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List Price: $7.98 | | Label: Atlantic / Wea
Salesrank: 16618
Released: August 29, 1995 |
| Our Price: $4.65 |
| Used Price: $2.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Divine Miss M Track Listing:
1. Do You Want to Dance?
2. Chapel of Love
3. Superstar
4. Daytime Hustler
5. Am I Blue
6. Friends
7. Hello in There
8. Leader of the Pack
9. Delta Dawn
10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
11. Friends
Editorial Review:
No Description Available.
Genre: Vocals
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 29-AUG-1995
Description of The Divine Miss M:
Was Bette Midler playing on the title of Dinah Washington's The Swingin' Miss D when she named her 1972 debut? Washington would've been proud of this album's tune stack, which makes a sensuous slow-jam classic of "Do You Want to Dance?" by Bobby Freeman, salutes the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and produces signature pieces of John Prine's "Hello in There" and Buzzy Linhart's "Friends." Midler might not have set out to reinvent the wheel, but on her first try, she outdid Barbra Streisand in taste, wit, and yes, sophistication. --Rickey Wright
The Divine Miss M Reviews:
Timeless 
2009-11-17 - Bette Midler sounds as good today as she did 30 years ago. One of the great female vocalists of our time, she has shunned main-stream pop and probably the riches that go along with it to focus on producing timeless music. Her talent never ceases to amaze me.
The People's Diva! 
2009-09-04 - I saw Bette Midler in concert in Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace at the Colosseum. I could see now why so many entertainers flock to this desert city. First, the stars like Bette perform for about 90 minutes and about 4 times per week. In New York, it's more than two hours and eight times a week. For entertainers like Bette and Cher which share the Colosseum, there is not that much time for rest and rejuvenate themselves for the next show. She sang practically her old favorites and brought back Dolores DelLago, the mermaid entertainer, and Sophie, the oldest's dancer on the strip. If you go to Las Vegas and worry about spending money on the gambling, get tickets to see Bette's show. She's wonderful and the stage is the largest that I have seen. The seats are actually comfortable but leave your camera in the hotel room because they will confiscate it and hold it until after the show. Thank God, I returned to my room and dropped off the camera before the show. Bette sure knows how to give a memorable show but don't buy this compact disc at her souvenir store because it's twice the cost. Anyway, I recommend anybody who gets to Las Vegas, see Bette. She's worth the cost!
Amazing - Spectacular Debut
2008-12-24 - 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.
a timeless, classic album
2008-12-23 - 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.
Classic Bette Midler
2008-12-21 - Fine performances and Bette is clear as a bell. Get the early Barbra Streisand stuff too.
