Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook

This album is a TRIBUTE album to the late, great Peggy Lee. Like Bette Midler's tribute album to Rosemary Clooney, Bette pays tribute to these divine ladies. You can tell Bette doesn't intend to remake these classic songs, she's merely paying tribute. Bette's voice sounds crisp and clear on all the tracks. Personal favorites "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", "Is That All There Is?", "I'm a Woman". Bette Midler is one of our greatest interpreters. That gift is on full display here.

Okay, the person who wrote that album review must have been drunk. How else do I explain the insanity of him or her saying that Bette's version of "Is That All There Is?" improves upon Peggy's! Are you crazy? Did you ever actually hear the original version? Bette's version is mostly a COPY of Peggy's. There is a stark, compelling drama to Peggy's version, and Bette and her producer/arranger Barry Manilow basically copy as much of that as possible. They bring nothing new to the song. Plus, seriously, isn't it a little arrogant of Bette to attempt to sing "Fever?" Peggy's record is iconic. It's a masterpiece. No one should ever sing that song again. It does not need to be remade!