Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook

Bette Midler | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000CD0P96
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,290 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bette Midler and musical director Barry Manilow follow their successful tribute to Rosemary Clooney with a collection of songs immortalized by Peggy Lee. It starts off with the inevitable "Fever," which Midler does in a brassy, finger-snapping way that would feel more at home at the Sands c. 1960 than in a dimly lit 1950s boudoir. It's a deliberate, clever choice that works for Midler. The selection hits predictable bases ("Is That All There Is?", "Big Spender") but it's hard to argue when those bases are so loaded. Midler actually sounds a lot more at ease than on the Clooney disc. She handles the upbeat material as well as could be expected, but she also shines on the slower numbers, delivering sultry takes on "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," "I'm a Woman," and "He's a Tramp" (a song copenned by Lee, from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp). The neglected gem in the collection is Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," popularized by Irene Dunne in 1937 before being covered by Lee. Manilow's arrangements are deliciously lush and Midler uses a slight vibrato at carefully chosen moments, somehow sounding as if she had suddenly been lifted back to the 1940s. It's a real treat that epitomizes an accomplished album. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

The divine Bette paid loving tribute to Peggy on this 2005 album featuring many fine Barry Manilow arrangements. She bewitches with Is That All There Is?; Fever; I'm a Woman; Big Spender; Mr. Wonderful; The Folks Who Live on the Hill; He's a Tramp , and more! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Bette Recording, December 20, 2005

By 

Robert Caputo "Bob" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook (Audio CD)

Bette once again has shown herself to be one of the best interpretative singers today. She has not performed an imitation of Peggy Lee (leave that for the lounge singers in Vegas) but her own take on some of Peggy's greats. She has a great style and her voice is the best that it ever has been.

All that said, most importantly, she has shown what an unparalleled performer Peggy lee was. As good as Bette is, Peggy's interpretations are miles ahead of just about anyone else's. She had a unique talent to find the perfect phrasing and mood of just about anything she sang. When she sang a song, she got it right!

This CD is a definite buy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love being here with Bette, July 19, 2006

By 

amdg "amdg" (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook (Audio CD)

Bette follows up her tribute to friend Rosemary Clooney, with a tribute to the great Peggy Lee. This set may not be as adventurous as the Rosie tribute, as the arrangements are very traditional (which suites these songs), however this is still a wonderful album. The ballads "the folks who live on the hill" and Harold Arlen's lovely "happiness is just a thing called Joe" are simply stunning and two of Bette's finest ever vocal performances. "fever" (revelatory interpretation) and "he's a tramp" come up a treat, and "I am w-o-m-a-n" is the divine Miss M in all her glory. Bette's been recording standards since `am I blue" on her first album (1972) and with the possible exception of Linda Ronstadt no rock singer sings the standards better then Bette and this album is a testament to that. Great songs, great arrangements, great singing, great album and a lovely tribute to a dearly missed singer (and songwriter).

4.0 out of 5 stars Bette channels Peggy on a fun tribute album, May 24, 2010

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook (Audio CD)

Following hot on the heels of her Rosemary Clooney tribute disc (Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook) Bette Midler's salute to the musical stylings of Peggy Lee is an equally satisfying treat, because, as strange as it may seem, the individual "voices" of Midler and Lee aren't terribly dissimilar.

Peggy Lee earned the reputation as the "Queen of cool jazz" with her understated, deceptively simplistic vocals, yet she could also let rip with a powerful belt when the occasion called for it. Belting comes easily for Bette Midler yet she's also capable of toning herself down for more intimate arrangements. This album proves it, but anyone who stupidly believes that Peggy Lee was a one-trick musical pony should check out her amazing back-catalogue of material (most of it is available on CD, thankfully including many of her rare radio transcriptions from the early Fifties).

This tribute CD focuses on ten of Peggy's all-time classic songs, including her legendary "Fever" and "I'm a Woman", which Bette growls with lots of grunt and pathos. Better still is her adorable duet with album producer Barry Manilow on "I Love Being Here with You". The album ends on a poignant note with the tender ballad "Mr. Wonderful", which is probably my favourite track.

Bette and Peggy - a match made in musical heaven. I'm sure Peggy would have been delighted as well.