Bette Midler is the second studio album by American singer Bette Midler, released in 1973 on the Atlantic Records label. Produced by Arif Mardin and Barry Manilow, Bette Midler 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 No. 6 on the US albums chart and was later awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAA.
The album was released on CD for the first time in 1989. A remastered version of the album was released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995.
Track listing
Personnel
Bette Midler – lead vocals Barry Manilow – piano, percussion, backing vocals, musical arranger, musical conductor Ken Ascher, Don Grolnick, Pat Rebillot – keyboards Cornell Dupree, Hugh McCracken, David Spinozza, Frank Vento – guitar Will Lee, Chuck Rainey, William Salter, Stu Woods – bass guitar Milt Hinton – double bass Steve Gadd, Rick Marotta, Bernard Purdie, Grady Tate – drums Luther Rix – drums, percussion Ralph MacDonald, Arif Mardin – percussion Kenneth Bichel – synthesizer Gene Orloff – concert master Gail 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 Crossley – background vocals
Production
Arif Mardin – producer Barry Manilow – producer Gene Paul – recording engineer Lew Hahn – recording engineer Jimmy Douglass – recording engineer for additional recordings Robbert Warner – recording engineer for additional recordings Elliot Scheiner – 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
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Bette Midler Chart (1973–74) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 14 US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) 5 US The Album Chart (Record World) 4
Year-end charts +1974 year-end chart performance for Bette Midler Chart (1974) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 35US Billboard 200 87 US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) 42
Certifications and sales
References