The Divine Miss M
The Divine Miss M is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Bette Midler, released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records label. The title of the album refers to Midler's famous stage persona.
The Divine Miss M | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 7, 1972 | |||
Recorded | 1971/1972 | |||
Studio | Atlantic Recording Studios (New York, New York) | |||
Genre | Pop, pop rock, traditional pop | |||
Length | 41:03 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer | Ahmet Ertegün, Barry Manilow, Joel Dorn, Geoffrey Haslam | |||
Bette Midler chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Divine Miss M | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | A–[2] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was co-produced by Barry Manilow, and includes several songs that since have become repertoire standards, such as "Do You Want to Dance?", "Chapel of Love", "Hello In There", "Friends" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".
The Divine Miss M reached the Top Ten on Billboard's album chart and was later awarded a Platinum Disc by the RIAA. In 1973, the album won Midler a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. "Do You Want to Dance?", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Friends" were all Top 40 hit singles from the album, with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" climbing to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
The album was released on CD for the first time in 1990. A remastered version of the album was released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995.
A remastered deluxe edition was released in October 2016.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Do You Want to Dance" | Bobby Freeman | 2:44 |
2. | "Chapel of Love" | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | 2:55 |
3. | "Superstar" | Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell | 5:11 |
4. | "Daytime Hustler" | Jeff Kent | 3:34 |
5. | "Am I Blue" | Harry Akst, Grant Clarke | 5:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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6. | "Friends" | Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart | 2:50 |
7. | "Hello in There" | John Prine | 4:17 |
8. | "Leader of the Pack" | George Morton, Barry, Greenwich | 3:30 |
9. | "Delta Dawn" | Larry Collins, Alex Harvey | 5:18 |
10. | "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" | Don Raye, Hughie Prince | 2:25 |
11. | "Friends" | Klingman, Linhart | 2:54 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Chapel of Love" (Single Mix) | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | 2:44 |
2. | "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Single Version) | Don Raye, Hughie Prince | 2:18 |
3. | "Do You Want to Dance?" (Single Mix) | Bobby Freeman | 2:55 |
4. | "Friends" (Single Mix) | Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart | 2:59 |
5. | "Old Cape Cod" (Earliest Recording & Mix) | Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus, Allan Jeffrey | 2:52 |
6. | "Marahuana" (Earliest Recording & Mix) | Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow | 2:32 |
7. | "Superstar" (Alternate Recording) | Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell | 5:08 |
8. | "Saturday Night" (Demo) | Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey | 3:09 |
9. | "Mr. Freedom & I" (Demo) | Mark Klingman | 3:01 |
Personnel
- Bette Midler – lead vocals
- Cissy Houston – backing vocals, track: A1
- Tender Loving Care (Renelle Broxton, Diedre Tuck, Beverly McKenzie) – backing vocals, track: A1
- Gail Kantor – backing vocals, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Melissa Manchester – backing vocals, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Merle Miller – backing vocals, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Barry Manilow – piano & rhythm track
- Pat Rebillot – piano, track B1
- Dickie Frank – guitar
- David Spinozza – guitars
- Ron Carter – bass guitar
- Michael Federal – bass guitar, backing vocals track B4
- Ray Lucas – drums
- Kevin Ellman – drums
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion instruments
- Thom Bell – horn and string arrangement, track A1
- Gene Orloff – violin, track B1
- Emanuel Green – violin, track B1
- Selwart Clarke – viola, track B1
- Kermit Moore – cello, track B1
- William S. Fischer – string arrangement, track B1
- Don Arnone – guitar, track B5
- Dick Hyman – piano, track B5
- Milton Hinton – bass, track B5
- Ted Sommer – drums, track B5
- Marty Nelson – vocal arranger, track B5
- Arif Mardin – arrangement, track B5
Production
- Ahmet Ertegün – producer, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Barry Manilow – producer, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Geoffrey Haslam – producer, tracks: A2 to A4, B3, B4, B6
- Joel Dorn – producer, tracks: A1, A5, B1, B2, B5
- Lew Hahn – recording engineer
- Barry Manilow – musical arranger, musical conductor
- Richard Amsel – cover illustration
- Richard Mantel – cover art direction & design
- Kenn Duncan – backliner photo
- Remixed by: Geoffrey Haslam, Lew Hahn, Bob Liftin
- Remixed at Regent Sound Studios and Atlantic Studios
- Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York.
Charts
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 10 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] | 5 |
Japanease Albums (Oricon)[6] | 58 |
US Billboard 200[7] | 9 |
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[8] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[9] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- Buss, Bryan. The Divine Miss M at AllMusic
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 7, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- O'Brien, Lucy (March 1996). "Bette Midler". Q: 116.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4794". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- "Bette Midler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- "Canadian album certifications – Bette Midler – The Divine Miss M". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- "American album certifications – Bette Midler – The Divine Miss M". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 December 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.