Studio Album · No. 3

Songs for the New Depression Songwriting Credits by Bette Midler

1976 Atlantic 11 tracks 38:47

Produced by Bette Midler, Joel Dorn, Ahmet Ertegün, Arif Mardin

Atlantic VocalPop
18%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 2 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 2 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bette Midler carries a lyricist or composer credit.

18%
2 trackswritten by Bette Midler 9 tracksoutside writers
Bette Midler's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist18%
Composer18%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
18
Lyricists
4
Producers
1976
Released
Data Insight

Two of the eleven tracks are hers, "Mr. Rockefeller" and "Shiver Me Timbers", which is the most she ever writes on one album. It is also the only record where she takes a producer credit.

The 1976 third album, the first she co-produced herself and the first with any of her own writing on it.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Strangers in the Night #45
Bert KaempfertCharles SingletonEddie Snyder Bert KaempfertCharles SingletonEddie Snyder Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
2
I Don't Want the Night to End
Phoebe Snow Phoebe Snow Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
3
Mr. Rockefeller
Jerry BlattBette Midler Jerry BlattBette Midler Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
4
Old Cape Cod #36
Claire RothrockAllan JeffreyMilton Yakus Claire RothrockAllan JeffreyMilton Yakus Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
5
Buckets of Rain
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
6
Love Says It's Waiting
Nick Holmes Nick Holmes Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
7
Shiver Me Timbers
Tom WaitsBette MidlerMoogy Klingman Tom WaitsBette MidlerMoogy Klingman Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
8
No Jestering
Carl Malcolm Carlton Malcolm Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
9
Tragedy
Gerald NelsonFred Burch Gerald NelsonFred Burch Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
10
Marahuana
Arthur JohnstonSam Coslow Arthur JonstonSam Coslow Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)
11
Let Me Just Follow Behind
Moogy Klingman Mark "Moogy" Klingman Bette MidlerJoel DornAhmet ErtegünArif Mardin Bette Midler (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 24 contributors

BM
Bette Midler
Writer · Producer · Performer
On this album2 written
MK
Moogy Klingman
Writer
On this album2 written
AJ
Allan Jeffrey
Writer
On this album1 written
AJ
Arthur Johnston
Writer
On this album1 written
AJ
Arthur Jonston
Writer
On this album1 written
BK
Bert Kaempfert
Writer
On this album1 written
BD
Bob Dylan
Writer
On this album1 written
CM
Carl Malcolm
Writer
On this album1 written
CM
Carlton Malcolm
Writer
On this album1 written
CS
Charles Singleton
Writer
On this album1 written
CR
Claire Rothrock
Writer
On this album1 written
ES
Eddie Snyder
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Bette Midler

1972 0%
The Divine Miss M
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1973 0%
Bette Midler
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1977 0%
Broken Blossom
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1979 13%
Thighs and Whispers
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1983 10%
No Frills
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1990 0%
Some People's Lives
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1995 0%
Bette of Roses
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1998 0%
Bathhouse Betty
Warner Bros.
13 tracksProd. Arif Mardin
2000 9%
Bette
Warner Bros.
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2003 0%
Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Barry Manilow
2005 0%
Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Barry Manilow
2006 0%
Cool Yule
Columbia
12 tracksProd. Robbie Buchanan
2014 0%
It's the Girls!
Warner Bros.
15 tracksProd. Marc Shaiman

Frequently Asked Questions Songs for the New Depression

Who wrote the songs on Songs for the New Depression?
Bette Midler on two of the eleven, "Mr. Rockefeller" and "Shiver Me Timbers". The rest come from other writers.
Is this her most self-written album?
Yes. Two of eleven tracks is the largest share on any of her records.
How high did the singles chart?
"Old Cape Cod" reached number 36 on the adult contemporary chart and "Strangers in the Night" number 45.
Who produced it?
Bette Midler with Joel Dorn, Ahmet Ertegün and Arif Mardin.
How high did the album chart?
Number 27 on the Billboard 200.
How did it sell?
The article publishes no sales or certification figure for it.
How long is the album?
38:47 across eleven tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Songs for the New Depression Wikipedia: Bette Midler discography Cover Art Archive: Songs for the New Depression by Bette Midler