100 Great Songs From The British Invasion: ‘Goldfinger’- Shirley Bassey. There is a new James Bond film out- No Time To Die- which I am looking forward to seeing. It’s hard to believe that its now approaching the 60th anniversary of the first Bond film- Dr. No which appeared back in 1962. Goldfinger was the third Bond film- coming out in 1964- starring the first -and best Bond Sean Connery. A big thing is always made of the Bond girl and the Bond theme song for each movie. Someday I might end up ranking the Bond songs who knows.

When you think of the British Invasion- I know I don’t think of Shirley Bassey- but she was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1937. She was also the first person from Wales to have a #1 hit in the UK Singles Chart- back in 1959. ‘Goldfinger’ was the title song from the third film. Shirley Bassey has been very popular in her native UK over the years. Born in 1937- became a star in the 1950’s- and has had 30 Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart- her first in 1957- her last one in 2007 a span of fifty years. She also in 2020 with the release of a new album- became the first female artist to chart an album in seven consecutive decades. In the United States she has only had this one hit- ‘Goldfinger’- which peaked at #8. She also did the themes to the Bond films Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

‘Goldfinger’ was almost taken out of the film because producer Harry Saltzman hated it with a passion. He didn’t like Bassey’s theme for Diamonds Are Forever either. While Beatles producer George Martin- who was also Bassey’s producer is listed as the producer for the song- he wasn’t present when it was recorded.

Single: ‘Goldfinger’- Shirley Bassey/ Written by John Barry, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley/ Record Company- United Artists/ Time: 2:48/ Producer-George Martin/ Released 1964/ Peaked at #8 in US Billboard Hot 100 #21 in UK Singles Chart.