Category Archives: Audio

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Audio: Bette Midler – Superstar – (Burt Bacharach Special) – 1973

Posted Oct 16, 2018 9:10 am by Mister D
Bette Midler – Superstar – (Burt Bacharach Special) – 1973
Bette Midler - Superstar - (Burt Bacharach Special) - 1973

Audio: Bette Midler – Superstar – (Burt Bacharach Special) – 1973

  • Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett wrote this song, which is about a woman who falls for a rock star, has a tryst with him, but then in a bout of delusion awaits his return, apparently falling for it when he said he loved her.
    The word “Groupie” was just entering the lexicon when Russell and Bramlett wrote this song in 1969; Rolling Stone popularized it when they titled the cover story of their February 15, 1969 issue “The Groupies and Other Girls.” Groupies were often romanticized and admired for their style and fashion, but they were also at times denigrated as rock star playthings with a loose grip on reality, which is how they are portrayed in this song.
  • Delaney & Bonnie were the first to record this song, releasing it as the B-side of their 1969 single “Comin’ Home.” At the time, the song was called “Groupie (Superstar).” Rita Coolidge then began performing the song on Joe Cocker’s 1970 Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. A young Bette Midler started performing the song later in the year, and Richard Carpenter heard the song for the first time when Bette Midler performed it on The Tonight Show. Richard knew it could be a hit for the Carpenters, so he reworked the song in their style and recorded it, resulting in the most successful version. (Thanks to Dan Levitin, who got this from an interview with Richard Carpenter.)
  • A line in the second verse was considered too lyrically risqué at the time and was changed by Richard Carpenter to better fit the duo’s image. The Carpenters’ version of the lyric, “And I can hardly wait to be with you again” is “And I can hardly wait to sleep with you again” in the original version.
  • Richard Carpenter received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for this song. It was the second of five nominations Carpenter received for his arrangements. He didn’t win any, although this is an impressive accomplishment. 
  • When the Carpenters version became a hit, Bette Midler took some shots at Karen Carpenter, often mocking her wholesome image. Karen claimed the jokes didn’t bother her, and after her death, Midler apologized in Redbook magazine and said she often thinks of Karen.
  • In 1987, a movie called Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story was released and shown at film festivals. The director, Todd Haynes, didn’t secure the rights to the songs, and the film was pulled after Richard Carpenter filed suit.
  • The alternative rock band Sonic Youth covered this in 1994 for the Carpenters tribute album If I Were A Carpenter. Released as a single with Redd Kross’ version of “Yesterday Once More” as the listed flip side, it peaked at #45 in the UK. Sonic Youth’s version later featured in the 2007 movie Juno where Jason Bateman’s character plays it to Juno. It is included on the film’s soundtrack.
  • In the movie Tommy Boy, Chris Farley and David Spade cry their eyes out listening to this song, which plays as they are driving along. They hit a moose before the song ends..
  • Luther Vandross did a medley of this song and “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” that reached #87 in 1984.
  • Ruben Studdard brought this song to a new audience when he performed it on Season 2 of American Idol. He won the competition, and “Superstar” was released as his first single along with “Flying Without Wings,” which for chart purposes was designated as the A-side and reached #2 behind “This Is The Night” from Clay Aiken, who finished second to Studdard on the show.
    • Read More

    Posted in Audio, Music | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment


     

    Wednesday, October 10, 2018

    Bette Midler – Moonlight Dancing (Enigmatic Dub with Acapella Intro) – Audio

    Posted Oct 10, 2018 9:10 am by Mister D

    Bette Midler – Moonlight Dancing (Enigmatic Dub with Acapella Intro) – Audio

    Moonlight Dancing by Bette Midler
    (From the album, Some People’s Lives)

    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit of moonlight dancin’
    Underneath the starry sky?
    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit of moonlight dancin’?
    Just the moon and you and i.
    Mmm, just the moon and you and i.
    Moonlight dancin’, mmm, moonlight dancin’.
    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit of late night romance
    Underneath the starry sky?
    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit of late night romance?
    Just the moon and you and i.
    Mmm, just the moon and you and i.
    Moonlight dancin’, mmm, moonlight dancin’.
    Ohh, nobody’s gonna be there.
    Ohh, so don’t you want to go where
    We could dance across the sky,
    Leave the world behind us?
    Nothin’ that we couldn’t do.
    Yeah, we could dance across the sky,
    Leave the world behind us.
    Just the moon and me and you.
    Mmm, just the moon and me and you.
    We could hide inside the rhythm
    ’til the morning finds us.
    Share a little ecstasy.
    Yeah, we could hide inside the rhythm
    ’til the morning finds us.
    If you come away with me
    I’ll show you how it feels to be
    Moonlight dancin’. mmm, moonlight dancin’.
    Oh, we gonna sail on the wind.
    Oh, so don’t you want to begin?
    Moonlight dancing, mmm, moonlight dancing.
    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit?
    How ’bout a little bit, a little bit of moonlight dancin’?
    Just the moon and you and i.
    Moonlight dancin, mmm, moonlight dancing.
    Ooooh, ahhh . . . Read More

    Posted in Audio, Music | Tagged , , | Leave a comment


     

    Wednesday, October 3, 2018

    Audio: Twist the Bones (Hocus Pocus) | JonnyJuke REMIX

    Posted Oct 3, 2018 10:10 am by Mister D
    Twist the Bones (Hocus Pocus) | JonnyJuke REMIX

    Hocus Pocus
    Audio: Twist the Bones (Hocus Pocus) | JonnyJuke REMIX
    Published on Oct 17, 2015
    Read More

    Posted in Audio, Music | Tagged , , | Leave a comment


     

    Saturday, September 29, 2018

    Audio: Bette Midler – I Put A Spell On You (Thee Werq’n B!tches Radio Edit)

    Posted Sep 29, 2018 6:09 pm by Mister D
    Bette Midler – I Put A Spell On You (Thee Werq’n B!tches Radio Edit)
    Posted in Audio, Music | Tagged | Leave a comment


     

    Tuesday, September 25, 2018

    Bette Midler Takes In Punk Icon Patti Smith’s New Show For Her New Audible Book (This should dispell rumors that they disliked one another)

    Posted Sep 25, 2018 11:09 am by Mister D

    Shutterstock
    Bette Midler Takes In Punk Icon Patti Smith’s New Show For Her New Audible Book
    September 23, 2018


    Just got back from Patti Smith at the Minetta Lane Theater, doing a new show for her new Audible book. She is so brilliant. What prose, what poetry and what a life!! I am in awe. – Bette Midler

    Audible Presents ‘Patti Smith: Words and Music’, New York
    23 September:  Those In Attendance Were –

    • Alexander Skarsgard\
    • Bette Midler
    • Calvin Klein
    • Ezra Miller
    • Lenny Kaye
    • Patti Smith
    • George Stroumboulopoulos

    Patti Smith takes the stage at the Minetta Lane Theatre for the second of her ‘Patti Smith: Words and Music’ performances on Sept. 23., 2018.

    “There are two ways to look at this: It’s a disaster — or it’s magical.” Read More

    Posted in audible books, Audio, Quotes, Special Events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment


     

    Sunday, September 16, 2018

    Audio: Tenterfield Saddler -Bette Midler – Kiss My Brass – Australia – 2005 – (The Real One)

    Posted Sep 16, 2018 11:09 am by Mister D

    Mister D: This version is quite different than the Peter Allen tribute. Mainly the key changes and the addition of the Harlettes. It really does bring the song to life and, yes, I would say it makes it more emotional and dramatic. I just wish the sound quality was better.

    Posted in Audio | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments


     

    Friday, September 14, 2018

    Audio Info Updatd: Bette Midler – Tenterfield Saddler – Peter Allen Tribute – February 10 1993 at UCLA’s Royce – 1993

    Posted Sep 14, 2018 3:09 pm by Mister D
    Audio: Bette Midler - Tenterfield Saddler - Kiss My Brass Down Under - 2004

    Update: I originally had this listed as the KMB version, but with a couple of people bringing things to my attention and listening to the tape, I’m convinced it was the Tribute and she got a do-over. I do have the Down Under tape somewhere because I’ve posted it before. I promise i will do my best to find it. Sorry, I know this is disappointing to some of you, so but it still is a beautiful version, Now I shall continue my ques 

    Posted in Audio, Kiss My Brass | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments


     

    Tuesday, September 4, 2018

    Audio: Mashup Of Bette Midler’s ‘Bottomless Love’ & The Fly’s ‘Got You Where I Want You’ Please Leave Comments. I’m Curious! LoL

    Posted Sep 4, 2018 4:09 pm by Mister D
    Bette Midler
    Mashup Of Bette Midler’s ‘Bottomless Love’ & The Fly’s ‘Got You Where I Want You’
    The Flys
    Posted in Audio, Music, Videos | Tagged | Leave a comment


     

    Thursday, August 30, 2018

    Audio: IT: Bette Midler Talks About Her Father’s Favorite Song And One Of Hers

    Posted Aug 30, 2018 12:08 pm by Mister D

    Soundcloud
    Bette Midler Talks About Her Father’s Favorite Song And One Of Hers – 2010 (?)

    Bette Midler is The Rose

    Posted in Audio | Leave a comment


     

    Tuesday, August 14, 2018

    Audio: BETTE MIDLER – FEVER – KENNETH RIVERA 2015 PRIDE MASH

    Posted Aug 14, 2018 5:08 pm by Mister D
    BETTE MIDLER - FEVER - KENNETH RIVERA 2015 PRIDE MASH
    I Got The Fever!
    BETTE MIDLER – FEVER – KENNETH RIVERA 2015 PRIDE MASH
    Posted in Audio, Music, Pride | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment