Bette Midler (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Bette Midler
Type = Album
Artist = Bette Midler


Cover size =
Caption =
Released = November 16, 1973
Recorded = 1973
Genre = Vocal
Length = 32:32
Label = Atlantic Records
Producer = Arif Mardin, Barry Manilow
Reviews = Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5d47gjerj6in~T0 link]

Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Bette+Midler]
Chronology =
Last album = "The Divine Miss M"
(1972)
This album = "Bette Midler"
(1973)
Next album = "Songs for the New Depression"
(1976)

Bette Midler is the eponymous second studio album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in 1973 on the Atlantic Records label.
The album, produced by Arif Mardin and Barry Manilow, includes Midler's interpretations of Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark", Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Surabaya Johnny", Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" and Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" as well as a Phil Spector medley.
"Bette Midler" reached #6 on the US albums chart and was later awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAA.

The album was digitally remastered and reissued on CD by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995 but with no bonus tracks.

Tracklisting

ide A

#"Skylark" (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer) - 3:02
#"Drinking Again" (Mercer, Tauber) - 2:48
#"Breaking up Somebody's Home" (Jackson, Matthews) - 3:49
#"Surabaya Johnny" (Bertolt Brecht, Hartig, Kurt Weill) - 4:54
#"I Shall Be Released" (Bob Dylan) - 4:56

ide B

#"Optimistic Voices"/"Lullaby of Broadway" (Arlen, Al Dubin, Feist, Harburg, Stothart, Harry Warren) - 2:27
#"In the Mood" (Garland, Razaf) - 2:39
#"Uptown"/"Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)"/"Da Doo Ron Ron" (Jeff Barry, Gerry Goffin, Ellie Greenwich, Carole King, Mann, Mother Bertha, Phil Spector, Weil) - 3:23
#"Twisted" (Gray, Ross) - 2:25
#"Higher & Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me)" (Chevis, Jackson, Miner, Smith) - 4:06

Personnel

* Bette Midler - lead vocals
* Barry Manilow - piano, percussion, backing vocals, musical arranger, musical conductor
* Ken Ascher - keyboards
* Pat Rebillot - keyboards
* Don Grolnick - keyboards
* David Spinozza - guitars
* Cornell Dupree - guitars
* Frank Vento - guitars
* Hugh McCracken - guitars
* Stu Woods - bass guitars
* Chuck Rainey - bass guitar
* Bill Salter - bass guitar
* Milt Hinton - bass guitar
* Will Lee - bass guitar
* Rick Marotta - drums
* Grady Tate - drums
* Bernard Purdie - drums
* Steve Gadd - drums
* Luther Rix - drums, percussion
* Ralph MacDonald - percussion
* Arif Mardin - percussion
* Kenneth Bichel - synthesizers
* Gene Orloff - concert master
* Gale Kantor - background vocals
* Merle Miller - background vocals
* Sylvia Shemwell - background vocals
* Myrna Smith - background vocals
* Tasha Thomas - background vocals
* Shirley Brewer - background vocals
* Ann S. Clark - background vocals
* Sharon Redd - background vocals
* Robin Grean - background vocals
* Charlotte Crosley - background vocals

Production

* Arif Mardin - producer
* Barry Manilow - producer
* Gene Paul - recording engineer
* Lew Hahn - recording engineer
* Jimmy Douglas - recording engineer for additional recordings
* Robbert Warner - recording engineer for additional recordings
* Elliot Sheiner - recording engineer for additional recordings
* Buzz Richmond - recording engineer for additional recordings
* Scott Schreckengosf - recording engineer for additional recordings
* George Piros - mastering
* Dennis King - mastering
* Richard Amsel - cover art
* Lee Gurst - backliner photo
* Loring Eutemey - album design
* Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, N.Y.
* Additional recordings at A & R Studios, New York, N.Y.; Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, N.Y. & Kaye / Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington
* Re-mixed by: Lew Hahn & Arif Mardin