Maps of Music

Divine Madness (1980)

Where the lyrics of Divine Madness take you, and where it was really made.

The album has no comedy: Midler's stage routines were left out, and only the musical performances from the concert film remain.

Key places

Mixing at Sunset Sound (1980)

Recording site Sunset Sound — The album was mixed at Sunset Sound, together with Record One, according to the album credits. The credits name the studio but give no exact date for the session. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Remixing at Atlantic Studios (1980)

Recording site Atlantic Studios (New York City) — The album was remixed at Atlantic Studios in New York, together with Regent Sound Studios. The credits name both studios for the remix work but give no exact date. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Divine Madness: album by American singer Bette Midler and the Harlettes, released in 1980
• Live recording taken from Midler's Divine Madness concert film, released the same year
• No comedy routines; only musical performances from the show
• Only half of the songs that appear in the film
• Original live recordings were largely edited and re-recorded in the studio for the soundtrack

Background

• Tracks include 'Big Noise From Winnetka' from Midler's disco album Thighs and Whispers
• Standards include 'Shiver Me Timbers', 'Chapel of Love', 'Leader of The Pack' and 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy'
• Two tracks from the film The Rose, 'Stay With Me' and 'Fire Down Below', released earlier in 1980
• 'Fire Down Below' was not originally included on the soundtrack
• Closing rock covers: Bruce Springsteen's 'E Street Shuffle', The Rolling Stones' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released'
• The final film excluded 'My Mother's Eyes', despite its single release
• 'Shiver Me Timbers' was not featured in the home video release (VHS or DVD)
• Footage of these songs has not been restored
• The soundtrack leaves out 'Do You Want to Dance?', 'Ready to Begin Again', 'My Way', 'To the South Seas/Hawaiian War Chant', 'Ebb Tide', 'The Rose' and all monologues

Recording

• Concert recording made at Wally Heider Studios
• Mixed at Sunset Sound and Record One
• Remixed at Regent Sound Studios and Atlantic Studios
• Dennis Kirk credited as record producer and sound engineer
• Tony Berg and Randy Kerber credited as musical arrangers and supervisors
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman
• Background vocals by Luther Vandross and others; Michael Boddicker on synthesizers

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Born December 1, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii; American actress, comedian, singer, and author.
• Moved to New York City in 1965 and began in off-off-Broadway plays, then appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and Salvation on Broadway in the late 1960s.
• Rose to prominence in 1970 singing at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in New York, where she built a core following.
• Debut album The Divine Miss M (1972) earned the 1973 Grammy for Best New Artist.
• Starred in the film The Rose (1979), earning an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe.
• Won Record of the Year for "Wind Beneath My Wings" from the film Beaches (1988).
• Has over 30 million records sold worldwide, with 14 solo studio albums since 1970.
• Received a Tony Award for Hello, Dolly! (2017 Broadway revival) and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2021.

Activism

• Founded the New York Restoration Project in 1995 to revitalize neglected parks in disadvantaged New York neighborhoods.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album, like the movie itself, was a moderate commercial success
• Released in 1980 as the live soundtrack to Midler's Divine Madness concert film
• Contains only the musical performances from the show, with no comedy routines
• Presented under the credit Bette Midler and the Harlettes

Records

• Billboard album chart: peak at number 34
• Released on CD for the first time in 1989
• Remastered version released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995
• Discogs copyright line: ℗ © 1980 Atlantic Recording Corporation
• Discogs lists the full release title as Bette Midler in Divine Madness
• Discogs notes a version made in Germany and a similar version with a different price code

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Trivia

• 'My Mother's Eyes' was released as a single but left out of the final film, and its footage has not been restored
• 'Shiver Me Timbers' was not included in the home video release on either VHS or DVD
• 'Big Noise From Winnetka' comes from Midler's disco album Thighs and Whispers
• Tom Waits wrote 'Shiver Me Timbers', Bob Seger wrote 'Fire Down Below', and Tom Jans wrote 'My Mother's Eyes'
• Luther Vandross is among the background vocalists

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact