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Bette Midler was one of the last major artists who emerged from the traditions of nightclub performing, after rock & roll changed the rules of the music business, though she was a singer capable of working both sides of the fence. Midler's approach bore more than a passing resemblance to the traditions of supper-club performers wearing their hearts on their sleeves for the audience, but she could balance sincerity and a deep respect for songcraft with a large dose of camp and broad humor, coupled with a love of R&B and girl group sounds that put her within a stone's throw of rock. (And if the nightspot where Midler first found her audience was a gay bathhouse in New York, that was just one more wrinkle that separated her from the major nightclub acts of the '50s and '60s.) Midler's 1972 debut album, The Divine Miss M, gave her an ideal introduction to the listening audience, a set that honored her brassy and introspective sides with equal care and skill. While Midler was and is best known for her outgoing stage persona, numbers like "Am I Blue" and "Do You Want to Dance?" demonstrate how much emotional heat she can bring to a torch song, and her interpretations of "Delta Dawn" and "Hello in There" are powerful, moving stuff, portraying their characters with a palpable compassion and nuance. Midler's loving renditions of "Chapel of Love" and "Leader of the Pack" show how much she learned from Brill Building pop, and "Friends," which opened and closed side two, made clear Midler could wrap some very complicated emotions in a catchy (but smart) pop tune. And the production (half by Joel Dorn, half by Geoffrey Haslam, Ahmet Ertegun, and Midler's then musical director, Barry Manilow) knows when to move in close to catch the sweet grain of her voice and when to step back and take in the whole show. If Midler matured as a performer with time, The Divine Miss M remains her best album, one that captured the many facets of her musical personality beautifully and showed her quirks were a rich part of what made her music so powerful.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
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Ralph MacDonald, Horn, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - THOM BELL, Horns Arranger, Strings Arranger - Joel Dorn, Producer - Cissy Houston, Backing Vocals - Ron Carter, Double Bass, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Bobby Freeman, Writer - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Tender Loving Care, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Melissa Manchester, Backing Vocals - Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - PHIL SPECTOR, Writer - Jeff Barry, Writer - Ellie Greenwich, Writer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Meliss Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bonnie Bramlett, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Leon Russell, Writer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Meliss Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - Jeff Kent, Writer - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Meliss Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - Joel Dorn, Producer - Ron Carter, Double Bass, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Harry Akst, Writer - Grant Clarke, Writer - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Dave Spinozza, Guitar
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Mark Klingman, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Gene Orloff, Violin - Buzzy Linhart, Writer - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - Joel Dorn, Producer - Kermit Moore, Cello - William S. Fischer, Strings Arranger - Pat Rebillot, Piano - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger - Emanuel Green, Violin - Selwart Clarke, Viola
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1979 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - John Prine, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Gene Orloff, Violin - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - Joel Dorn, Producer - Kermit Moore, Cello - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Pat Rebillot, Piano - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Emanuel Green, Violin - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Selwart Clarke, Viola
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1993 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Melissa Manchester, Backing Vocals - Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - Joey Carbone, Keyboards - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Randy Kerber, Keyboards - Jeff Barry, Writer - Ellie Greenwich, Writer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Tony Berg, Guitar - Dennis Kirk, Producer - John Pierce, Bass Guitar - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Art Wood, Drums - Rich Cooper, Trumpet - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - CHAS SANFORD, Guitar - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - David Luell, Saxophone - David Shank, Percussion - Jon Bonnie, Trombone - George Morton, Writer
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1977 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Melissa Manchester, Backing Vocals - Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Alex Harvey, Writer - Larry Collins, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Charlie Calello, Arranger - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, Producer, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Francisco Centeno, Bass Guitar - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Sharon Redd, Backing Vocals - Ula Hedwig, Backing Vocals - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Charlot Crossley, Backing Vocals - Don York, Keyboards - Elizabeth Kane, Harp - Ira "Buddy" Williams, Drums - Joseph Mero, Percussion, Vibraphone - Lou Volpe, Guitar - Miles Krasner, Trumpet - Richard Trifan, Keyboards
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1977 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Hughie Prince, Writer - Ted Sommer, Drums, Horn - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Arif Mardin, Arranger - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - Milt Hinton, Double Bass - Joel Dorn, Producer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Don Arnone, Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Don Raye, Writer - Dick Hyman, Piano - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Milton Hinton, Bass Guitar - Marty Nelson, VocalArranger - Don Amone, Guitar
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Mark Klingman, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Buzzy Linhart, Writer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Merle Miller, Horn, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Horn - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Geofrey Haslam, Producer - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Mellissa Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
DISC 2
Melissa Manchester, Backing Vocals - Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - PHIL SPECTOR, Writer - Jeff Barry, Writer - Ellie Greenwich, Writer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Meliss Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1973 Atlantic Recording Corp., Remastered 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Hughie Prince, Writer - Ted Sommer, Drums, Horn - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Arif Mardin, Arranger - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - Milt Hinton, Double Bass - Joel Dorn, Producer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Don Arnone, Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Don Raye, Writer - Dick Hyman, Piano - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Milton Hinton, Bass Guitar - Marty Nelson, VocalArranger - Don Amone, Guitar
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1973 Atlantic Recording Corp., Remastered 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Ralph MacDonald, Horn, Percussion - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - THOM BELL, Horns Arranger, Strings Arranger - Joel Dorn, Producer - Cissy Houston, Backing Vocals - Ron Carter, Double Bass, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Bobby Freeman, Writer - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Arranger, Piano - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Tender Loving Care, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1973 Atlantic Recording Corp., Remastered 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Melissa Manchester, Backing Vocals - Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Mark Klingman, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Gene Orloff, Violin - Buzzy Linhart, Writer - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Joel Dorn, Producer - Kermit Moore, Cello - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Horn, Backing Vocals - William S. Fischer, Strings Arranger - Pat Rebillot, Piano - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Horn, Backing Vocals - Emanuel Green, Violin - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Geofrey Haslam, Producer - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Selwart Clarke, Viola
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1973 Atlantic Recording Corp., Remastered 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Ted Sommer, Drums - Bette Midler, Producer, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Arif Mardin, Conductor, Arranger - Milt Hinton, Double Bass - Joel Dorn, Producer - Dick Hyman, Piano - Jack Malken, Engineer - Jan Rathbun, Engineer - Allan Jeffrey, Writer - Claire Rothrock, Writer - Milt Yakus, Writer
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Ted Sommer, Drums, Percussion - Bette Midler, Producer, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Arif Mardin, Conductor, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Arthur Johnston, Writer - Sam Coslow, Writer - Milt Hinton, Double Bass - Joel Dorn, Producer - Harry Lookofsky, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Dick Hyman, Piano - Mel Davis, Trumpet - Gotham & Arif Mardin, Backing Vocals - Philip Kraus, Percussion - William Slapin, Flute - Emanuel Green, Violin - Michael Pace, Backing Vocals - David McDaniel, Backing Vocals - Gary Herb, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion - Bonnie Bramlett, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - David Spinozza, Guitar - LEW HAHN, RecordingEngineer - AHMET ERTEGUN, Producer - Leon Russell, Writer - Ron Carter, Bass Guitar - Ray Lucas, Drums - Geoffrey Haslam, Producer - Merle Miller, Backing Vocals - Barry Manilow, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Piano - Gail Kantor, Backing Vocals - Dickie Frank, Guitar - Kevin Ellman, Drums - Michael Federal, Bass Guitar - Meliss Manchester, Backing Vocals
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Bernie Leadon, Writer - Randy Meisner, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Glenn Frey, Writer - DON HENLEY, Writer - Barry Manilow, Producer
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Mark Klingman, Writer - Bette Midler, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Barry Manilow, Producer
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Album review
Bette Midler was one of the last major artists who emerged from the traditions of nightclub performing, after rock & roll changed the rules of the music business, though she was a singer capable of working both sides of the fence. Midler's approach bore more than a passing resemblance to the traditions of supper-club performers wearing their hearts on their sleeves for the audience, but she could balance sincerity and a deep respect for songcraft with a large dose of camp and broad humor, coupled with a love of R&B and girl group sounds that put her within a stone's throw of rock. (And if the nightspot where Midler first found her audience was a gay bathhouse in New York, that was just one more wrinkle that separated her from the major nightclub acts of the '50s and '60s.) Midler's 1972 debut album, The Divine Miss M, gave her an ideal introduction to the listening audience, a set that honored her brassy and introspective sides with equal care and skill. While Midler was and is best known for her outgoing stage persona, numbers like "Am I Blue" and "Do You Want to Dance?" demonstrate how much emotional heat she can bring to a torch song, and her interpretations of "Delta Dawn" and "Hello in There" are powerful, moving stuff, portraying their characters with a palpable compassion and nuance. Midler's loving renditions of "Chapel of Love" and "Leader of the Pack" show how much she learned from Brill Building pop, and "Friends," which opened and closed side two, made clear Midler could wrap some very complicated emotions in a catchy (but smart) pop tune. And the production (half by Joel Dorn, half by Geoffrey Haslam, Ahmet Ertegun, and Midler's then musical director, Barry Manilow) knows when to move in close to catch the sweet grain of her voice and when to step back and take in the whole show. If Midler matured as a performer with time, The Divine Miss M remains her best album, one that captured the many facets of her musical personality beautifully and showed her quirks were a rich part of what made her music so powerful.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:08:46
- Main artists: Bette Midler
- Label: Rhino Atlantic
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2016 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
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