Released Jun 6 1989. Produced by Leonardo Schultz. Executive Producer Gary Mason. Arrangements by Kenny Woodman. For a further information about the production of this album see Questions & Answers with Gary Mason.
 

 

I have to tell you that this album was not easy for me to make for the simple reason that I do not speak Spanish. No, really I do not, but I did invest in twenty hours of Spanish lessons which proved invaluable because I was able to sing the actual Spanish words and not use phonetics. I also have to tell you that I am very proud of my first effort! No matter what language you speak the language of love is universal. I dedicate this album with all my love to you.

Tengo que decirles que este proyecto no fue fácil para mí, por la sencilla razón de que no hablo español. En serio, no lo hablo, pero sí le dediqué veinte horas de clase que me ayudaron muchísimo a cantar de verdad en español, en vez de usar sólo la fonética. ¡También debo decirles que me siento muy orgullosa de este mi primer intento! No importa qué idioma uno hable, el idioma del amor es universal. Les dedico estas canciones a todos ustedes con mucho cariño.
 

And now an album in Spanish on the PolyGram label entitled La Mujer (The Woman) the brainchild of Grammy Award winning Leonardo Schultz. The album was demoed in Spain, and recorded in California. As preparation for the recording Shirley even has Spanish lessons. The album brings together new Spanish versions of some of Shirley's former classics such as "Without You" and "I Who Have Nothing" along with new material written especially for the album. The album's debut was an amazing performance by Shirley at the Viña Del Mar Song Festival in Chile in February, 1989, and further appearances in South America will follow. The world has only a mere handful of great stars...Shirley Bassey is one...she is Europe's female superstar...she is in a class of her own. I found it noteworthy that the album producer Leonardo Schultz was also the writer or co-writer (translator) of every song. So it seems that he was the one who had the idea for this album and he has been the driver behind the project, because he was personally engaged very much. Mexican journalist Carlos, who transcribed all the Spanish songs for this site, wrote: Giving you my point of view as a music critic, "La Mujer" is a well done production, Bassey's voice sounds very fresh for Latin people, but on the other hand, some of the lyrics are not well structured in its form as a simple way we Latin people use the language in songs. For example, "no es vivir" (is not living). This phrase is never used in any Spanish language country! (I mean Spain or any Latin American country.) We could say "no es vida" (is not life) or "no vivo" (I don't live)... Like this example there are other ones. Translating songs from a different language is no easy task, but in the case of tracks from this album, the passion and sentiment of the original pieces have been retained, in some cases one could even go as far as saying that they have been improved! Shirley Bassey fan Oscar, who also transcribed and translated some of the songs of this album, said about this album: I think she did a very good job of singing those lyrics, and her pronunciation is very good and clear. It's difficult to translate Spanish lyrics into English, they never sound quite right. Keep in mind, the same thoughts are quite beautiful as written in Spanish.

Leonardo Schultz was a talented songwriter and musician. As well as producing the album, he also wrote the music or lyrics for most of the tracks on the album.

In his earlier years Leonardo was part of the hit Argentinean group 'The Jazz Singers'. Leonardo was in love with Al Jolson and the group emulated his style and became a big hit in the early 60's.

He then went to England only speaking Spanish and Yiddish, met a person named Don Black (who happened to speak Yiddish). Don Black, who also wrote the lyrics for the Shirley Bassey hit Diamonds Are Forever and Matt Monro's Bond theme From Russia With Love, helped Leonardo out. Leonardo adapted many of Don Black's hits into Spanish for him.

Leonardo is well known for his work with blind musician José Feliciano. He first worked with José in 1966, as the impresario who brought Jose to Argentina and other countries in Latin America. Later, in 1982, he produced the first Spanish language albums that José had recorded in over ten years: 'Escenas de Amor' then 'Me Enamore'. Both were extraordinary hits for José. José also recorded Leonardo's song No Me Hables Más De Amor, on his 1996 Album 'Americano', a song performed by Shirley seven years earlier on this album.

Leonardo got together with Gary Mason in the early 70's, they did Matt Monro together (with a little help from George Martin) and they then also did Jose Feliciano, Demis Roussos, and of course later Shirley Bassey among others.

The collection Super Estrellas Del Amor contains Leonardo's work with Shirley Bassey, Demis Roussos and Matt Monro and it is a fitting tribute to his work. He passed away in Buenos Aires in 2000.

External Link: The Jazz Singers (Information In Spanish)
 

Gary H. Mason (aka Big Daddy G.) is known primarily as the senior vice president of the SEI Corp. Over the years, Mason has been in charge of promoting such acclaimed and musically varied artists as Donna Summer, Ray Conniff, War, Peter Frampton, José Feliciano, Jerry Lewis, Paul Michael Glaser, David Soul, Roberta Flack, Maurice Jarre, Krokus, Nazareth, Gaby, Jam & Suppose, Renato, Gloria Gaynor, and Modern Talking. In addition, Mason has established Fuerte Suerte Music (BMI) and Big Daddy G. Music (ASCAP), and has produced records for Feliciano and Shirley Bassey, among many others.

Review text © All Music Guide

For more information about Gary Mason, along with a fascinating insight into La Mujer, see Questions & Answers with Gary Mason.

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