Shirley Bassey - LOVE For Sale (A Cole Porter Song) (1959 Recording)

1959 (Shirley Bassey recorded this Classic American Standard Cole Porter song as a single, and it was also included on her 1959 LP titled, 'The Bewitching Miss Bassey'. Over the years I haven't given this song much thought and figured (stupid me) that it was just one of those 'early Shirley' censored type songs her record producers made her record. Then, recently I read that it was one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Cole Porter who wrote it and this intriged me. Upon more research I found that many singers of the past like the legendary Ms. Ella Fitzgerald and Jazz great Billie Holiday (their pictures included in this clip), along with many great vocalists of today such as Harry Connick Jr and Elvis Costello have all recorded this song. OK, so now this song has my attention, and upon listening to various versions this recording, Shirley Bassey's recording has to be right up there with the best of them. However, I have liked every singer's version, with their varied arrangements. I hope that people will take a listen and LIKE the picture show that goes along with Shirley's wonderful music.

When Ms. Bassey started in show business she was classified as 'Full' Soprano, and amongst all the versions Shirley is probably one of the very few sopranos who have recorded this song. Over the years her vocal pitch has settled to somewhere between Alto and Mezzo-Soprano, and she can sing the full range of both classifications, even today in her mid-70's. In 2016, Dame Shirley will celebrate 63 years in the entertainment business.

How can one like a song about this subject matter? I don't know, but just do, but most likely it's the way that Cole Porter brings the words to life and shows us a part of society that the majority of listeners, thankfully, are not personally part of.

Cole Porter wrote this song for the musical titled, 'The New Yorkers' and one of the scenes take place outside of the legendary Cotton Club located in Harlem back in the 1920's/1930's. For many New Yorkers who wanted to have some fun, this was the place to be. Now, the song is about prostitution of the time, and so there are some pictures included which briefly infer this, but I think this song is also about the jazz/blues musicians and vocalists who performed at these great venues in Harlem, which resulted in their fans having an adoring love for them. Fans paid money to see their favorites close up and personal, whom they adored and loved.

MORE ABOUT this song:
"Love for Sale" is a song by Cole Porter, from the musical The New Yorkers which opened on Broadway on December 8, 1930 and closed in May 1931 after 168 performances. The song is written from the viewpoint of a prostitute advertising various kinds of "love for sale": "Old love, new love, every love but true love". The song's chorus, like many in the Great American Songbook, is written in the A-A-B-A format. However, instead of 32 bars, it has 64, plus an 8-bar tag. The tag is often dropped when the song is performed. The tune, using what is practically a trademark for Porter, shifts between a major and minor feeling. "Love for Sale" was originally considered in bad taste, even scandalous. In the initial Broadway production, it was performed by Kathryn Crawford, portraying a streetwalker, with three girlfriends (Waring's Three Girl Friends) as back-up singers, in front of Reuben's, a popular restaurant of the time. As a response to the criticism, the song was transferred from the white Crawford to the African American singer Elisabeth Welch, who sang with back-up singers in a scene set in front of Harlem's Cotton Club. Despite the fact the song was banned from radio airplay, or perhaps because of it, it became a hit, with Libby Holman's version going to #5 and the "Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians" version going to #14, both in 1931. (All other 1931 recordings of the song were as an instrumental.)

LYRICS:
When the only sound on the empty street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
I open shop
The moon so long has been gazing down
On the warward ways of this wayward town
Her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy
Who would like to sample my supply
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish ways
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love
New love
Every love but true love
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale

Special Thanks to Pieter, Astrid and others from the Shirley Bassey blog, Tal from the Diamond Bassey website, and all those who have contributed wonderful pictures of Shirley!