Customer Reviews

Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The joy of Bette Midler is that she is always herself no matter what material she's performing. I found it refreshing that she didn't attempt to copy the sound of Peggy Lee (as a few other "reviewers" here seem to be expressing). That would have been pointless. Bette is in great form and voice. When Peggy Lee sang these songs, she did it in her own cool style. Bette sings them with sizzling sass and that's divine.

The trend in music lately is singers (Like Midler, Manilow, Rod Stewart)are recoring classics or standards. It seems to work, because it record sale magic.

Bette Midler has always been a great soulful singer, from the 1970's to present. Last year, Ms M took on the task for recording the Rosemary Clooney (that's George's aunt) songbook. This time she recorded the songs of Peggy Lee.

Lee has been a soulful jazz queen. Midler is one of the few singers today that could take on such Lee standards like "Fever", "He's a Tramp" , "Big Spender", and "Is that all there is?". Midler take on these pieces with such an aplome that you feel they were written today for Midler herself. The weakest song "The Folks who live on the Hill" does not fit Midler's vocal pattern range, she seem straining in that song. The duet with Barry Manilow on "I Love Being Here with you" reminds me of classic Ms M.

Talking about Manilow, who has recorded songs of the 1950, 1960, and the 1970, produced this CD for Midler. He has done a great job arranging & Producing this cd, Mailow make this seem so easy. It reminds that he was Midler's Piano man for years. He arranges these to suit her brassy style and it works so well

The DVD side has some rare Peggy Lee footage and interviews with Midler and others.

So, to quote Peggy Lee, "Is that all There is? Depressingly YES there is, and you want MORE

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

No one sings the classics like Bette! This cd is a beautiful tribute to Peggy Lee but Bette isn't trying to sound like Peggy Lee...It's ALL Bette singing these wonderful songs and she's given those of us who weren't familiar with Miss Lee's music a gift. I knew the songs "Fever", "Big Spender", and "I'm A Woman" but now I've been introduced to more of Peggy Lee's songs through Bette and I want to know MORE! Thank you, Bette and Barry! And Thank YOU, Peggy Lee!

Can't wait for the tour! Remember PROVIDENCE, RI!

As always, Bette Midler & Barry Manilow have created MAGIC once again in this tribute to the 'coolest of the cool'... Miss Peggy Lee!!!!! This one SCREAMS 'Grammy'!!!! And for the cherry on top, the DVD with clips of the magical Lee are amazing!!!! The ONLY way to improve upon this made-in-Heaven collaboration would be for Bette & Barry to next focus on a fitting tribute to the SEXY, RED HOT, & SULTRY JULIE LONDON - to complete the perfect trilogy ` Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Julie London!!! (Now THAT would be SHEER BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just doesn't get any better than THAT!!!!!! Come on, Bette & Barry - please work your magic just ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!!!!)

When I first heard the Divine Miss M was doing a tribute to Peggy Lee, I thought she should have her head examined. Her style of singing has as much in common to Miss Lee as Claudine Longet has to Barbra Streisand. But I have to say Miss M has won me over. She wisely does not try to mimic Lee's singing style, but does not overpower the songs either. Just the right touch for a nice tribute. My only complaint (as with the Rosie CD) is that its too frustratingly short! One can hardly expect one CD to encompass Lee's long successful career, but one could have expected at least 15 or 20 mins of more music! What about Manana? (perfect for Bette, but maybe the PC police won here); Lover? Black Coffee? Street of Dreams? There'll Be Another Spring? The DVD does help make up for the lack of songs (too bad the Rosie tribute didnt have one). And its nice that her daughter and grandaughter were interviewed. (Loved the home movies too). Are Bette's renditions as good as Peggys'? No, but whose could be? They are just fine and if you like Bette, I'm sure you'll enjoy this CD. Bette's versions of the sassier numbers are good (though she tries too hard on Is That All There Is? Its not a song well suited to her personality. Peggy had just the right emotional distance to make the song break your heart. Even better are the ballads. Bette's versions of The Folks Who Live On the Hill and Mr. Wonderful are done, well, wonderfully). Hopefully, it will motivate you to explore the vast number of Peggy Lee recordings out there. (I didnt really appreciate Peggy either until after she died). Its a fun CD and you'll find yourself singing along and playing it over and over (it's short enough!).I hope Bette will take a breather after this and record some original material for her next CD. Till, then, Enjoy! And speaking of tributes, if you are looking for a 5 star tribute, purchase the new Linda Eder tribute to Judy Garland (By Myself). The best CD I've bought all year! (and I've bought quite a few).

Being a huge fan of both Bette and Peggy, I was aghast when
I first heard about this album. These two women would seem
to have little in common......Peggy, the subtle, insinuating,
sultry legend and Bette the over-the-top, heart-on-her sleeve
diva. Yet this combination DOES work. You will enjoy this
a lot more if you accept the fact that Bette's style is nothing
like Peggy's. Do not expect laid-back singing or silky vocals.
Bette is still Bette, just tipping her hat to another great
entertainer. Not all the songs work, but most of them are
great fun, and the ballads are extremely well done as you
would expect from Miss M. This CD is not gonna change your
life, but it's entertaining from start to finish. Barry Manilow
has yet again done a great job producing, and his duet with
Miss M is just as good as the one on the Rosie Clooney CD.
For Peggy fans, the Dual Disc is a MUST! The home footage of
Peggy performing and with her family is priceless, a must-have.
Although Bette did not know Peggy, and was not as familiar with
her work as she was with Clooney's, there is still a great deal
of respect and affection in this CD. Good job, Miss M!

Bette Midler has embraced the soul of Peggy Lee. If you loved the way Peggy Lee sang as much as I did, you will tear up when hear the treatment Bette gives to Peggy Lee's greatest songs. No other singer could possibly do it better than Bette Midler.

Peggy Lee was one of the greatest jazz singers ever, and I think Bette Midler sounds great singing the hits of this musical legend. The first track is an excellent version of the classic song Fever. I think that Fever is one of the sexiest songs ever recorded and Bette sings it so well. Barry Manilow's musical arrangements on this CD are so fresh and crisp. I am Woman is the kind of song that portrays women as being feisty strong minded and indpendent people, and I loved it. I love the track Is that All There Is. This is a great song about enjoying life despite all of life's little disappointments.

Peggy Lee was a very attractive and talented woman. I really liked looking at the old pictures of her while listening to Bette's great voice on the DVD side of this dual disc. I Love Being Here With You is another one of my favorite tracks on this CD. Bette Midler and Barry Manilow sound great singing together. The instruments playing on this track gives this song a nice big band feel. Bette sounds so flirtatious and seductive on the track Big Spender. I enjoyed this song very much. He's A Tramp is another highlight on this CD. I enjoyed the clarinet playing on this song, because it sounds so smooth and relaxed. I think it accompanies Bette's vocals perfectly. I loved the cozy romantic sentiment of the track The Folks on the Hill. This song is about being happy by just living the simple life with someone you love. I knew only one Peggy Lee song which was Fever when I bought this CD, but I enjoyed listening to the entire album.

How many female singers over 40 do you know who are still allowed to make records and even sell them??? The Divine Miss M is getting 60 in a few days is as successful as ever; partly because she still seems to have a ball while singing and it translates, as this collection is pure fun for the listenener as well! Highlights are a magical performance of the eccentric "Is that all there is", a sassy and bluesy "I'm a Woman" and a very sexy "Big Spender". The videos on the DVD are beautiful and show a stunning looking Miss M performing live in the studio. The interviews with her and family-members of Peggy Lee are hearfelt and show how much care Milder has put into this project. I find the album even better than the Clooney Songbook and I think it has GRAMMY written all over it!
Now for the ones who again are starting to wine about how short the record is: You know what? If you wanna listen to it for longer, play it AGAIN! I can't believe there are reviewers who say they would have given more points if the album was longer...It's about art, love and devotion, and I much prefer this to records where you have to skip every second song in order to find a single marble: THIS record is full of them! Way to go Miss M: You'r still the coolest. Thanks!

Bette Midler has done it again with Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook. This album, like Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook, is flawless. It has an excellent mixture of uptemp and ballads. I've read a lot of reviews saying Midler didn't interpret the songs very well. I would have no idea. All I know is that Midler brought a classic artist to a new generation. I had no idea of Peggy Lee and have become more interested in her as a performer since the album was released. To me that's the most important thing about doing a "tribute" or "remake" of any kind.

Miss Midler sounds FABulous on every track. Her voice is perfectly suited for these songs. And from what I've read about Peggy Lee since the release of this album, Bette was the only person who could do this album. Miss Lee was over the top, had some very emotional songs, and "performed" each song as a story as Midler has done for the last 35 years. The arrangements were brilliantly brought to the current times by Barry Manilow and Bette handled the transition with ease.

I must agree with the many complaints about the album being too short. But then again when you have such a fabulous album it doesn't hurt to put it on repeat and listen to it over and over again. Bette Midler is the greatest performer to come along in the last 40 years. She understands the songs, she TELLS the songs. She doesn't just sing them. And with so many unpersonal songs out there right now it's nice to see, and hear, her take songs with meaning and tell them to a whole new generation of people.

Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook and Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook are hopefully just the beginning of a series of songbook albums from the Divine Miss M. Keep it up baby!!!