OK, this may come as a surprise, but when I bought this, Bette was one of the biggest things since sliced bread. There wasn't a radio station worth it's salt that wasn't belting out a Bette song.
Bette had been around the traps, appearing in off- and on-Broadway shows and by 1970 was singing at a gay bathhouse. The pianist accompanying her was Barry Manilow. I've never been a Fanilow, but in fairness he went on to produce this debut album for her.
Before we get into the music, Bette Midler delivered one of my favourite film quotes ever. She played the part of C.C. Bloom in 'Beaches' and came out with the line ..
"But enough about me, let's talk about you... what do YOU think of me?"
'The Divine Miss M' contains some great tracks, mostly covers. Some were played traditionally, such as the stand-out single release 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' and a rousing 'Leader of the Pack'. Others had a different spin on them. 'Do You Want To Dance' was taken down a few notches to become a slower gentler refrain.
Top of the bill for me is a poignant heart-rending version of the John Prine tribute to senior citizens, 'Hello in There'.
She had a solid cast of supporters on the album too. Cissy Houston and Melissa Manchester amongst the backing singers, Barry Manilow on piano and production.
It's still an LP I go back to occasionally, for nostalgia or just a couple of good sing alongs.
Bette famously has the distinction of being the final guest on the long running Johnny Carson Show in 1992 where she sang an emotional rendition of 'One For My Baby'.
Because I always tend to look for some connection, the song I'm linking to is a duet off her 1976 album 'Songs For The New Depression'
Here she is with Bob Dylan, singing one of Bob's lesser known songs 'Buckets of Rain' but changing the words slightly so they get 'nuggets' of rain.
A bit of fun between the Divine Miss. M and the brilliant Mr. D.
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