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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The release of this album marked Midler's return to recording after a long absence, due to personal issues. The album is considered by many to be one of her best, if not in deed the best. The track selection includes songs from the Rolling Stones "Beast of Burden" and Marvin Cranshaw "My Favourite waste of time", the latter Midler descibed at the time as a "radio record". In her own terms she wanted to do a track that when you heard it you felt that it was catchy enough to be on the radio. In deed this track was released my a number of people as a single ahead of her, but non of their versions are a patch on Midler's. This is a very up song. The album is in many ways closer in gritiness to albums like The Rose, it certainly provided a show case for Midlers diverse singing styles and choice of music. For many this made it more accessible than many of the previous Midler album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Bette Midler's "No Frills" from 1983 is not her most memorable, and its songs don't even get an appropiate representation in her greatest hits collection (or even any 80's hits collection) - which I still can't understand why. Even though it was very successful in Europe (a chart-topper in Sweden, and a top 10 LP in several other countries), The album didn't do well in the U.S, which is another fact that is just impossible to digest....
"No Frills" is simply a great album, and so versatile it just has somthing for everyone - dance, rock, ballads, salsa... even some new-wave elements that ruled the charts back in those days. It's also the first album to include a song which its lyrics was written by Bette Midler herself ("Come Back Jimmy Dean").
"Is It Love" is a true blast to open such an album. That song is just electrifying!!!, "Let Me Drive" is a superb dance smash with the perfect summer-breezy atmosphere (you can really bounce along in your car with its beat),"My Favorite Waste Of Time" is a true Bette-Type-Of-Sound (it was a one-hit-wonder for Owen Paul in 1986), and "All I Need To Know" is simply a brilliant and touchy ballad (much better than the cover of Linda Ronsdatd and Aaron Neville from 1989), "Heart Over Heat" is a cool and calm song to listen to and relax and "Only In Miami" is a nice samba tune which is also typical to the sound of Bette Midler live performances.
As much as all of her albums are great - I'd highly recommend "No Frills" much more than any of her other records. If it didn't sell well back in 1983 - It should be on any music fan's shelf now. Do yourself a favor and get this album.
"No Frills" is simply a great album, and so versatile it just has somthing for everyone - dance, rock, ballads, salsa... even some new-wave elements that ruled the charts back in those days. It's also the first album to include a song which its lyrics was written by Bette Midler herself ("Come Back Jimmy Dean").
"Is It Love" is a true blast to open such an album. That song is just electrifying!!!, "Let Me Drive" is a superb dance smash with the perfect summer-breezy atmosphere (you can really bounce along in your car with its beat),"My Favorite Waste Of Time" is a true Bette-Type-Of-Sound (it was a one-hit-wonder for Owen Paul in 1986), and "All I Need To Know" is simply a brilliant and touchy ballad (much better than the cover of Linda Ronsdatd and Aaron Neville from 1989), "Heart Over Heat" is a cool and calm song to listen to and relax and "Only In Miami" is a nice samba tune which is also typical to the sound of Bette Midler live performances.
As much as all of her albums are great - I'd highly recommend "No Frills" much more than any of her other records. If it didn't sell well back in 1983 - It should be on any music fan's shelf now. Do yourself a favor and get this album.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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16 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Not her best...but there are some terrific things in there
17 April 2001
Format:Audio CD
"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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Bette is excellent with 80's rock!
14 Oct 2001
Format:Audio CD
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!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
The best of Bette
12 Jun 2001
Format:Audio CD
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 !!!!!
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