Bette Midler: Divine Madness (1980)

While putting together my review on the 1979 soundtrack "The Rose", Bette's album preceding this one, I came across this interesting bit of IMDB trivia. Apparently, according to a book called "The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History", Bette had turned down parts in "Nashville" (1975), "Rocky" (1976) and "Foul Play" (1978), so she could play the main role in "The Rose". She felt it would "make her an instant screen icon".

Between that, and stories about Bette being involved at some point or another in movies like "Annie", "Sister Act" (Dolores Van Cartier played by Whoopi Goldberg) and "The Lion King" (as Mufasa's Queen Sarabi), I just have to say: WOW!

Bette's next project following "The Rose" was both a concert film and an accompanying live album by the name of "Divine Madness". It was also her first release for the 1980s, a decade which (by 1982) looked like it was going to be a challenging one for Bette, before she wound up with arguably the biggest song of her career with "Wind Beneath My Wings".

The filmed version of "Divine Madness" was shot between four different concerts in 1979 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The film according to Wikipedia included Bette's stand-up comedy routines, in the vein of her 1977 concert release "Live at Last", with sixteen songs. The majority of these songs would make it onto the accompanying album, but there were a few discrepancies between.

Let's have a look at the album track list: "Big Noise from Winnetka", "Paradise", "Shiver Me Timbers", "Fire down below", "Stay With Me", "My Mother's Eyes", "Chapel of Love/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "E Street Shuffle/Summer (The First Time)/Leader of the Pack", and "You Can't Always Get What You Want/I Shall Be Released". It loses "The Rose", "Ebb Tide", "My Way", "Ready to Begin Again", "Do You Want to Dance?" and the monologues from the filmed version, or at least the video.

The movie itself actually loses "My Mother's Eyes", strangely enough considering it was also released as a single, and "Shiver Me Timbers". While a DVD was issued in America, I don't believe at this point that the full original film has been made available officially. What's also missing from the video version is another song called "Rainbow Sleeve" which I believe is written by Tom Waits.

Considering the frustration I already had finding CDs like "Songs for the New Depression", "Thighs and Whispers" and "No Frills", this just seems like more drama. Oh well.

Looking at the album here, from what was included we already have a colourful array of songs to choose from. All the albums seem to be evenly represented, as well as some new moments like "My Mother's Eyes" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Side note: a few years later Bette would record another Mick Jagger and Keith Richards song "Beast of Burden" for her album "No Frills". Mick Jagger would even appear in the music video.

The cast of talent onstage includes Bette herself, of course, along with: the Harlettes, Bette's trio of backing vocalists including Jocelyn Brown, Ula Hedwig and Diva Gray, Tony Berg on Guitar and Background Vocals, Jon Bonine on Trombone and Background Vocals, Joey Carbone providing Keyboards and B.G. Vocals, Rich Cooper on Trumpet, David Luell playing Saxophone, John Pierce on Bass Guitar, David Shank with Percussion, Chas Sanford on Lead Guitar, Art Wood playing Drums, with Michael Boddicker playing Synthesizers, and Luther Vandross on Background Vocals. For more of the personnel check the liner notes or Wikipedia. Again, an abundance of thanks to these guys for bringing me this!

Charts wise: "Divine Madness" the album managed #34 on the US Billboard 200, while climbing even higher in New Zealand to #12, but dropping in number in Oz at #20. Two singles were released, including the new song "My Mother's Eyes" and the live version of "Chapel of Love" originally recorded on "The Divine Miss M". Thank you, Wiki, IMDB and Discogs for making this information available to me.

Let's have a look at the album then!!!

"Big Noise from Winnetka"---this was the first version I heard, and immediately Bette and the Harlettes and her backing group are exploding with energy. It's like if Godzilla came through the building, Bette would just put on a pair of boots and stomp it to death. Nothing can stop this show?!

"Paradise"---I heard the mellow version on the original "Broken Blossom" years before this one, which makes me appreciate even more how upbeat this one gets. It is just magnificent stuff. It's like Bette and the whole band is taking off like the Road Runner, only stopping for gas.

"Shiver Me Timbers"---this is the third version I own of this now and this song is always a capitol listen. I love that she kept including it in these albums.

"Fire Down Below"---this is the song from "The Rose" that didn't appear on the soundtrack, but finally makes it here. This thing just, well, burns. It sizzles. It fries.

"Stay with Me"---I love this in all of its versions and this is truly no exception. I think I may like this one more than "The Rose".

"My Mother's Eyes"---it's brilliant that this got released as a single, because it should have been. I guess it would have been even better if it had been done in the studio and given a major release as part of a new album, but I can't complain. This is possibly my favourite moment on the whole thing.

"Chapel of Love/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"---yes! Yes! Yes! This is going off!

"E Street Shuffle/Summer (The First Time)/Leader of the Pack"---we begin with a Bruce Springsteen song "E Street Shuffle", before seguing into "Summer (The First Time)" written by Bobby Goldsboro, both of which are new here to the repertoire, before it climaxes in "Leader of the Pack". This is like something from a musical, getting progressively darker as it goes along. This one has stuck in my mind.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want/I Shall Be Released"---Bette and the band wrap up the proceedings, at least in this version, with this classic from the Rolling Stones 1969 LP "Let it Bleed", which Bette pulls off tremendously. And then it leads into a version of "I Shall Be Released", the Bob Dylan song which she had closed out the A side of "Bette Midler" with in 1973. Now it closes out this album altogether.

We have come to the end of the evening, and Bette and her thrilling team of artists have left me feeling both satisfied and wanting more, if that makes any sense. Check this out if you haven't, especially if you've just listened to "The Rose".

Thank you,

Ryan.