Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook (CD - 2003)

Personnel includes: Bette Mildler (vocals); Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Dean Parks, George Doering, Michael Thompson (guitar); Herb Pederson (banjo); Kenny Blackwell (mandolin); Randy Waldman, Steve Welch (piano); Robbie Buchanon (keyboards, bass, drums); Chuck Berghofer (bass); Gregg Field, Vinnie Calaiuta (drums); Beverly Staunton, Hans Stamer, Warren Stanyer, David Steele (background vocals).

Recorded at Sony Music Studios, Culver City, California; The Hop, Studio City, California; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, California. Includes liner notes by Bette Midler, Barry Manilow.

SINGS THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY SONGBOOK was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Bette Midler occupies a unique place in the world of pop vocalists; she's recorded in so many styles (blowsy rockers, glossy pop ballads, intimate cabaret) that she's impossible to pigeonhole. So it's not such a shock to find her reaching back to an earlier era of pop singing for THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY SONGBOOK. In paying tribute to her beloved Clooney, Midler engages the services of none other than MOR icon Barry Manilow as arranger, a role he played for her before embarking on his solo career. This is far from a by-the-numbers stroll through the Clooney catalog, though. Midler and Manilow dip into smooth jazz ("Come On-A My House"), boogie-woogie ("On a Slow Boat to China"), Americana ("This Ole House"), and orchestrated jazz ("Hey There") among other modes, introducing these Clooney-associated tunes to a whole new generation. minimize