Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook

Rosemary Clooney, Bette Midler | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony/ Columbia
• ASIN: B0000BYMYK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (234 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,789 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Cabaret

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bette and Barry remember this is a tribute..., September 30, 2003

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"A" is for... (Yorba Linda, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (Audio CD)

A charming album. Bette and Barry have crafted a loving tribute to one of their favorite singers, the amazing Rosemary Clooney.
Bette plays it straight - the Divine Miss M is not in sight, but that's appropriate because Clooney didn't need to showboat to show off her chops, either. Great arrangements create a stylish bed for Bette's vocals, which are better and more focused than they've been in years. Nice duet with Linda Ronstadt on "Sisters." I agree that the CD is a little short, but that's showbiz - leave them wanting more! A fine effort from all concerned, and very respectful of Clooney's legacy, yet the artists involved allow their own personality to shine thru. A worthy addition to anyone's library of standards.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A SURE BETTE...., October 2, 2003

By 

Mark Norvell (HOUSTON) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (Audio CD)

Barry Manilow and Bette Midler teamed up after many years for this tribute to the great Rosemary Clooney and it's wonderful. I agree it could (and should) have been longer with more songs but what IS here is impeccable. Splendid orchestration and Manilow's arrangements of the songs are perfect for Midler's voice. She sounds better than ever. The selections are evocative of Clooney and have new spins on them but remain true to her legend. Midler has some fun with "Come-on-a-My-House" and "Mambo Italiano" but keeps Clooney in mind on the duet with Linda Ronstadt "Sisters". They sound so good together that it's hard to tell them apart---but the result is pure swinging Clooney. Only eleven songs are here but the CD is completely entertaining even in it's short running time. It ends with a nice version of "White Christmas" and makes you yearn for more. For my money, it's the best Bette in years. Thank you, Miss M and Mr.Manilow AND Rosie.

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bette Midler's enjoyable tribute album to Rosemary Clooney, September 30, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (Audio CD)

When Rosemary Clooney passed away last year I did not think that she received the consideration due her musical career. Maybe it was because her initial reputation was made on the strength of recordings that were clearly novelty songs. But in terms of female jazz singers from that period, and I would maintain that ultimately Clooney was a jazz vocalist, she was a superb lyrical interpreter, whose phrasing displayed an intelligence that few of her contemporaries could match. One result of this tribute album from Bette Midler and producer Barry Manilow is that a lot of people are going to be inspired to go back and listen to Rosemary Clooney's original recordings; that is certainly the effect it had on me.

"Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" is Midler's tribute to the late singer and those expecting to hear the Divine Miss M here might face some disappointment. I have seen Midler in concert and for my money there is no performer on the face of the earth that puts on a show like she does. However, few songs in the Clooney "songbook" play to Midler's best known strengths ("Mambo Italiano" would be the exception that proves the rule in this case). That is why the key track on this album is "Come On-A My House," which represents the best example of what Middler is trying to do on this album, with "Hey There" and "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" in a similar vein. Picking Linda Ronstadt for the duet of "Sisters" is an interesting choice, but that song is always going to be fun. The net result is a pleasant mix of tunes and a fitting tribute to Clooney. Few of Midler's fans will consider this her best album, but it a much stronger effort than we have seen recently and quite enjoyable.