Customer Reviews

No Frills

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"No Frills" is a typical 80s product. Featuring Top 40 production values (ie, safe, commercial but dull), this is not among Bette's best albums. To sample what the lady is truly capable of, you are advised to turn to her two early 70s releases, "Divine Ms M" and "Songs From A New Depression" and also her latest, "Bette". Her mid-career period wasn't particularly fertile. It didn't yield anything remotely comparable in quality or consistency and "No Frills" is just one of those mediocre albums saved only by some really terrific things in there. Much of the first side features top drawer material. The first three cuts, "Is It Love", "You're My Favourite Waste Of Time" and a definitive rendition of "All I Need To Know" quite frankly blew me away. Linda Ronstadt's more polished hit version of the latter retitled "Don't Know Much" took much of the rawness and impact away. But with the exception of the lovely "My Eye On You" and a credible cover of the Rolling Stones' "Beast Of Burden", it's mostly downhill from there on. "Heart Over Head" is painfully pedestrian while the two closing numbers are so unmemorable I can't even remember what they sound like. "Only In Miami" is, on the other hand, just one of those Latin/samba like things Bette always include in her albums. It's OK but unexceptional. "No Frills" isn't a terribly good album but if you're a Bette fan, you're gonna love at least half of what's in here and 5 out of 10 ain't too bad. I gave this 3-star album a 4-star rating only because the best of it is pretty terrific.

Bette Midler's third rock and roll album. Unlike The Rose and Divine Madness soundtracks, this is NOT the pure blood and guts Joplin like sound. This album, released in '83, is the signature 80's rock sound. I have to admit Only In Miami doesn't quite fit on this album. Midler was WAY ahead of her time with this song as it is a latin dance tune. Midler's version of Jagger's Beast of Burden is flawless. It is definitely better than the original. Midler's version flows better, and has a rock and roll sound that the original did not. Her voice contains that perfect edge throughout. Think of All I Need to Know as The Rose part two. A beautiful ballad, more stunning sung by Bette than by Aaron Neville and Linda Rondstat who made it a hit after Bette. My Eye on You is a haunting number brought to life by Midler's low edgy voice and the lasting music. Favorite Waste of Time and Heart Over Head blend the rock sound with the pop sound. The album is excellent! BUY IT NOW!!!!! If you love this Bette album, you'll love these other Bette albums: The Rose soundtrack, Divine Madness, Broken Blossom. Support Bette Midler! Buy the album here! Don't buy from an auction or download the songs for free!

I saw Bette on tour supporting this album in September of 1983 here in Utah. It was and is the best concert I have seen to this day. I have went through 3 copies of this album on cassette and now I have the CD which I hope lasts a little longer. "All I Need to Know" is so much better than the later Linda Rondstadt/Aaron Neville duet. "Only in Miami" is perfect. "Let Me Drive" is classic Bette in the vein of later works such as "Big Socks" and "In These Shoes?" I have been a fan since the 70's. This woman always gets me humming and puts a smile on my face. Keep it up, Bette !!!!!

This album was somewhat a darkhorse never fully played to its full potential on the billboard charts, although she did elevate its release to a cult "must have" prized collection with her concert in New York in the early 80s, enacting a scripted intepretation of each of the songs from this album. Watching the concert and then playing the album will literally transport you to another dimension that is nothing short of quaint and magical.If you are lucky enough to obtain that concert on video, it will be worth its weight in gold. Then again, since when did any Divine concert rate anything less than stellar. Listeners will find this collection of songs filled with paradox of pain and carefree abandonment. Though commercial to its core, it surprises you somewhat by its apparent lack of ballad material. Torchy songs like "Is It Love" and "Beast Of Burden" pulls your senses to explore where her emotions goes with each wrenched nuances. Travel with her and feel the aftermath of knowing what it is like to be in the company of "Divine" intervention. A rare find.

I first bought this recording after its release and it has been a favorite for almost 15 years. It has something for everyone Rock, Country with steel guitar and of course Bettes campiness. Very well put together and thought out to coincide with her tour in the same year DE TOUR. Should command Air Play if her promoters would release singles of her more uptempo tracks.

This album defines such a time in life. It is filled with such joy. It's totally divine and while it might not be timeless, hell, wasn't that a time!

Bette Midler's "No Frills" from 1983 is not her most memorable, and its songs don't even get an appropiate representation in her greatest hits collection (or even any 80's hits collection) - which I still can't understand why. Even though it was very successful in Europe (a chart-topper in Sweden, and a top 10 LP in several other countries), The album didn't do well in the U.S, which is another fact that is just impossible to digest....

"No Frills" is simply a great album, and so versatile it just has somthing for everyone - dance, rock, ballads, salsa... even some new-wave elements that ruled the charts back in those days. It's also the first album to include a song which its lyrics was written by Bette Midler herself ("Come Back Jimmy Dean").

"Is It Love" is a true blast to open such an album. That song is just electrifying!!!, "Let Me Drive" is a superb dance smash with the perfect summer-breezy atmosphere (you can really bounce along in your car with its beat),"My Favorite Waste Of Time" is a true Bette-Type-Of-Sound (it was a one-hit-wonder for Owen Paul in 1986), and "All I Need To Know" is simply a brilliant and touchy ballad (much better than the cover of Linda Ronsdatd and Aaron Neville from 1989), "Heart Over Heat" is a cool and calm song to listen to and relax and "Only In Miami" is a nice samba tune which is also typical to the sound of Bette Midler live performances.

As much as all of her albums are great - I'd highly recommend "No Frills" much more than any of her other records. If it didn't sell well back in 1983 - It should be on any music fan's shelf now. Do yourself a favor and get this album.

One of my favorite Bette CD's. Is worth buying just for her rendition of "Beast of Burden".

I am glad they finally put this and 'Broken Blossom' on cd. They prove that Bette can stray from the path and come out smelling like 'The Rose' that she is.
Her cover of 'Beast of Burden' by the Stones is delectable. The video was excellent and got lots of airplay but, alas, the song didn't make it to the charts. Neither did any of the others here.
However... take a listen. Bette takes to rock well. 'Only in Miami', 'Let Me Drive', 'My Favorite Waste of Time' and 'Come Back Jimmy Dean' are all great songs and she does them well.
The concert that went out with this group of songs, 'Art or Bust', is a great one! Unable to locate on DVD, but if you have a vcr and can find the tape... definitely have a look see!
This is certainly a departure for Bette, and it was early enough in her career to be tossed aside, but it is most worthy of applause.

Bette made a great album in the 80's that nobody bought and got zero airplay. Why? The video for Beast of Burden got lots a play on MTV at the time, should have been a huge hit for her. But it wasn't. Oh well. Who says radio programmers or most of the public for that matter, know what's good and what isn't.