I was among the more naïve freshman among the naïve freshmen at the all-male St. Anthony’s High School when Bette Midler released her first album and I could not resist. No, it wasn’t cool in 1972 to be listening to her, but how could you not?
And what story…she arrived in New York City from Hawaii, grabbed a few roles on Broadway, including Fiddler on the Roof, and started singing in the at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in the basement of the Ansonia Hotel. He piano player? Barry Manilow.
Bobby Freeman wrote this song and had a hit with it in 1958. Others took a whack, including Cliff Richard and the Beach Boys before Midler turned into this sultry torch song.
On a side note, the Ford Motor Company wanted her to sing it for a car commercial (because of course they did). She refused, so they signed her back up singer Ula Hedwig to sing in the commercial. Midler sued for voice impersonation and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Midler and made Ford pull the advertisement. All this long before we had AI recreating voices.
#Songoftheday #spreadinghappiness #BetteMidler
YouTube: https://youtu.be/gtZX56T6Bcc?si=azwySPhbDA5smg6f
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Hyis7pyTBDyR3zq4GNZCu?si=eadd06f483914981