CD and CD-DVD (DualDisc)
Columbia, US
Release date October 25, 2005
Columbia Records will release Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbookas both a traditional CD and as a DualDisc on Tuesday, October 25.
Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook reunites Bette with producer Barry Manilow, her original piano accompanist and musical director. In 2003, Manilow — who produced Midler’s first two breakthrough albums, The Divine Miss M (1972) and Bette Midler (1973) — helmed Bette’s Grammy-nominated, RIAA gold-certified Columbia Records debut, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook, her highest-charting album of the SoundScan era.
A note from Peggy’s family
We’re thrilled that Bette and Barry have paid tribute to Mama Peggy in this wonderful way. We hope you enjoy Barry’s amazing song layouts and Bette’s poignant interpretations as much as we do. We also hope you enjoy seeing the personal side of Mama on the never-before-seen home movie footage. There has not been a Lee or Barbour family member who has watched the DVD who hasn’t been moved to tears. The combination of the images of Mama combined with Bette’s expressive and touching performances are very powerful. We were fans of Bette’s long before she paid tribute to Mama, but upon hearing her great versions of Mama’s songs, we’re now even bigger fans. She has shown such respect to Mama and her music, and for that we will be forever grateful.
Love,
Nicki and family
Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook pays tribute to the enduring brilliance and fantastic range of one of the most alluring female jazz vocal stylists of all time, Miss Peggy Lee. Bette Midler conjures soulful interpretations of Peggy Lee’s most memorable songs including the Grammy-winning signature tunes “Fever” and “Is That All There Is?” as well as “Alright, Okay, You Win,” “I Love Being Here with You” (duet with Barry Manilow), “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe,” “I’m a Woman,” “He’s a Tramp,” “The Folks who Live on the Hill,” “Big Spender,” and “Mr. Wonderful.”
The DualDisc edition of Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbookincludes a DVD side with all ten album tracks in enhanced PCM stereo, five complete songs including a version of “Is That All There Is?” recorded live-in-the-studio, never-before-seen home movie footage of Peggy Lee, archival TV and film appearances by Peggy Lee, and interviews with Bette Midler and Peggy Lee’s daughter, Nicki Lee Foster, and granddaughter, Holly Foster-Wells.
One of the world’s best-loved and most versatile entertainers, Bette Midler has garnered accolades in all quarters of show business. She’s earned four Grammy Awards including Song of the Year (1989: “Wind Beneath My Wings”; 1990: “From a Distance”) and Record of the Year (1989: “Wind Beneath My Wings”); two Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nine American Comedy Awards. Her SRO tours have placed historically in the top five grossing concerts in a calendar year. Ms. Midler has sold more than 14 million albums over the course of her career and holds 25 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA for her albums and singles including her most recent gold album, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook.
CD tracks
1. Fever
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1958
2. Alright, Okay, You Win
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1958
3. I Love Being Here with You (duet with Barry Manilow)
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1960
4. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe (from the musical Cabin in the Sky)
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1947
5. Is That All There Is?
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1969
6. I’m a Woman
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1962
7. He’s a Tramp (from Walt Disney’s Lady and the Tramp)
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1954
8. The Folks who Live on the Hill
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1957
9. Big Spender (from the musical Sweet Charity)
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1965
10. Mr. Wonderful (from the musical Mr. Wonderful)
Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in 1956
DVD tracks (on DualDisc release only)
1. I’m a Woman / Bette’s Intro
2. Peggy Lee, the Woman and Performer
3. He’s a Tramp
4. Peggy Lee, the Songwriter
5. Fever
6. Peggy Lee, the Romantic
7. The Folks who Live on the Hill
8. About “Is That All There Is?”
9. Is That All There Is?
10. I Love Being Here with You / End Credits
| Buy DualDisc (CD-DVD): | Go to Sony Music Store |
| Buy Traditional CD: | Go to Sony Music Store |
Bette Midler (official website)
Barry Manilow (official website)