Question 1

Does Bette Midler write her own songs?

Accepted Answer

Almost never. She has a writing credit on five of the 155 tracks across fourteen studio albums. The remaining 150 come from 241 other writers, and no single writer appears on more than four tracks in the whole catalogue.

Question 2

Which songs did Bette Midler write?

Accepted Answer

Five: "Mr. Rockefeller" and "Shiver Me Timbers" on Songs for the New Depression, "Hurricane" on Thighs and Whispers, "Come Back Jimmy Dean" on No Frills and "Nobody Else but You" on Bette.

Question 3

Who wrote "From a Distance"?

Accepted Answer

Julie Gold. Midler's recording reached number 2 on the Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1990.

Question 4

Who wrote "Wind Beneath My Wings"?

Accepted Answer

Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar. It came from the Beaches soundtrack rather than a studio album and won her a third Grammy.

Question 5

How many studio albums has Bette Midler released?

Accepted Answer

Fourteen, from The Divine Miss M in 1972 through It's the Girls! in 2014.

Question 6

How many records has Bette Midler sold?

Accepted Answer

Over 30 million worldwide, with four gold, three platinum and three multi-platinum albums certified by the RIAA.

Question 7

Which Bette Midler album sold the most?

Accepted Answer

Some People's Lives, certified double platinum for sales of over two million copies in the US.

Question 8

Why does she record so many standards?

Accepted Answer

Two of her albums are devoted to single songbooks, Rosemary Clooney's in 2003 and Peggy Lee's in 2005, and It's the Girls! in 2014 works through sixty years of girl group records.

Question 9

How many Grammys has Bette Midler won?

Accepted Answer

Three: Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "The Rose" and Record of the Year for "Wind Beneath My Wings". She has also won four Golden Globes, three Emmys and two Tonys.

Question 10

Who produced Bette Midler's albums?

Accepted Answer

Arif Mardin most often, on five records between 1973 and 1998. Barry Manilow co-produced the first two and returned for both songbook albums in the 2000s.