Customer Reviews

No Frills

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

the best album from Bette!!! I love this one since the first time I heard it.

This album defines such a time in life. It is filled with such joy. It's totally divine and while it might not be timeless, hell, wasn't that a time!

Bette Midler's third rock and roll album. Unlike The Rose and Divine Madness soundtracks, this is NOT the pure blood and guts Joplin like sound. This album, released in '83, is the signature 80's rock sound. I have to admit Only In Miami doesn't quite fit on this album. Midler was WAY ahead of her time with this song as it is a latin dance tune. Midler's version of Jagger's Beast of Burden is flawless. It is definitely better than the original. Midler's version flows better, and has a rock and roll sound that the original did not. Her voice contains that perfect edge throughout. Think of All I Need to Know as The Rose part two. A beautiful ballad, more stunning sung by Bette than by Aaron Neville and Linda Rondstat who made it a hit after Bette. My Eye on You is a haunting number brought to life by Midler's low edgy voice and the lasting music. Favorite Waste of Time and Heart Over Head blend the rock sound with the pop sound. The album is excellent! BUY IT NOW!!!!! If you love this Bette album, you'll love these other Bette albums: The Rose soundtrack, Divine Madness, Broken Blossom. Support Bette Midler! Buy the album here! Don't buy from an auction or download the songs for free!

I saw Bette on tour supporting this album in September of 1983 here in Utah. It was and is the best concert I have seen to this day. I have went through 3 copies of this album on cassette and now I have the CD which I hope lasts a little longer. "All I Need to Know" is so much better than the later Linda Rondstadt/Aaron Neville duet. "Only in Miami" is perfect. "Let Me Drive" is classic Bette in the vein of later works such as "Big Socks" and "In These Shoes?" I have been a fan since the 70's. This woman always gets me humming and puts a smile on my face. Keep it up, Bette !!!!!

"No Frills" is a typical 80s product. Featuring Top 40 production values (ie, safe, commercial but dull), this is not among Bette's best albums. To sample what the lady is truly capable of, you are advised to turn to her two early 70s releases, "Divine Ms M" and "Songs From A New Depression" and also her latest, "Bette". Her mid-career period wasn't particularly fertile. It didn't yield anything remotely comparable in quality or consistency and "No Frills" is just one of those mediocre albums saved only by some really terrific things in there. Much of the first side features top drawer material. The first three cuts, "Is It Love", "You're My Favourite Waste Of Time" and a definitive rendition of "All I Need To Know" quite frankly blew me away. Linda Ronstadt's more polished hit version of the latter retitled "Don't Know Much" took much of the rawness and impact away. But with the exception of the lovely "My Eye On You" and a credible cover of the Rolling Stones' "Beast Of Burden", it's mostly downhill from there on. "Heart Over Head" is painfully pedestrian while the two closing numbers are so unmemorable I can't even remember what they sound like. "Only In Miami" is, on the other hand, just one of those Latin/samba like things Bette always include in her albums. It's OK but unexceptional. "No Frills" isn't a terribly good album but if you're a Bette fan, you're gonna love at least half of what's in here and 5 out of 10 ain't too bad. I gave this 3-star album a 4-star rating only because the best of it is pretty terrific.

this album never got the rave it should have.However Bette fans every where love it .It has some interesting spin on some songs such as "'all i need to know" and 'heart over head' once you buy it this cd will grow on you .Its has a divine combination of disco,easy listening,and retro pop to it .This was my 3rd of all 18 bette cds and is one of my favorits.

This album was somewhat a darkhorse never fully played to its full potential on the billboard charts, although she did elevate its release to a cult "must have" prized collection with her concert in New York in the early 80s, enacting a scripted intepretation of each of the songs from this album. Watching the concert and then playing the album will literally transport you to another dimension that is nothing short of quaint and magical.If you are lucky enough to obtain that concert on video, it will be worth its weight in gold. Then again, since when did any Divine concert rate anything less than stellar. Listeners will find this collection of songs filled with paradox of pain and carefree abandonment. Though commercial to its core, it surprises you somewhat by its apparent lack of ballad material. Torchy songs like "Is It Love" and "Beast Of Burden" pulls your senses to explore where her emotions goes with each wrenched nuances. Travel with her and feel the aftermath of knowing what it is like to be in the company of "Divine" intervention. A rare find.

I regard Bette's "All I Need To Know" as one of the most beautifully sung love songs of all time. I was not pleased at all to hear Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville butcher this song years later.

I first bought this recording after its release and it has been a favorite for almost 15 years. It has something for everyone Rock, Country with steel guitar and of course Bettes campiness. Very well put together and thought out to coincide with her tour in the same year DE TOUR. Should command Air Play if her promoters would release singles of her more uptempo tracks.

This album was somewhat a darkhorse never fully played to its full potential on the billboard charts, although she did elevate its release to a cult "must have" prized collection with her concert in New York in the early 80s, enacting a scripted intepretation of each of the songs from this album. Watching the concert and then playing the album will literally transport you to another dimension that is nothing short of quaint and magical.If you are lucky enough to obtain that concert on video, it will be worth its weight in gold. Then again, since when did any Divine concert rate anything less than stellar. Listeners will find this collection of songs filled with paradox of pain and carefree abandonment. Though commercial to its core, it surprises you somewhat by its apparent lack of ballad material. Torchy songs like "Is It Love" and "Beast Of Burden" pulls your senses to explore where her emotions goes with each wrenched nuances. Travel with her and feel the aftermath of knowing what it is like to be in the company of "Divine" intervention. A rare find.