Bette Midler: Beaches (Original Soundtrack Recording) (1988)

Come 22 November 1988, when the original soundtrack for "Beaches" was released on Atlantic Records, Bette Midler the Divine Miss M was practically on top of the world.

She had followed up her 1979 classic "The Rose" with the somewhat less successful "Jinxed!" in 1982 and it seemed like her acting career in Hollywood was all but finished. "No Frills" her 1983 album had been a Top 10 in various countries throughout Europe but was less successful commercially in the US. In 1985 she released her stand-up performance album "Mud Will Be Flung Tonight!" which I highly recommend if you're a fan of her comedy. Check out both of those albums. I have never seen "Jinxed!"

In 1986, thanks to a contract with Disney, Bette's acting career entered what I will probably describe as a Renaissance, with films like "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "Ruthless People", followed by "Outrageous Fortune" in 1987 and "Big Business" in 1988. Bette even voiced the role of one of the main characters in Disney's twenty-seventh animated feature "Oliver & Company" (the soundtrack means that I actually get to hear Billy Joel and Bette Midler on the one project. How cool is that?).

By 1988, Bette's music career had seen six studio albums, two soundtracks and two live albums, with singles including "Do You Want to Dance?", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Friends", "In the Mood", "Strangers in the Night", "Old Cape Cod", "Buckets of Rain", "Hang On in There Baby", "You're Movin' Out Today", "Big Noise from Winnetka", "When a Man Loves a Woman", "The Rose", "Chapel of Love", "All I Need to Know", "Favorite Waste of Time" and "Beast of Burden". At this point, "The Rose" was arguably her biggest song. This would be the crowning achievement, the centerpiece of Bette's music catalogue, taking pride of place on many a compilation that would be released through the years. Suddenly along came another song, which came from another movie too.

Bette had appeared in "Beaches" as singer "C.C." Bloom who meets heiress and lawyer Hillary Whitney played by Barbara Hershey and establishes a lifelong friendship with her. The film was adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue from a 1985 book (also called "Beaches") written by Iris Rainer Dart. Iris also published a sequel in 1991 called "Beaches II: I'll Be There" but the movie version never got off the ground. According to Aunty Wiki, it would have included actress Barbara Eden. The original "Beaches" was directed by Garry Marshall and also featured Mayim Bialik, John Heard, James Read, Spalding Gray, Lainie Kazan and more.

The movie was a box office success, bringing in $59 million for Touchstone Pictures and Disney. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction (Albert Brenner and Garrett Lewis). The soundtrack which saw Bette working with producer Arif Mardin for the first time since 1979's "Thighs and Whispers" received two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1990. The song "Wind beneath my Wings" was recognized in 2004 by the American Film Institute in its list: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs. It entered at #44.

And this is the song I've been alluding to: "Wind beneath my wings". It was written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley in 1982. It was first recorded by Australian singer Kamahl for a 1982 country and western album but ultimately unreleased. Roger Whittaker first released the song instead, I believe, followed by versions from Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, Colleen Hewett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Gary Morris. There have been more since, very much including the one from the Divine Miss M which has become the crowning jewel in her vast discography. It's also one of the first songs by Bette that I can remember hearing.

When Bette released this song, it went #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, #1 in Australia (we unequivocally got it right that time), #3 in Canada, and so on if you care to look at the figures on Aunty Wiki. This song was just everywhere and rightfully so, because it was a glorious song. It deserved all of its success and then more. It is profoundly moving and comforting. It is an icon of not only 1980s pop music but twentieth century music in general.

In fact if you didn't know, it wasn't the first single released from the soundtrack. This might seem surprising in hindsight, but that honour had gone to Bette's version of the 1964 Drifters classic "Under the Boardwalk". It scored as high as #26 in Australia but "Wind beneath my Wings" was the runaway hit. If only whoever was in charge had released more singles, because mark my words: this is an album that's full of them. "I Know you by Heart", to me, should have been almost as present on radio as "Time of my Life" from "Dirty Dancing".

Still, I can't complain when you consider that the soundtrack did so well. It came in at #2 on the Billboard 200, #1 in Australia, #2 in New Zealand and #21 in the UK. This album isn't going away any time soon. With that said, I ask myself two questions: where is the movie's definitive DVD/Blu-Ray release and where is the soundtrack remaster?

When you watch the movie "Beaches", there's a whole different mix of "Wind beneath my Wings". If there was a new soundtrack release, not only could you get a remaster and a special package with some great new liner notes perhaps from Bette and Barbara, but "Wind beneath my Wings" from the film. Can we expect anything any time soon I wonder?

With all of that said, let's have a look at the songs. The first time I heard this album was on tape sometime in the late 90s and early 2000s. I loved it then and I love it now. I don't like to choose between Bette’s albums, but I can't disguise the fact that this one is right up there. I can appreciate why it would be some fans' desert island disc.

"Under the Boardwalk"---I love the jubilant little opening at the start, like it's calling you into some kind of festival. And then Bette's 1980s version of "Under the Boardwalk" begins and just listening to it, I can almost say I prefer it over the original. Do I though? I'm actually not sure.

"Wind beneath my Wings"---I'm sorry I have no words. Let this song speak for itself.

"I've Still Got my Health"---we go from 1980s pop to this charming version of the Cole Porter classic from his 1940 musical "Panama Hattie". Diversity of music has always been a part of Bette's albums, more or less, and "Beaches" is truly no exception. Stay tuned for what happens next.

"I Think It's Going to Rain Today"---this is probably my second favourite song on the whole album. It was written by Randy Newman who recorded it himself on his 1968 debut album. Bette's version could have been a single and should have been. Actually I'm not altogether convinced that it wasn't.

"Otto Titsling"---if it wasn't for the previous song, this would be my second favourite. I've loved this from day one! It is so full of comedy and theatre! The arrangements, the performance! This moment alone makes me a Bette fan! The original live version appears on 1985's "Mud Will Be Flung Tonight!" Seriously check that out.

"I Know You by Heart"---I more or less expressed my thoughts on this song earlier. This one was a duet with David Pack and was co-written by Dean Pitchford who wrote songs for movies like "Footloose".

"The Glory of Love"---this song is a major theme in this movie, and if you haven't watched it, I won't rob you of its meaning there, but it's great. This is a version of the 1936 song by Billy Hill first recorded by Benny Goodman. I would have loved if this had been a single too.

"Baby Mine"---I've always loved Disney movies and that’s very much including "Dumbo". This song plays a beautiful part in this movie too and Bette most certainly does it justice. One would hardly have complained if this had been a single too.

"Oh Industry"---Bette co-writes this dark theatrical little moment with Wendy Waldman. Hearing this song the first few times, I sort of felt anxious. It's really the movie that's put it into full context for me. I wish I could hear an audio version of the one with the hard ending.

"The Friendship Theme"---we wrap things up with this beautiful little instrumental from Georges Delerue.

Not all of these songs were presented in chronological order according to the film. I'm guessing because this release was supposed to work as an album in its own right. As an album, I reiterate that this is right up there for me in Bette's catalogue. And that brings me to the end of this post.

Thank you,

Ryan.