Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook
Cabaret icon Bette Midler reunites with her old piano partner Barry Manilow for the first time in over 30 years to toast one of their mutual idols on Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook Clooney was one of the top jazz pop vocalists of the '50s whose clear, bright tone, impeccable melodicism, and smiling, girl-next-door image came together to make classics out of tunes like "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" and "Hey There" -- both covered here. In that tradition, Midler s plucky blonde persona and genre-crossing style and Manilow s modern day blend of Mercer and Porter make this album work -- most of the time. Mostly what you get is the Divine Miss M and "Mister Manila," as Midler affectionately refers to Manilow returning to their '70s New York roots on "On a Slow Boat to China," a solid and classy version of "Sisters" with Linda Ronstadt taking the Betty Clooney role, and a very Dixie Chicks-esque contemporary bluegrass reworking of "This Ole House." Least of all, you get limp, hip-hop lite arrangements of "Come On-A My House" and "Mambo Italiano," which only serve to drain the songs of any swing and makes the twee-period lyrics all the more cloying. Nonetheless, Midler -- who can carry a tune on personality alone -- sounds elegant and alive here and Manilow s classy orchestral arrangements frame the proceedings with the urbane glow of nostalgia for a time -- be it the '50s or the '70s -- when a big band a great song, and blonde with a nice voice were all you needed for a good time. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
Loading...
Credits »
Bette Midler - Main Performer
Barry Manilow - Arranger
Barry Manilow - Producer
Barry Manilow - Concept
Patrick Williams - Arranger
Patrick Williams - Conductor
Bruce Dukov - Concert Master
Robbie Buchanan - Arranger
Robbie Buchanan - Producer
Jorge Calandrelli - Arranger
Jorge Calandrelli - Conductor
Ray Ellis - Arranger
Ray Ellis - Conductor
Marc Hulett - Associate Producer
Garry Kief - Executive Producer
Jay Landers - Executive Producer
David Low - Orchestra Contractor
Charles Peterson - Photography
Doug Sax - Mastering
Bill Schnee - Engineer
Bill Schnee - Mixing
Peter Fletcher - Photography
Gail Marowitz - Art Direction
Gail Marowitz - Design
Scott Erickson - Associate Producer
Scott Erickson - Assistant Engineer
Robert Hadley - Mastering
Ian Cuttler - Design
Ryan Petrie - Assistant Engineer
Clayton Haslop - Concert Master
Gordon Berg - Music Preparation
Michael O'Neill - Cover Photo
Peiling Sim - Music Preparation
Junko Tamura - Music Preparation
Jill Hattersley - Assistant
Bill Edwards - Music Preparation
Jonathan Barrick Griffiths - Music Preparation
Danny Perito - Music Preparation
Related Artists »
The Boswell Sisters
Judy Garland
The Andrews Sisters
