Bootleg Betty
Video: Bette Midler Sings Tom Waits Rainbow Sleeve – Divine Madness – 1980
By Mister D
Oct. 5, 2024
The omission of “Rainbow Sleeves” from the “Divine Madness” DVD and soundtrack could be attributed to several reasons, often stemming from artistic, contractual, or logistical decisions made during the production process:
Artistic Vision and Album Cohesion: Bette Midler or her production team might have decided that “Rainbow Sleeves” did not fit the overall theme or flow of the album. Live performances often include a variety of songs, but when curating an album, choices are made to ensure thematic or stylistic consistency.
Licensing and Rights Issues: Sometimes, performing a song live does not automatically grant the rights to include it on an album or DVD. If “Rainbow Sleeves” was covered from another artist, permissions might not have been secured or renewed for its inclusion on the soundtrack.
Space and Time Constraints: When “Divine Madness” was produced, physical formats like vinyl or early CDs limited the content that could be included. Similarly, DVDs had runtime considerations. If “Rainbow Sleeves” was deemed less iconic or central to Midler’s image than other tracks, it might have been one of the cuts made to fit within these constraints.
Recording Quality: Live recordings might not always capture every song perfectly. If there were technical issues with the recording of “Rainbow Sleeves,” or if the performance wasn’t up to the standards desired for a commercial release, it might have been excluded.
Strategic Omissions for Special Releases: Sometimes, artists or labels hold back certain tracks for future releases or special editions. In Midler’s case, this doesn’t seem to align with her usual practices for “Divine Madness,” but it’s a general strategy in the music industry.
Personal or Emotional Reasons: Occasionally, an artist might choose not to include a song due to personal feelings about how it was received during the performance, or if it holds a particular emotional significance that they prefer not to share widely.
From the information available, Bette Midler or her team has not made a definitive statement specifically explaining why “Rainbow Sleeves” was omitted. However, these common industry practices offer plausible explanations. If there was a specific reason, it might be detailed in interviews, behind-the-scenes commentary, or liner notes of special editions of “Divine Madness,” which could provide more insight but would require direct quotes or further investigation beyond the general contexts provided.