1977 Bette Midler – Broken Blossom
Broken Blossom is the fourth studio album by American singer Bette Midler, her second album release in 1977 and her fifth on the Atlantic Records label. Just as Midler’s three previous studio albums Broken Blossom includes songs from a wide variety of genres, ranging from Edith Piaf’s signature tune “La vie en rose”, Phil Spector-esque covers of Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” and Harry Nilsson’s “Paradise” and hard rock like Sammy Hagar’s “Red”, to a jazzy duet with Tom Waits, “I Never Talk to Strangers”, and a rendition of “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes”, originally from Walt Disney’s 1950 film version of Cinderella. The album reached #51 on Billboard’s album chart.
The album was digitally remastered and reissued on CD by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995 but with no bonus tracks.
Tracks
1 Make Yourself Comfortable (Bob Merill) 3:59
2 You Don’t Know Me (Eddy Arnold, Cindy Walker) 3:38
3 Say Goodbye To Hollywood (Billy Joel) 3:00
4 I Never Talk To Strangers (Tom Waits) 3:37
5 Storybook Children (David Pomeranz, Spencer Proffer) 3:22
6 Red (John Carter, Sammy Hagar) 3:18
7 Empty Bed Blues (JC Johnson) 3:18
8 A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Mack David) 3:08
9 Paradise (Perry Botkin Jr, Gil Garfield, Harry Nilsson) 4:13
10 Yellow Beach Umbrella (Craig Doerge, Judy Henske) 4:24
11 La Vie En Rose (Mack David, Louiguy, Edith Piaf) 3:00
Biography
Musicians
1 Make Yourself Comfortable
| Bass | Leland Sklar |
| Drums | Russ Kunkel |
| Guitar | Lee Ritenour |
| Keyboards | Craige Doerge |
| Sax | Jim Horn |
| Percussion | Alan Estes |
| Background Vocals | Donny Gerrard |
| Background Vocals | Russell, Brian |
| Background Vocals | Chuck Higgins |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
2 You Don’t Know Me
| Bass | Leland Sklar |
| Drums | Russ Kunkel |
| Guitar | Lee Ritenour |
| Keyboards | Craige Doerge |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Russell |
| Background Vocals | Clydie King |
| Background Vocals | Diane Brooks |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
3 Say Goodbye To Hollywood
| Bass | Chuck Rainey |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Lee Ritenour |
| Piano | Artie Butler |
| Percussion | Jack Jennings |
| Background Vocals | Diane Brooks |
| Background Vocals | Clydie King |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Russell |
| Background Vocals | Russell, Brian |
| Background Vocals | David Latman |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
4 I Never Talk To Strangers
| Bass | Jim Hughart |
| Drums | Shelly Manne |
| Piano | Tom Waits |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Vocals | Tom Waits |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
5 Storybook Children
| Bass | Jim Hughart |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Thom Rotella |
| Keyboards | Artie Butler |
| Percussion | Alan Estes |
| Background Vocals | Diane Brooks |
| Background Vocals | Clydie King |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Russell |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
6 Red
| Bass | Jerry Scheff |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Ira Newborn |
| Guitar | Fred Tackett |
| Keyboards | Don Randi |
| Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
7 Empty Bed Blues
| Bass | Jerry Scheff |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Fred Tackett |
| Guitar | David T. Walker |
| Organ | Don Randi |
| Piano | John Barnes |
| Sax | Steve Douglas |
| Sax | Plas Johnson |
| Sax | Don Menza |
| Trombone | Lew McCreary |
| Trombone | Bill Watrous |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
9 Paradise
| Bass | David Hungate |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Lee Ritenour |
| Guitar | Thom Rotella |
| Piano | Artie Butler |
| Percussion | Alan Estes |
| Background Vocals | Ellie Greenwich |
| Background Vocals | Michael Harris |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
10 Yellow Beach Umbrella
| Bass | Max Bennet |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Guitar | Howard Roberts |
| Ukelele | Howard Roberts |
| Keyboards | Craige Doerge |
| Percussion | Alan Estes |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
11 La Vie En Rose
| Bass | Jim Hughart |
| Piano | Mike Melvoine |
| Vocals | Bette Midler |
Liner Notes
Producer – Brooks Arthur
Arranged By – Ira Newborn (Tracks 1, 11)
Arranged By – Artie Butler (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 10)
Arranged By – Mike Melvoin (Track 5)
Arranged By – Jimmie Haskell (Track 7)
Arranged By – Bobby Rozario (Track 8)
Arranged By – Bob Alcivar (Track 9)
Engineer – Bob Merritt, Brooks Arthur
Engineer (Assistant) – David Latman
Cover, Design – Bob Defrin
Photography – George Hurrell
Recorded At Record Plant, Los Angeles
Recorded At Studio 55, Los Angeles
Phonographic Copyright Atlantic Recording Corporation
Phonographic Copyright Asylum Records
Copyright Atlantic Recording Corporation