Bette Midler - Divine Miss M
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Free Music Notes for Divine Miss M
Free Music Review: a timeless, classic album
Hit: 5 Stars
The Divine Miss M indeed demonstrates that from the very start Bette Midler had exceptional talent and her sense of timing when she sings her songs is impeccable. This CD gives us her debut album with numbers that sound so fresh and exciting when Bette sings them; and it's sure to be an album countless people will continue to cherish for quite some while to come.
The album starts with Bette singing a passionate rendition of Bobby Freeman's "Do You Want To Dance?" Bette massages these lyrics and breathes new life into this song with a spectacular delivery that also conveys a certain sense of human vulnerability that is very sweet and memorable. The backup singers do a great job also; and there's also a great cover of "Chapel Of Love." The Dixie Cups must have been so proud! Bette Midler makes this tune sweet, slightly sassy and romantic all at once. Great! The musical arrangement makes good use of the percussion.
"Superstar," a song I first heard performed by Carpenters, gets the royal treatment from Bette as sings this to perfection and beyond. "Superstar" finds Bette taking her time to deliver this passionately and Bette never misses a note. The piano arrangement is very pretty and overall "Superstar" is easily a major highlight of this album.
"Am I Blue" is another major highlight of this CD; Bette sings this flawlessly and the piano arrangement complements her vocals very nicely. "Am I Blue" is about an unrequited love and sooner or later just about everyone can identify with the lyrics to this classic ballad. In addition, listen for "Friends." "Friends" is a timeless song about how we all need people in our lives; and Bette makes this song so very special with her sensitive performance.
"Delta Dawn" features Bette Midler doing an excellent version of a song I first heard sung by Helen Reddy; and of course "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" really sounds sharp and clear--I love that retro sound! Bette never sings a superfluous note and the tempo makes "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" a true gem.
The album comes with great artwork; and we get the song credits, too.
Overall, Bette Midler's debut album was nothing short of stellar; and all these years later it still remains an outstanding set of songs by the incomparable Bette Midler. I highly recommend this album for Bette's fans (as if they haven't heard of this CD already); and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will also love this album.
Free Music Review: Appropriately Titled!
Hit: 5 Stars
I believe the first time I saw this record it was about 1983, I was 6, and my father brought it home for my mother who was completely overjoyed with it, (I believe her prior copy was lost or ruined.) As a result, I grew up on this album. When I purchased my own copy of it, I remembered exactly when and why I fell in love with Bette Midler's vocal stylings. "Friends," of which there are 2 versions (one produced by Joel Dorn, the other by Barry Manilow and others,) Shows different angles to her personalty. One version (track 6) is a little slower, a little more wispy, with a hilarious ending featuring many different 'Bette's' talking over each other. The second version, which closes the album, is a little heavier sung, more strong vocally, and just a song to sing along to loudly.
"Do You Want To Dance" is Bette at her sultriest. Who in their right mind would say no to the Divine Miss M?
"Chapel Of Love," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and "Leader Of The Pack" are all remakes of songs I loved, but loved even more after Bette remade them.
Now Bette's version of "Superstar" was the first time I heard this song, not hearing the Carpenters' version 'til many years later, and I have to say (sorry, Karen) that Bette takes this song to new heights. Whenever I am asked what my favourite Bette song is, this is my choice...and of course, I have to pull out the CD and play it for them.
"Daytime Hustler" is rollicking good fun, and I just love how she wraps her voice around such lyrics, a woman determined not to take back this "jive, jive dude." "Delta Dawn" is absolutely amazing, and "Am I Blue" and "Hello In There" never cease to make me slow down and think about corresponding moments in my life.
After owning this album on Vinyl, Cassette, and now CD for the past 17 years, I never get tired of it. "The Divine Miss M" is in the running for my absolute favourite album ever recorded, and I will always remember dancing around the living room with my mother singing "Friends" and "Do You Want To Dance," the volume on the record player (yes, that's right...vinyl!) as loud as we could get away with.
This is the definitive Bette album.
Free Music Review: Amazing - Spectacular Debut
Hit: 5 Stars
Not many albums are perfection but this - Bette Midler's debut is just that. At the time of its release she was performing at a bath house in New York City with Barry Manilow as her producer and arranger/pianist. She was campy, over the time and very brassy. But included in all this was immense talent.
For the first part of her career she was always called THE DIVINE MISS M and this cd reflects what that was in all its glory. Today many cds are made so carefully, every note pitch perfect and carefully arranged. The early Bette Midler was carefree and this cd sounds like she just came into your home and performed some songs for you. Nothing is held back and it is amazing.
There were two big hits here - the sultry DO YOU WANT TO DANCE and BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY and they are amazing but interestingly enough they are not the best cuts on this superb set. Eclectic is not a strong enough word to describe what Ms. Midler is capable of. Every song is performed with strong personality - raw, sincere and honest. She takes the songs SUPERSTAR and DELTA DAWN and makes them emotional, heart wrenching songs of deep emotion. She wears her heart on her sleeve. I must admit I do love Karen Carpenter's version of SUPERRSTAR but this version makes it like a totally different song entirely. Other ballads AM I BLUE and HELLO IN THERE are performed with the same intensity.
Then we have the campy, fun Bette on remakes of CHAPEL OF LOVE and LEADER OF THE PACK. She makes these songs come alive. And then there are 2 slightly different versions of her signatiure song FRIENDS. This simple song becomes an anthemic statement of how important it is to have people in your life. It is a snappy, uptempo song and it develops a life of its own. Throughout the songs Bette may break into dialogue and talk/share with the listener. It all works. Bette Midler, here on her debut album gloriously remastered on cd, introduces herself fully and holds nothing back. And she has so much to give. This album is a masterpiece by a legend.
Highly recommended for all Bette Midler fans and all fans of quality music.
Free Music Review: The title of this debut album is actually an understatement
Hit: 5 Stars
I first remember Bette Midler as this high energy insane woman who would show up on "The Tonight Show" and having Johnny, Ed and Doc be her backup singers on "Teenager in Love." Years later she was Johnny Carson's final guest, and having seen her live in concert I am here to tell you he could not have made a better choice because nobody performs better than the Divine Miss M. The title of her 1972 debut album put that persona in the public's mind and it remains not only the first but the most definitive Bette Midler album because everything she has done can all be traced back to the eleven tracks collected here. Along with "Songs for the New Depression" and the soundtrack for "The Rose," "The Divine Miss M" is a 1970s Bette Midler album that you have to own in your music library. The song that caught the public's attention was her second single, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," the old WWII Andrews Sister's song that Bette took to #8 on the Billboard charts (which is actually better than the original did). Midler did all the singing voices and while her singing ability has always been greater than her voice, this is the song that establishes her ability to maximize what she has and sell it like few in the business ever have. With "Chapel of Love" and "Leader of the Pack" on the album as well, it was easy for Midler to carve out her niche as the queen of retro kitsch, but she goes for much more than that with this album. This is why the other key song is John Prine's "Hello in There," where Midler provides the poignancy that would be a key part of her most successful ballads. The other song that stands out for me is her cover of "Delta Dawn," not so much for the version she sings here, but because when I saw her perform life this was the song that ended the first act and it was the surprisingly most memorable moment of a magic evening.
Free Music Review: Joyously Alive
Hit: 5 Stars
The Dixie Cups recorded Chapel of Love; Superstar was best know as a top 40s hit for The Carpenters; The Shangri-Las did Leader of the Pack. Every one from Tanya Tucker to Helen Reddy had a hit with Delta Dawn, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is an Andrews Sisters classic. In fact, at the time this recording was released, there was very little on it that was strictly identified with the then-unknown Bette Midler, and although THE DIVINE MISS M received critical accolades it didn't exactly fly off the record store shelves.But to my mind it remains the best Bette Midler album. Oh sure, Midler has done wonderful things since--great recordings that will stand the test of time--but in terms of overall success THE DIVINE MISS M is IT. And although most of these songs were made famous by other artists, once Midler gets hold of them she makes them her own. Delta Dawn becomes a mixture of pathos and unexpected sassiness, completely unlike any other version you've ever heard. The often-recorded Am I Blue, a staple of every torch singer that ever lived, suddenly belongs to Midler and Midler alone, and the Carpenter's version of Superstar seems almost dispassionate in comparison. She easily bests the Dixie Cups and the Shangri-Las, and even The Andrews Sisters are tossed about in the tide, with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy both hommage and reinterpretation.
Crowning all this are two versions of Midler's signature tune Friends. The first version is a cute throw-away with a children's chorus, the second one begins in darkness and explodes into light to finish the album. Everything about this recording is beautiful, joyous, brilliant, passionate, and intensely alive. If there is such a thing as the artistic heir to the late, legendary Judy Garland, it is beyond doubt the equally legendary Bette Midler, and THE DIVINE MISS M offers her in all her youth, energy, and beauty. Your stereo is calling out for this one; don't wait. Strongly recommended.