Customer Reviews

Divine Miss M

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Dixie Cups recorded Chapel of Love; Superstar was best know as a top 40s hit for The Carpenters; The Shangri-Las did Leader of the Pack. Every one from Tanya Tucker to Helen Reddy had a hit with Delta Dawn, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is an Andrews Sisters classic. In fact, at the time this recording was released, there was very little on it that was strictly identified with the then-unknown Bette Midler.

But to my mind it remains the best Bette Midler album. Oh sure, Midler has done wonderful things since--great recordings that will stand the test of time--but in terms of overall success THE DIVINE MISS M is IT. And although most of these songs were made famous by other artists, once Midler gets hold of them she makes them her own. Delta Dawn becomes a mixture of pathos and unexpected sassiness, completely unlike any other version you've ever heard. The often-recorded Am I Blue, a staple of every torch singer that ever lived, suddenly belongs to Midler and Midler alone, and the Carpenter's version of Superstar seems almost dispassionate in comparison. She easily bests the Dixie Cups and the Shangri-Las, and even The Andrews Sisters are tossed about in the tide, with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy both hommage and reinterpretation.

Crowning all this are two versions of Midler's signature tune Friends. The first version is a cute throw-away with a children's chorus, the second one begins in darkness and explodes into light to finish the album. Everything about this recording is beautiful, joyous, brilliant, passionate, and intensely alive. If there is such a thing as the artistic heir to the late, legendary Judy Garland, it is beyond doubt the equally legendary Bette Midler, and THE DIVINE MISS M offers her in all her youth, energy, and beauty. Your stereo is calling out for this one; don't wait. Strongly recommended.

I believe the first time I saw this record it was about 1983, I was 6, and my father brought it home for my mother who was completely overjoyed with it, (I believe her prior copy was lost or ruined.) As a result, I grew up on this album. When I purchased my own copy of it, I remembered exactly when and why I fell in love with Bette Midler's vocal stylings.

"Friends," of which there are 2 versions (one produced by Joel Dorn, the other by Barry Manilow and others,) Shows different angles to her personalty. One version (track 6) is a little slower, a little more wispy, with a hilarious ending featuring many different 'Bette's' talking over each other. The second version, which closes the album, is a little heavier sung, more strong vocally, and just a song to sing along to loudly.

"Do You Want To Dance" is Bette at her sultriest. Who in their right mind would say no to the Divine Miss M?

"Chapel Of Love," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and "Leader Of The Pack" are all remakes of songs I loved, but loved even more after Bette remade them.

Now Bette's version of "Superstar" was the first time I heard this song, not hearing the Carpenters' version 'til many years later, and I have to say (sorry, Karen) that Bette takes this song to new heights. Whenever I am asked what my favourite Bette song is, this is my choice...and of course, I have to pull out the CD and play it for them.

"Daytime Hustler" is rollicking good fun, and I just love how she wraps her voice around such lyrics, a woman determined not to take back this "jive, jive dude." "Delta Dawn" is absolutely amazing, and "Am I Blue" and "Hello In There" never cease to make me slow down and think about corresponding moments in my life.

After owning this album on Vinyl, Cassette, and now CD for the past 17 years, I never get tired of it. "The Divine Miss M" is in the running for my absolute favourite album ever recorded, and I will always remember dancing around the living room with my mother singing "Friends" and "Do You Want To Dance," the volume on the record player (yes, that's right...vinyl!) as loud as we could get away with.

This is the definitive Bette album.

This is one of the absolute best first albums by a pop artist to date. I remember sneaking my older sister's "Divine Miss M" album out of her room when she wasn't around and playing it on our "stereophonic hi-fi." (We're talking back in 1972 after all.) Imagine a 12-year-old girl from the 'hood crooning along with Bette Midler's "Am I Blue" and totally getting it! When I listen to this CD now, I'm still amazed at how she renders all the covers on that album as hers and hers alone...every single note, every single riff...

To any and all Bette Midler newbies...get this album.

This is Bette Midler's first and finest album. It's filled with standards, ballads, rock and pop songs. A great retro album that's retro itself!

Here the version of SUPERSTAR that inspired the Carpenters to record their slower and mellower version. Listen to the smooth DO YOU WANT TO DANCE? Sing along to BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY and FRIENDS (2 different versions produced by 2 different people--one fo them being Barry Manilow!).

This is definitely a fun album that you will be listening for years!

One day in the early 1970's , I ran home from school to watch "The Virginia Graham Show", just like all the other boys who weren't in football practice. Settling down in front of the t.v with my Sugar Pops, ., I clearly remember the moment when Ms. Graham, she of the big white hair and big red mouth... introduced this unknown singer who proceded to blow my and everyone else's socks off. Looking like nothing anyone had ever seen before, and dressed and coiffed like a 1940's nightmare, I couldn't figure out if I loved her or if I was terrified of her. Strange creature indeed. What WAS she? The next time I'd heard of her was upon the release of "The Divine Miss M", which coincided with her appearing in my hometown. I had to work that night, (at the very hotel in which the Divine One was staying!) but all the buzz that day was about Miss M. Upon first listening to this album, I realized immediately that I was hearing something very, very special, and so did everyone else. This became THE album, that you played so many times and at every party that you wore it out, and I was no exception. With songs like "Am I Blue" , she was a smokey-roomed spotlight- lit chanteuse ala Helen Forrest and Margaret Whiting, then quick as a flash she schitzos into "Do You Want To Dance", "Chapel Of Love" and "Leader Of The Pack" and turns them into camp covers. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"..... WHAT??!! She takes this then forgotten hit and out -Andrews the fabulous Andrews Sisters. She sends tears rolling down your cheeks with her lament to the forgotten elderly..."Hello In There", and her "Friends" which became the official gay mans signature song, well..by the time you hear the reprise of that song as the closing tune on this album, you knew that you and Bette were going to be lifelong friends. This album was a sensation at that time in the way that maybe Brittney Spears debut album was to her generation, but if I have to explain the difference to you between Bette Midler and MS. Spears...well, I just can't do it! Having just repurchased this album on c.d., I am wallowing in sweet memories of youthful times past, and dear friends now gone. Miss Midler has come a long way since The Continental Baths to become one of the most famous and beloved artists of her generation, but she and everyone else have resigned themselves to her indelible identity as "The Divine Miss M", and thus she will remain... with this, her signature/best album. Miss M.: Even tho your then piano man Barry Manilow told me you were in the shower when I delivered your food from room service those many, many years ago, when I clearly saw your feet sticking out from the couch...and just as clearly heard you screach "Tell him I'm in the shower..!"...lol...and then on the elevator the next day, when I asked for your autograph and you said "I'm busy now" (you were clearly exhausted) I do now and will forever love you and, like so many, hold a special place in my heart for you, and I cherished that room service Kikkoman bottle you used for years until I broke down in the 80's and used it to embellish my ramen noodles during that poverty stricken winter...Oh Bette.....you are not only an amazing artist, but, yes...our "friend." x/o.

Well kids, who knew the girl from Honolulu, the outsider, would record such a timeless collection of hits and standards. There is not one debut album that I can think of that is as incredible as Bette Midler's "The Divine Miss M." This is Bette at her best, singing torch songs such as "Am I Blue," or knocking your socks off with a rocker such as "Hustler," or just having some kitch-y fun with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Friends." In March of 1999, I had the great fortune of meeting Miss Midler and having her sign my vinyl copy of this timeless record. As we were talking, I commented about how this was her best album and she was flattered that someone so young (I was 13 at the time) could appreciate such a classic album. Buy this incredible piece of work by an incredible artist! You won't be sorry! And just remember...
"You can like me the way I am or you can...KISS MY BRASS!"-a quote from the Divine Miss M's latest and greatest concert tour!

Bette Midler's first album is a classic. This album is excellent! It consists of mostly of covers including Do You Want To Dance, Chapel of Love, Superstar, Leader of the Pack, and Delta Dawn. Midler puts her classic touch on each one, making Do You Want To Dance a ballad instead of a dance tune, Leader of the Pack has more of a rock touch than the original, Delta Dawn is more inspiring than the original, and Superstar will bring you tears as only Midler can. This album also contains Bette's top 10 smash, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, her classic Friends, and the saddening ballad Hello In There. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!! If you love this Bette album, you'll love these other Bette albums: Bette Midler, Broken Blossom, Thighs and Whispers. Support Bette Midler! Buy the album here! Don't buy from an auction or download the songs for free!

This album of Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M, was released in 1972 and is one of her best albums ever. The album starts off with the smooth and intimate "Do You Want To Dance?" (which is one of my favorite songs of hers). The way she sang this song was so funny towards the climax of it, with her very audible exhale, which she does a few times until she raises her voice at the end. Wow!!! She does an excellent job on Hello In There, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, which sounds almost like a 40s jazz arrangement, two versions of "Friends". The first version of this song starts off with the jumpy and uptempo piano beat, while the other version, which is the final song on the album, has more of a slower and different piano intro. I also love the front cover image of this album, a great illustration. When you look on the back of the CD booklet or the back cover on the LP, you can see a red tone picture of Bette, which looks almost exactly like the front cover drawing. Very neat!! I have this album on LP, tape and CD, and it is a great and truly "divine" album. For those of you who are big fans of Bette, make sure that this title is in your collection, and let Bette's "divine" voice enrich you! Kudos to Bette for her beautiful voice on this album!!

I first remember Bette Midler as this high energy insane woman who would show up on "The Tonight Show" and having Johnny, Ed and Doc be her backup singers on "Teenager in Love." Years later she was Johnny Carson's final guest, and having seen her live in concert I am here to tell you he could not have made a better choice because nobody performs better than the Divine Miss M. The title of her 1972 debut album put that persona in the public's mind and it remains not only the first but the most definitive Bette Midler album because everything she has done can all be traced back to the eleven tracks collected here. Along with "Songs for the New Depression" and the soundtrack for "The Rose," "The Divine Miss M" is a 1970s Bette Midler album that you have to own in your music library.

The song that caught the public's attention was her second single, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," the old WWII Andrews Sister's song that Bette took to #8 on the Billboard charts (which is actually better than the original did). Midler did all the singing voices and while her singing ability has always been greater than her voice, this is the song that establishes her ability to maximize what she has and sell it like few in the business ever have. With "Chapel of Love" and "Leader of the Pack" on the album as well, it was easy for Midler to carve out her niche as the queen of retro kitsch, but she goes for much more than that with this album. This is why the other key song is John Prine's "Hello in There," where Midler provides the poignancy that would be a key part of her most successful ballads. The other song that stands out for me is her cover of "Delta Dawn," not so much for the version she sings here, but because when I saw her perform life this was the song that ended the first act and it was the surprisingly most memorable moment of a magic evening.

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.