Was slightly obsessed last week with Bette. Not the usual Bette (as in Davis) but with Bette (pronounced Bet unlike Davis who is pronounced Betty) but anyway.
I had spent an extremely lazy afternoon in David's watching trash tv with him and Stewart and eating trashier food - I saw an ad for Parkinson's chat show with guests Sharon Stone and Bette Midler. I love Sharon Stone but she was a bit boring in her interview although she did look good. Bette Midler sang a song from her Peggy Lee album and stayed for a chat. So it turns out that Bette Midler got her fame from singing in New York's gay saunas in the early 70s so there was a good sign right away. She said that she never saw a penis as they all had their towels on. I read up on it and a lot of the patrons of the saunas/bathhouses got pissed off after the novelty wore off as loads of straight people came to watch the show and the sex was overshadowed. I can relate being a sauna lover myself!
So they also mentioned Bette's first album "The Divine Miss M" and how wonderful it was so naturally I went on a rampage and got hold of 4 or 5 albums worth of early-ish Bette Midler and it really is Divine. Anyone who has heard Bette in action should start with this album. Her range of tracks from swing to gospel to pop to disco to soul to torch songs are fantastic. Camp isn't on the radar but ubercamp is which is why Bette Midler gets a post on here. She sang a discofied version of "Big Noise From Winnetka" which has to be heard to be believed although her torch "Do You Want To Dance" is just as amazing. Some people like Judy Garland or Ethel Merman or Liza Minnelli but I must say that Bette Midler floats my boat right now - I wonder if they play her records in saunas now?
2 comments:
I doubt it, but they so fuckin should!
If you haven't already(who am I kiddin!)experienced the Devine dvd releases of her live concerts, you simply must! Delores DeLago! Soph! Jocelyn Brown and Peg Bundy in one place? Superb!
Speaking of Bette, my friend was an extra in that crappy movie she was in with Woody Allen called 'Scenes from a Mall'. Granted, we were kids then, not much of a claim to fame if you ask me ;)
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