Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook [DualDisc]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Bette Midler and musical director Barry Manilow follow their successful tribute to Rosemary Clooney with a collection of songs immortalized by Peggy Lee. It starts off with the inevitable "Fever," which Midler does in a brassy, finger-snapping way that would feel more at home at the Sands c. 1960 than in a dimly lit 1950s boudoir. It's a deliberate, clever choice that works for Midler. The selection hits predictable bases ("Is That All There Is?", "Big Spender") but it's hard to argue when those bases are so loaded. Midler actually sounds a lot more at ease than on the Clooney disc. She handles the upbeat material as well as could be expected, but she also shines on the slower numbers, delivering sultry takes on "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," "I'm a Woman," and "He's a Tramp" (a song copenned by Lee, from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp). The neglected gem in the collection is Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," popularized by Irene Dunne in 1937 before being covered by Lee. Manilow's arrangements are deliciously lush and Midler uses a slight vibrato at carefully chosen moments, somehow sounding as if she had suddenly been lifted back to the 1940s. It's a real treat that epitomizes an accomplished album. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Tracks:

Fever
Alright, Okay, You Win
I Love Being Here With You
Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
Is That All There Is?
I'm A Woman
He's A Tramp
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Big Spender
Mr. Wonderful

Amazon.com

Bette Midler and musical director Barry Manilow follow their successful tribute to Rosemary Clooney with a collection of songs immortalized by Peggy Lee. It starts off with the inevitable "Fever," which Midler does in a brassy, finger-snapping way that would feel more at home at the Sands c. 1960 than in a dimly lit 1950s boudoir. It's a deliberate, clever choice that works for Midler. The selection hits predictable bases ("Is That All There Is?", "Big Spender") but it's hard to argue when those bases are so loaded. Midler actually sounds a lot more at ease than on the Clooney disc. She handles the upbeat material as well as could be expected, but she also shines on the slower numbers, delivering sultry takes on "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," "I'm a Woman," and "He's a Tramp" (a song copenned by Lee, from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp). The neglected gem in the collection is Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," popularized by Irene Dunne in 1937 before being covered by Lee. Manilow's arrangements are deliciously lush and Midler uses a slight vibrato at carefully chosen moments, somehow sounding as if she had suddenly been lifted back to the 1940s. It's a real treat that epitomizes an accomplished album. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

I love Bette, but..........2007-05-14

I cannot tell you how disappointed I was in this album. I love Bette Midler and think she is one of the greatest entertainers we have today. But, my impression of this album was that she came into the studio, sang a few Peggy Lee songs, told them where to send the check and went home. To add insult to injury, there isn't a photo or anything else on the CD itself, just barely legible "This side up." Sorry Bette, in the future I'll stick to you singing your own material.

Miss Lee meer the divine Ms M.......2007-03-27

The trend in music lately is singers (Like Midler, Manilow, Rod Stewart)are recoring classics or standards. It seems to work, because it record sale magic.

Bette Midler has always been a great soulful singer, from the 1970's to present. Last year, Ms M took on the task for recording the Rosemary Clooney (that's George's aunt) songbook. This time she recorded the songs of Peggy Lee.

Lee has been a soulful jazz queen. Midler is one of the few singers today that could take on such Lee standards like "Fever", "He's a Tramp" , "Big Spender", and "Is that all there is?". Midler take on these pieces with such an aplome that you feel they were written today for Midler herself. The weakest song "The Folks who live on the Hill" does not fit Midler's vocal pattern range, she seem straining in that song. The duet with Barry Manilow on "I Love Being Here with you" reminds me of classic Ms M.

Talking about Manilow, who has recorded songs of the 1950, 1960, and the 1970, produced this CD for Midler. He has done a great job arranging & Producing this cd, Mailow make this seem so easy. It reminds that he was Midler's Piano man for years. He arranges these to suit her brassy style and it works so well

The DVD side has some rare Peggy Lee footage and interviews with Midler and others.

So, to quote Peggy Lee, "Is that all There is? Depressingly YES there is, and you want MORE

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

I love being here with Bette.......2006-07-20

Bette follows up her tribute to friend Rosemary Clooney, with a tribute to the great Peggy Lee. This set may not be as adventurous as the Rosie tribute, as the arrangements are very traditional (which suites these songs), however this is still a wonderful album. The ballads "the folks who live on the hill" and Harold Arlen's lovely "happiness is just a thing called Joe" are simply stunning and two of Bette's finest ever vocal performances. "fever" (revelatory interpretation) and "he's a tramp" come up a treat, and "I am w-o-m-a-n" is the divine Miss M in all her glory. Bette's been recording standards since `am I blue" on her first album (1972) and with the possible exception of Linda Ronstadt no rock singer sings the standards better then Bette and this album is a testament to that. Great songs, great arrangements, great singing, great album and a lovely tribute to a dearly missed singer (and songwriter).

FANTASTIC!.......2006-07-13

Bette midler has done justice to the talents of Peggy Lee! Not only does she add to the style of Peggy Lee, she embelishes it. An added feature are the DVD performances of some of the songs. Bette Midler's rendition of 'Is That All There Is' is unforgetable.

Defective product.......2006-04-20

I wish I knew if this recording was good or not. The dual format CD/DVD does not work. I thought the first defective and Amazon promptly replaced it. The newer version does not work either, it just clicks away. I tried it both in my MAC G4 as well as my Sony CD player. Nada. Invest your money is something that might actually work and avoid dual format.

Average customer rating:

Exceptional.... Bettte!
Is That All There Is?
I love being here with Bette
Mostly succeeds with minor missteps
Rushed out...ready -made...fast-food album..Let's get serious,please !

Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
Bette Midler
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000CD0P96
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Fever
Alright, Okay, You Wini
I Love Being Here With You
Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
Is That All There Is?
I'm A Woman
He's A Tramp
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Big Spender
Mr. Wonderful

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional.... Bettte!.......2007-05-26

What a great match... I am 47 and I found Ms. M to be at her best in this CD!
A blast!
Diane L. Donohue

Is That All There Is?.......2007-01-06

The title of this CD is "Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook". It should have been called "Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Pamphlet". There are only ten songs on the CD, which clocks in at little more than 30 minutes. Why so short? Certainly there are many more songs associated with Ms. Lee that Bette could have added. Even the old LPs of the 60s usually had 12 cuts, and CDs can contain far more material.

The material contained on this CD is a bit of mixed bag. Bette's tongue in cheek approach is perfect for "Fever" but totally wrong for "Is That All There Is". Her duet with Barry Manilow, "I Love Being Here With You" is as delightful as their "On a Slow Boat to China" from her Clooney tribute CD. In fact, a CD of duets of uptempo classics might not be a bad idea for these two troupers. "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe " is well sung, but it's not exactly a song strongly identified with Lee. "Alright, Okay, You Win" and "He's a Tramp" are just right and Bette is in comfortable territory with her snazzy delivery.

This is not a bad CD, just a disappoinment because it could have been so much more and Bette Midler has much more to offer than is evidenced here. A lost opportunity.

I love being here with Bette .......2006-07-20

Mostly succeeds with minor missteps.......2006-03-15

Bette Midler has come a long way from her debut album, THE DIVINE MISS M in 1973.

After Bette Midler's excellent Rosemary Clooney tribute, I had high expectations for her Peggy Lee tribute. An ambitious effort where many times Bette is up to the task, but not everything works (nor up to Peggy Lee's originals).

1) Fever - Excellent opening number, and Bette does enough unique vocal inflections to make this track her own, not a copycat. The arrangement is a lively band that supports Bette's vocals. I felt it was extremely good that she did not do a voice/bass version like Peggy Lee's hit version. This track leaves good expectations for the rest of the album.

2) Alright, Okay, You Win - And, win she did here. Again, enough inventiveness on her vocal part to make this a true testament while keeping her own artistic identity.

3) I Love Being Here With You (duet with Barry Manilow) - This track continues in the same excellent mode as the two preceding ones. And, Bette and Barry sound like they had a lot of fun with this track (plus, great arrangement by Barry).

4) Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe - I don't remember Peggy Lee recording this, much less being associated with this track (which I usually associate with Bessie Smith). Other than that, Bette gives a lovely and tender reading of this song.

5) Is That All There Is? - Okay, Bette tries very hard to live up to Peggy's, almost lackadaisical treatment of this song, but that's how it comes across: trying, but not quite accomplishing.

6) I'm A Woman - If I didn't know Peggy Lee's outstanding version, I'd have thought this was tailor-made for Bette. Perfect match of song and singer.

7) He's A Tramp - Cute `Oriental'-type piano intro that quotes Peggy's "Siamese Cat Song" (also from the film "Lady and the Tramp," which Peggy wrote and performed all the songs for), but after that, I felt that Bette didn't completely bring what this song needed. Not only did she keep the kitschy references to animals (which worked in the Disney film from 1955), which seemed out of place, but she also didn't seem as if she was really allowing herself to swing.

8) The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Another that I don't associate with Peggy Lee. This Berlin-penned tune is exquisite in and of itself, and Bette delivers a touching treatment.

9) Big Spender - In the pop-type arena, I've only really associated this song with Shirley Bassey, not Peggy Lee. But, considering the guts and `cojones' that Bette brings to this song, that's inconsequential; she's simply magnificent on this track.

10) Mr. Wonderful - And, wonderful is exactly how this track comes across. A perfect vocal performance, and also a positive way to end this album.

Bette, for the most part, succeeded in another excellent album. I only felt that 2 tracks didn't work for her (that means that 80% of the album was stellar). I *was* surprised to hear a change in Bette's vocal approach on some tracks. I don't remember hearing previously, but distinctly on a few tracks she sounded as if she was doing a slight Bette Davis-type glottal break on some words. Thankfully, not distracting, but unexpected.

In the final analysis, another great tribute album by The Divine Miss M. Now, let's hope the rumors that her next project will be a tribute to another excellent singer/songwriter, Laura Nyro, are true and come to fruition. Can't wait...

Rushed out...ready -made...fast-food album..Let's get serious,please !.......2006-01-23

I was not happy with her previous offering,the tribute to Clooney.
And this one is even worse,outrageously short and unfinished.
I understand that it's Christmas time and she wants to please her fans and sell thousands of copies...
But Peggy Lee deserved more than a quick and superficial reading.
This time Bette,at 60, can be just and only funnny,with all her hamming, simpering, blinking, winking, singing-over-the top....
Peggy was and is one of the most important jazz legends and Bette's tribute is simply parodistic,at most.
Please,just listen to a wonderful CD " Best of Miss Peggy Lee " on Capitol,1998.Now you know what I'm talking about..
This time the long tested formula Mr.Saccharine Vegas-Miss Divine Camp has not succeded.Listeners are are getting more and more conscious,educated and certainly a laugh,a smile is not enough to convince even her die-hard fans from the bathhouses era to buy an uninspired 30 minutes album.
I feel so sorry for Bette Midler,she can sing much better.
I just hope that her next project will not be a tribute to Mae West !!

Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook [SONY XCP CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD]

Average customer rating:

BEWARE - Sony is recalling this CD as it damages computers
Magical Carousel
another winner!
lovely!!!
Be Aware of Problems with this CD:

Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook [SONY XCP CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD]
Bette Midler
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

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ASIN: B000BBOFOA
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Fever
Alright, Okay, You Wini
I Love Being Here With You
Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
Is That All There Is?
I'm A Woman
He's A Tramp
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Big Spender
Mr. Wonderful

Customer Reviews:

BEWARE - Sony is recalling this CD as it damages computers.......2005-11-17

Sony just disclosed that this CD contains the XCP copy protection infection if played on a PC. The CD installs dangerous rootkit software on the PC, that cannot currently be removed, exposes the PC to viruses and send the users listening habits to Sony on an ongoing basis.

Sony has said they will stop selling 52 CDs immediately, including this one, but Amazon is apparently still selling it? Also, Sony will refund/replace this CD with one without copy protection if requested.
[...]

Magical Carousel.......2005-11-14

Barry Manilow had a dream that he worked with Bette on a Rosemary Clooney tribute. After that disc's success, he next dreamed they worked together honoring Peggy Lee. Miss Peggy Lee had three songs that charted between 1956-1969. Bette Midler's excellent disc places them like diamonds in a setting starting, ending and smack dab in the middle. "Fever" was Lee's signature song that climbed into the top ten in 1958. With Manilow's arrangement complete with finger snaps, Steve Cotter's twang guitar and punchy horn chart compliment Midler's vocal sass, "Romeo loved Juliet; Juliet, she felt the same; When he put his arms around her, he said, 'Julie baby, you're my flame.'" The set ends with her 1956 reading from the title song of the musical "Mr. Wonderful" that topped at #14 on the charts. Bette's voice woos us with Ray Ellis' lullaby arrangement and Bette's soothing, "Mr. Wonderful, I love you." Lee's last top ten entry "Is That All There Is" came in 1969 penned by Leiber & Stoller. Bette's makes us feel like we're on life's carousel swirling magically in a timeless romance that ends all too soon. The next track is also a Leiber & Stoller gem with Bette delivering the vocal payload in "I'm A Woman," "If you come to me hungry, I'll fill you full of grits; If it's loving you're lacking, I'll kiss you & give you the shivering fits." Barry Manilow's arrangement of "Big Spender" from the musical "Sweet Charity" pops and accents Bette who adopts a provocative playful vocal persona, "How's about a few laughs, I can show you a good time." "Alright, Okay, You Win" swings without mercy and is a delightful jewel. The Peggy Lee-penned "I Love Being Here With You" has a great playful vocal between Barry Manilow and Bette. I truly enjoyed the Maria Muldaur tribute to Peggy Lee from 2003, "A Woman Alone with the Blues." That disc inspired me to seek out 5 Peggy Lee albums, which prepared me to fully appreciate how Bette Midler adopts the music and makes it live joyfully, a wonderful homage. This is another excellent outing from Bette Midler! Bravo!

another winner!.......2005-11-12

Equally great as the Rosemary Clooney record! Midler shines on these classics, and it's a pleasure to have someone like her reinventing these songs! "Is That All There Is" is even better than the original. Speaking of originality: Bette always is herself, and not just imitating Peggy Lee, but she still is true to the original spirit. That's hard, even though Milder makes it seem so easy!

lovely!!!.......2005-11-12

Bette Midler still has one of the best voices in the whole business! A great album that fits her perfectly! Standout track is "Is That All There Is", sad, slightly cynical, yet full of hope. The arrangements swing and the performances are all top notch! Bette is getting older with a lot of style, as this record shows! Amazon lists it as one of the year's best: I completely agree!

Be Aware of Problems with this CD:.......2005-11-12

Anyone who is thinking of buying this CD should know that it was in the news yesterday that Viruses are now exploiting Sony's CD anti-piracy scheme. Sony's controversial copy-protection program is now being targeted by malicious software that exploits the antipiracy technology's ability to hide files. The security and integrity of my computer is important to me. Thanks Sony!

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