BetteBack January 18, 1980: Midler album strong effort

Santa Fe New Mexican
January 18, 1980
By DAVE MARSH
Rolling Stone
BETTE MIDLER: “Thighs and Whispers
Atlantic, 3 Stars.

DM020

Thanks to cohesive production from Arif Mardin, the first time Midler has settled down to one producer for an entire LP, this is one of her stronger efforts.

She’s completely ducking rock and roll material, which is unfortunate, but with the exception of a notably maudlin
“Millworker,” the James Taylor show tune, most of this material stays closer to Barbra Streisand pop than Judy Garland
gaucherie.

Hang on in There Baby,” the old Johnny Bristol hit, becomes an intentional? romantic farce, and Midler’s reading of
“Married Men” caps off her most competent, if hardly inspired, record in years.

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