Shirley Bassey - JESSE (1975 Recording)

1975 (Shirley Bassey recorded this beautiful song written by Janis Ian on her 1975 LP titled, 'Good, Bad, But Beautiful. Bassey, with her versatile rich vocal abilities, mellows it out on this one portraying an innocence, just how Ms. Ian intended this song to be sung)

The video of Shirley singing this song is from her 1976 TV Variety series, and Janis is accompanying her on the piano.

ABOUT the LP, 'Good, Bad, But Beautiful:
Good, Bad but Beautiful is a 1975 album by Shirley Bassey. In the first half of the decade, Bassey recorded nine albums, with three making the top ten. In March 1975, Bassey released a compilation that became her highest-charting album to date, The Shirley Bassey Singles Album (#2), and reflects the momentum Bassey had maintained since her 1970 "comeback". Good, Bad but Beautiful, released in the autumn of 1975, spent seven weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at #13. The album reflects the formula that brought Bassey back to the charts: a combination of contemporary songs combined with her forte of standards, show tunes, and torch songs, featuring arrangements aimed squarely at the adult contemporary, or middle-of-the-road, audience. This was also achieved by modifying her backup orchestra to include electric guitars, a string and brass section with a more contemporary sound, and drumming that is more soft rock-oriented than jazz-oriented, while side two's opener, "Feel Like Makin' Love" displays a smooth jazz style.

This was Bassey's seventh album of the 1970s to make the Billboard 200, peaking at #186. It also reached #54 on the US R&B chart. In the UK the album was awarded a silver disc six weeks after it was released. The original release was in stereo on vinyl and cassette. In 2005, BGO Records issued a remastered Good, Bad but Beautiful, together with the 1973 album Never Never Never, on a 2 CD set.

LYRICS:
JESSE COME HOME
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BED
WHERE WE SLEPT
NOW IT'S GROWING COLD
HEY JESSE, YOUR FACE
IN THE PLACE WHERE WE LAY
BY THE HEARTH, ALL APART
IT HANGS ON MY HEART
AND I'M LEAVING THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME
JESSE, THE FLOORS AND THE BOARDS
RECALLING YOUR STEP
AND I REMEMBER, TOO
ALL THE PICTURES ARE FADING
AND SHADED IN GREY
BUT I STILL SET A PLACE
ON THE TABLE AT NOON
AND I'M LEAVING A LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME
JESSE, THE SPREAD ON THE BED
IS LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT
I'VE KEPT IT ALL FOR YOU
AND ALL THE BLUES AND THE GREENS
HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CLEANED
AND THEY'RE SEEMINGLY NEW
HEY JES, ME AND YOU
WE'LL SWALLOW THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
WE'LL DO UP MY HAIR
WE'LL SLEEP UNAWARE
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

[davidwalsh]

A beautiful song performed to perfection by the great lady of song. What a potent combination. Wow

[antoniovazquez]

an amazing song beautifully performed by Dame Bassey

[loonylinda]

RIP my gorgeous mum...thanks for all the love

[sussie]

I love Shirley bassey one of my fave lady's what a brilliant singer and woman love her beautiful song beautiful woman :]

[lydee]

This is masterfully presented. May Dame Shirley Live Forever! I love this song. It too shows her versatility, and ability to sell the listener a story. Very convincing. Thanks

[tradingpost]

So proud that Shirley's from my home town, 'what a voice? A performer like few others I've heard off, love her music/voice bigtime!!⚘xx

[sas]

Lydee: I also think this is a great song, and you are right that it shows Shirley's amazing virsatility as a singer along with her ability to tell a story. There's no doubt that Dame Shirley has a song for everyone, if they will give her a chance. Regards, Scot

[sas]

Fans: Dame Shirley Bassey will be appearing at the 2013 Academy Awards Show In Hollywood on February 24th. She will headline the 50th James Bond anniversary celebration! Wonderful News! Bassey is herself celebrating 60 (Diamond) years in Show Business, starting back in 1953.

[hunkhk]

didtnt she just steal the show.... way to go Shirley!

[pathutson]

I adore Shirley Bassey, but no one has ever topped the recording of Jesse by Janis Ian herself, not even Dame Shirley.

[dami]

"Id like to introduce the lady who wrote this beautiful song". Janis Ian is an excellent songwriter, Shirley Bassey not. Without Janis Ian these interpretation would not be possible. Janis is an all time treasure, as well as Shirley Bassey as interprete.

[phindamanyatsi]

I like Roberts Flack's version of the song

[amymurphy]

Such a hauntingly beautiful song. Was it written for a movie?