Shirley Bassey - I Don't Know How To Love Him (1971 Recording)

1971 - Shirley Bassey recorded this wonderful song titled, 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' in 1971, which was one year after it was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar". Weather sung as part of the musical or as a love song, this is a great piece of musical writing by young Webber & Rice team. Shirley Bassey's rendition is beautifully sung. This track was included on Shirley's 1971 LP titled, 'And I Love You So'.

ABOUT the LP, And I Love You So:
And I Love You So is a 1972 album by Shirley Bassey. Released late in 1972 to positive reviews, this was Bassey's fourth album of the decade and was one of the albums which comprised her 'comeback' period of the 1970s. Unlike the earlier albums, this didn't feature any hit singles and consequently didn't fare as well as the previous three. It made No.24, and remained on the chart for 9 weeks, reaching its peak on Christmas week, resulting in higher than average sales. Singles released were "And I Love You So" (a cover of the Don McLean hit) and "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men", although the CD liner notes considers tracks "If We Only Have Love" and "The Way of Love" to be stronger single choices. The title track did however become a UK top three hit some months later for Perry Como.

The original release was in stereo on vinyl and cassette. This album was re-issued on CD in 2000 with two bonus tracks: "If I Should Love Again" (previously only released as a B-side to "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men") and "Let Me Be the One", which was unreleased until 1994. The album was re-released again in a double pack with previous album I Capricorn in November 2010.

LYRICS:
I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him?
I've been changed, yes, really changed
In these past few days, when I see myself
I seem like someone else

I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man, he's just a man
And I've had so many men before
In very many ways, he's just one more

Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love, let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny
That I should be in this position?
I'm the one who's always been running every show
He scares me so

I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?
What's it all about?

Yet, if he said he loved me
I'd be lost, I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope
I'd turn my head, I'd back away
I wouldn't want to know, he scares me so
I want him so, I love him so


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!