The Rose (soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Bette Midler
ReleasedDecember 3, 1979
GenreVocal, rock, blues
Length39:02
LabelAtlantic
ProducerPaul A. Rothchild
Bette Midler chronology
Thighs and Whispers
(1979) 		The Rose (soundtrack)
(1979) 		Divine Madness
(1980)
Singles from The Rose
  1. "When a Man Loves a Woman"
    Released: 1980
  2. "The Rose"
    Released: 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

The Rose is the soundtrack to the feature film of the same name starring Bette Midler which was 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 Billboard's 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

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[15] 3× Platinum 210,000^
France (SNEP)[16] Gold 100,000*
United States (RIAA)[17] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ The Rose at AllMusic
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Coleman, Marc; Brackett, Nathan (2004). "Bette Midler". In Brackett, Nathan; Christian, Hoard (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 540. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Bette Midler - France - Albums". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Bette Midler | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Bette Midler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 432. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1980 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  15. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – The Rose" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved July 18, 2021. Select B.O.F. and click OK. 
  17. ^ "American album certifications – Bette Midler – The Rose (Soundtrack)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
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