The Rose (soundtrack) explained

The Rose (soundtrack)
Type:Soundtrack album
Artist:Bette Midler
Cover:Therose.JPG
Released:December 3, 1979
Genre:Vocal, rock, blues
Length:39:02
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Paul A. Rothchild
Prev Title:Thighs and Whispers
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Divine Madness
Next Year:1980

The Rose is the soundtrack to the feature film of the same name starring Bette Midler, released in 1979.

Background

Midler performs all the songs on the album, with the exception of the instrumental "Camellia". Apart from the title track, the soundtrack was entirely recorded live and also features concert monologues, with Midler portraying the character The Rose, loosely based on blues singer Janis Joplin. The soundtrack was produced by Paul A. Rothchild, who in fact also had worked with Joplin on what was to become her final album before her death in 1970, entitled Pearl and released posthumously. Midler's portrayal of The Rose, which was her acting debut, earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1980 and became the start of her career in movies.

Release and promotion

The first single to be lifted off the soundtrack was Midler's rendition of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" which became a moderate chart hit, peaking at #35 on Billboards single chart. The studio-recorded title track (written by Amanda McBroom) which closes the album however became a top 3 hit for Midler, and also a #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and today counts as one of her signature tunes. The alternate single version with orchestral overdubs was not included on the actual soundtrack but later appeared on hits compilations like Experience the Divine along with "When A Man Loves A Woman". One track featured in the movie, Bob Seger's "Fire Down Below", was omitted from the album but Midler recorded a second live version of the song later in 1980 for the soundtrack to her concert documentary Divine Madness. "Keep On Rockin'" was the second Sammy Hagar track Midler recorded, his hard rock track "Red" was featured on her 1977 studio album Broken Blossom. The Rose soundtrack also included one song that since its original release has become a mainstay in Midler's live repertoire, Jerry Ragovoy's despairing blues ballad "Stay With Me".

The Rose peaked at #12 on Billboard's album chart in the Spring of 1980, making it Midler's bestselling album since 1973's Bette Midler.

The album was digitally remastered and reissued on CD by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995 but with no bonus tracks.

Track listing

All tracks recorded live unless otherwise noted

Side A

  1. "Whose Side Are You On?" (Kenny Hopkins, Charley Williams) - 4:30
  2. "Midnight In Memphis" (Tony Johnson) - 3:44
  3. Concert Monologue - 2:22
  4. "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright) - 5:20
  5. "Sold My Soul To Rock 'N' Roll" (Gene Pistilli) - 3:42
  6. "Keep On Rockin'" (Sammy Hagar, John Carter) - 4:03

Side B

  1. "Love Me With A Feeling" (Hudson Whittaker) - 3:54
  2. "Camellia" (Steve Hunter) - 3:25
  3. Homecoming Monologue - 1:23
  4. "Stay with Me" (Jerry Ragovoy, George David Weiss) - 5:42
  5. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (Beth Slater Whitson, Leo Friedman) - 1:35
  6. "The Rose" (Studio recording - album version) (Amanda McBroom) - 3:42

Personnel

The Rose Concert Band

"Love Me With a Feeling" Band

"The Rose" Ensemble

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979–80)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[1] 10
US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box)[2] 11
US The Album Chart (Record World)[3] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)! scope="col"
Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[4] 7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[5] 36
US Billboard 200[6] 12
US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box)[7] 33
US Top Soundtrack Albums (Cash Box)[8] 3
US Top Soundtrack Albums (Record World)[9] 5

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W . 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  2. February 23, 1980. Cash Box Top 100 Albums. Cash Box. New York. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.. XLI. 41. 39. 0008-7289.
  3. February 17, 1973. Albums. Record World. New York. Record World Pub. Co.. 36. 1701. 34. 0034-1622.
  4. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 432.
  5. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1980 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Recorded Music New Zealand. 29 January 2022.
  6. Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End. Billboard. 29 January 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20211027144239/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1980/top-billboard-200-albums. 27 October 2021.
  7. December 27, 1980. Top 100 Albums. Cash Box. New York. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.. XLII. 33. 48. 0008-7289.
  8. December 27, 1980. Pop Album Awards – Top Soundtrack. Cash Box. New York. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.. XLII. 33. 38. 0008-7289.
  9. December 27, 1980. 1980 Year-End Awards – Top Soundtrack. Record World. New York. Record World Pub. Co.. 37. 1744. 26. 0034-1622.

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