Latest
Updates Will Appear At The Top Of The Page The
CD will be a Tribute to the Great Rosemary
Clooney Sony
Sound Clips The
New CD is entitled: Bette
Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook Also
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10-17-03:
NEW
YORK — The latest Bette Midler CD is not a Bette Midler CD, at least, not according
to Midler. "This is Barry's record," she insists. Though Midler was a longtime admirer of Clooney, who died last year of lung cancer, it was Manilow's idea to have his old friend, accompanied by a full orchestra, cover material that Clooney recorded back in the '50s. "When Barry and I first worked together, we fought like cats and dogs," Midler recalls. "We were always at each other's throats because we're both control freaks. But this time, I was grown-up enough to say, 'This is your baby.' I just sang." In addition to co-producing and co-arranging, Manilow sings and plays piano on the winking On a Slow Boat to China. Other tracks range from traditional pop classics, such as You'll Never Know and In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, to the bouncy novelty tunes Mambo Italiano and Come On-a My House. "Whether she liked a song or not, she sang it like it was the greatest thing ever written," Midler says of Clooney, whom she knew personally. "She was full of human kindness that showed in her music. When I first met her, she made me feel like I was a long-lost cousin. Then I discovered she was like that to everybody. "She kept going through health problems and everything, and she didn't let you see her sweat. It's really hard to sing her kind of material. You need a beautiful voice and a good ear and breath control, and you have to know what the lyric is about. But she came from the generation of people who made it all look effortless." Midler will tackle Clooney's repertoire live beginning Dec. 10, when she launches her Kiss My Brass tour, which is scheduled to hit 40 cities before wrapping in mid-February. "I made my name performing live, and I think I do well in that arena," she says. "It can be stressful, but it never lets me down." In contrast, Bette, her short-lived CBS sitcom in 2000, was "a source of tremendous frustration," she concedes. "I went into it without knowing what was required, and I never really discovered how to make it work. I was so unhappy that I couldn't be around people without screaming about how upsetting it was. So I shot myself in the foot. But everybody makes mistakes. Mine was a very expensive one, and I take responsibility for it. It's just not my field." Midler hasn't forsaken big-screen acting, though. She'll appear next year in a new version of The Stepford Wives, co-starring Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close and Matthew Broderick. "The movie has been updated, so now it's a comedy. It's still haunting and horrific, but very funny, too." Behind the scenes, Midler continues to work on behalf of the New York Restoration Project, an organization she founded in 1997 to restore neglected public spaces, and to raise 16-year-old daughter, Sophie, who could be following in her mother's footsteps. "For a long time, I told her if she ever went into show business I would kill her," Midler says. "But about two years ago, I said, if you really want to, you can. She plays classical piano, she's a good singer, and she just loves the music business. She wants to be part of it." Asked to define her own role, the show-biz veteran says, "I'm an entertainer. For a long time, I'd say I was an actor. Then, when I couldn't get a job acting, I said I was a singer. But basically, I take what comes my way and make some work on my own. And fortunately, I'm still having fun with it." August 25, 2003
Photo: Ron Galella, 1998 Press Release Source: Columbia Records Columbia
Records Ready To Release Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney NEW
YORK, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Records will release Bette "I
have loved Rosemary Clooney for as long as I can remember," wrote Bette Ms.
Midler's enthusiasm is echoed by Barry Manilow: "When I was thinking One
of the world's best-loved and most versatile entertainers, Bette Her
SRO tours have placed historically in the Top 5 grossing concerts in a Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook 1.
You'll Never Know Piano: Randy Waldman Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1952 2.
This Ole House Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954 3.
On A Slow Boat To China (Duet with Barry Manilow) Piano:
Steve Welch and Barry Manilow Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby in 1958 4.
Hey There Piano:
Steve Welch Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954 5.
Tenderly Piano:
Steve Welch Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1951 6.
Come On-A My House Harpsichord:
Randy Waldman Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1951 7.
Mambo Italiano Piano/Keyboards/Drums:
Robbie Buchanan Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954 8.
Sisters (Duet with Linda Ronstadt) Piano:
Randy Waldman Originally recorded by Rosemary and Betty Clooney in 1954 9.
Memories Of You Piano:
Steve Welch Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1955 10.
In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening Piano:
Steve Welch Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1952 11.
White Christmas Piano, Celesta: Robbie Buchanan Originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954
May
31, 2003
Why, it's Jenny McCarthy!!!!! How
on earth did that happen.....she looks good, though!!! May 31, 2003 Let's
see....we have found out so far that there will be at least 2 duets with Barry
Manilow and one duet with a big, I'm presuming that I have already made my prediction of whom I think the female vocalist will be: k.d. lang If not Miss Thang, then I'm going with, Linda Ronstadt. Both are big admirers of Ms. Clooney and both are what I would call singer's singers. Very well-respected. The song I predict they will do is: "Sisters" Thanks
to Mr. Vilanch, Kathy, and Manilow Fan for all their help
As
Bette stated on the Caroline Rhea show, her new CD will be a tribute to the late,
great Rosemary Clooney. This will also be a historic CD in that it brings Bette
back together with longtime collaborator, musical director...the fantabulous,
Barry Manilow! Barry will produce and appear on the CD, according to my fave source,
Mister V. They begin recording this week! So that is exciting news...hopefully
this means the CD will be out before the tour starts in November. Mister Manilow
will not be going on the road with Bette....we can't have everything!
The
hard part now will be deciding what songs will be on the album. Ms. Clooney had
a very, very long and illustrious career, and Ms. M has performed many songs already
sung by Ms. Clooney.....so let the guessing game begin. For starters, everyone
should check out Ms. Clooney's website: The
Rosemary Clooney Palladium Right off the top of my head, I'd like to hear recorded versions of "Sentimental Journey", "Come On A My House", "Blues In The Night", Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", "I'll Be Seeing You", "What'll I Do", "My Buddy", "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"....the list is endless...so everyone needs to do some Rosie Research and see which songs seem to fit Bette Best! A Little Background on Rosemary Clooney from the All Music Guide
And
that's her partner on this new album. It's Bette and Barry together again. And
guess what they're doing? Guess. Just guess. You'll never guess. And that's why
Our Father, which art in the editor's office, put me here. To bless you, my children,
with this information. They'll do an album of Rosie Clooney tunes. Sony Music. |
Here
is the Track List for the new CD. Thanks go to Kathy who administers the 
To
help yourself keep up with all of this, you might try to visit these sites on
occasion, for I don't see myself doing this site much more longer than maybe through
the summer: 
means
famous, girl singer. The album will be released by Columbia and and according
to 
May
18, 2003
May
6, 2003
Vocalist
Rosemary Clooney's rise to fame in the '50s came on the strength of songs that
in many instances were without question novelty tunes; she's not a vocal improviser
like Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, or Sarah Vaughan. She is an excellent lyric interpreter,
has fine timing, phrases skillfully and intelligently, and performs with the dramatic
quality evident among all great singers. Her background and foundation are jazz,
even if her technique doesn't always adhere to rigid jazz scrutiny. Clooney entered
amateur events with her sister Betty in Cincinnati, and they sang on radio stations.
The duo worked in Tony Pastor's band during the late '40s, then Clooney started
as a soloist. She joined the Columbia roster in 1950, and made several hits for
them, among them "You're Just in Love," "Beautiful Brown Eyes,"
"Half as Much," "Hey There," "This Ole House," the
number one hit "Come On-A My House" co-written by Ross Bagdasarian of
Chipmunks fame, and "If Teardrops Were Pennies." Clooney had 13 Top
40 hits in the early '50s, among them duets with Guy Mitchell and Marlene Dietrich.
She also appeared in such films as The Stars Are Singing, Here Come the Girls,
White Christmas, and Red Garters in 1953 and 1954. Clooney recorded with Benny
Goodman Sextet, the Hi-Lo's, and Duke Ellington in the '50s. She moved to RCA
in the '60s, and recorded with Bing Crosby. There were also dates for Coral, Reprise,
and Capitol, among them another session with Crosby. The rock revolution and a
decision to spend more time with her family resulted in Clooney going into semi-retirement.
She returned in the late '70s, singing with renewed power and confidence while
making swing-influenced dates and combo sessions for Concord. She's maintained
that relationship through the '80s and '90s, doing standards, repertory albums,
and demonstrating a resiliency and energy that validates her position among the
fine jazz-based vocalists in American music. ~ Ron Wynn and Bill Dahl, All
Music Guide
Cindy
Adams