SHIRLEY BASSEY Born To Sing The Blues Vinyl Record LP Contour 1970 UK Reissue 6870-568 Pic Sleeve

Shirley Bassey - Born To Sing The Blues
(UK Reissue Pressing with Blue/White Contour Label. Housed in Fully Laminated Picture Sleeve)

Format: Vinyl Record - LP Album (33 rpm)
Country: UK
Year: 1970
Label: Contour
Catalogue No. 6870-568

Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, stamped etched): 6870568 1 1 520 1Y 1
Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, stamped): 859038 2Y//1 420 1 3 9 6870568 2Y

Condition: EX/EX (Sleeve and vinyl are in excellent clean condition)

Track Listing:
1. Born To Sing The Blues
2. Tonight My Heart She Is Crying
3. Hands Across The Sea
4. There's Never Been A Light
5. Beale Street Blues
6. Stormy Weather
7. Gypsy In My Soul
8. Blues In The Night
9. The Wayward Wind
10. Basin Street Blues
11. Puh-leeze Mister Brown (Mister Jones, Mister Smith)
12. Birth Of The Blues

This 1970 release offers a wonderful showcase of the powerhouse Welsh vocalist tackling a selection of atmospheric, brassy standards. Issued as an early catalogue title on the budget-conscious Contour label, the album serves as a curated compilation tracking her exceptional early career output, bringing together a prime selection of recordings cut between 1957 and 1959. Listeners will find exceptional vocal delivery across a tracklist that balances sultry jazz pieces with emotional ballads, spotlighting memorable recordings such as "Born To Sing The Blues", "Stormy Weather", "Blues In The Night", and "Basin Street Blues".

Musically, the collection presents the vocalist backed by a full, lush orchestral accompaniment that perfectly complements her dramatic delivery. Collectors will note an interesting technical aspect of this specific era of audio engineering: these original historical mono tracks have been electronically reprocessed by the studio engineers to simulate a full stereo effect for modern equipment, adding a unique sense of space to the arrangements.

The manufacturing markers on this British edition position it right at the start of the 1970s retail market. The disc features the signature blue and white Contour paper labels, while the dead wax contains the intricate matrix layout stamped and etched on both sides, mirroring the distinct mastering and mechanical pressing codes used for this individual manufacturing run.

In terms of presentation and care, this vintage copy remains in a highly collectible state. The fully laminated picture sleeve secures an Excellent grade, maintaining a beautifully bright, glossy front finish with clean edges and crisp corners. The actual vinyl LP matches this high standard with an Excellent grade of its own. The playing surfaces are remarkably tidy, looking glossy and showing no noticeable imperfections, ensuring a beautifully clear and authentic analogue playback from start to finish.