 790) states a time of (3:07), but actually runs (2:48).

BTW, Goldfinger is my all-time favorite Bond film!

The single version has a unique lead vocal and has always been mono (on both 45 and CD). Now for the first time ever this mid 60s top 10 hit appears in stereo and matches the United Artists 45 (not the commonly found stereo LP version). You can order this Hit Parade label release now and get it shipped to you direct. Here is the link: http://ericrecords.com/htf_jb_60-65.html