After a string of over the top '70s albums with high-energy tunes that made
Bette Midler a sensation worldwide, she settled down on
Broken Blossom. The first song, "Make Yourself Comfortable," sets the pace with a relaxed doo wop style that's hard to resist. There are some remakes on
Broken Blossom including a version of
Billy Joel's "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" with about twice as much pizzazz as the original; the surprising choice of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," from Disney's Cinderella; and "You Don't Know Me," which was previously sung by
Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson,
Van Morrison, and
Ray Charles, and still sounds great.
Broken Blossom seems to be a mixed message from
Midler, whom listeners love for being so uncontrolled but she has toned down on antics.
Broken Blossom served as a bridge between
Midler's solely musical days and her career as actress. Shortly after its release, she performed in her classic live film Divine Madness and then was nominated for an Academy Award for The Rose.
Broken Blossom is quirky, though not as spontaneous as we have come to expect. We are used to an outrageous choice in songs sung by an outrageous personality. If one can accept simply melodic songs sung by that same personality, then
Broken Blossom is a fine listen. ~ Peter Fawthrop