BETTE MIDLER

Bette's second album, produced by Arif Mardin and Barry Manilow, is THE must have album of Bette's career. From rockers to ballads to her incredible performance of I Shall Be Released, Bette bottled her passion and put it on the market. Run to your local mom and pop record store and pick up a copy!

(I still have the poster that came with this album hanging up on my wall. FYI.)

1. Skylark (3:02)

2. Drinking Again (2:46)

3. Breaking Up Somebody's Home (3:47)

4. Surabaya Johnny (4:52)

Bette does it to Kurt Weill. Lotte Lenya screams, "Who is this bitch?"

5. I Shall Be Released (4:55)

Bette's most impassioned (and my favorite) performance on vinyl. IMHO.

6. a) Optimistic Voices
b) Lullaby of Broadway (2:26)

7. In The Mood (2:37)

8. a) Uptown
b) Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)
c) Da Doo Ron Ron (3:22)

9. Twisted (2:23)

This song, written by Annie Ross and Wardell Gray, was also recorded by Joni Mitchell. When I was a DJ, the club I worked at put on a show called Wigstock. Because of the Joni Mitchell connection (She sang the song Woodstock.), I mixed together Joni's version and Bette's version of Twisted, got dressed up as Bette (my friend as Joni) and we gave the world the only public performance of Joni Mitchell and Bette Midler. We brought down the house at Wigstock South Beach.

10. Higher & Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) (4:08)

This beats Rita Coolidge by a mile and ties with Jackie Wilson.

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