Hi Erick

I agree with all that you say. Interesting stuff. I do believe that Shirley was also very impatient when it came to spending time in the recording studio - as Sergio once commented - much preferring to go shopping instead. Whereas artistes like Streisand could spend a year or more planning and rehearsing a new album. It was always an exciting prospect getting my hands on a new recording but seeing her perform live takes her to an entirely different level and this for me - on stage with her audience in the palm of her hands - was DSB at her best. I agree that Sergio was a great influence in many ways and I remember seeing him at one of her concerts doing a sound check. The most amazing thing about that voice is it’s versatility - sometimes soft, warm, passionate and then operatic with such power that it leaves you feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck - in the nicest possible way 😀 I remember reading a review that said they had left the concert feeling battered and bruised which I couldn’t really appreciate at the time and thought it was meant as an insult and then - aged 15 - I saw her at the Birmingham Odeon for the first time - back row - and only then could I appreciate the sentiment in that review. I still remember it like yesterday and it shook my whole world.

The new release of old material - with some previously unreleased tracks is on order but I did actually get my hands on my hands on a copy of this 3 cd set some years ago and was very pleased with it - I did actually lend it to someone who failed to return it so I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it again.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers Mike K