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The Rose (soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Bette Midler
Released	December 3, 1979
Genre	Vocal, rock, blues
Length	39:02
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Paul A. Rothchild
Bette Midler chronology
Thighs and Whispers (1979) The Rose (soundtrack) (1979) Divine Madness (1980)
Singles from The Rose
"When a Man Loves a Woman" Released: 1980 "The Rose" Released: 1980

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	C
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

The Rose is the soundtrack to the feature film of the same name starring Bette Midler, 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

• Bette Midler - lead vocals

The Rose Concert Band

• Danny Weis - guitar
• David Campbell - string arrangements
• Steve Hunter - guitar
• Mark Leonard - bass guitar
• Robbie Buchanan - keyboards
• Pentti "Whitey" Glan - drums
• Norton Buffalo - harmonica & trombone, backing vocals
• Jerry Jumonville - saxophone
• Mark Underwood - trumpet
• Bill Champlin - background vocals
• Donny Gerrard - background vocals

"Love Me With a Feeling" Band

• Greg Prestopino - acoustic guitar
• Bill Elliott - piano
• Jon Sholle - electric guitar
• Scott Chambers - bass
• Harry Stinson - drums

"The Rose" Ensemble

• Lincoln Mayorga - piano
• Amanda McBroom - harmony vocals

Production

• Paul A. Rothchild - Record Producer, Musical arranger, remixing
• William Gazecki - sound engineer, Associate Producer, remixing
• Bob Leonard - engineer
• Roger Mayer - engineer
• Stuart Taylor - engineer
• John Neal - engineer
• Ed Lever - engineer
• Recorded by: The Enactron Truck
• SMPTE Code Processing by: Canyon Recorders
• Remixed at Elektra Sound Recorders by Bill Gazecki, Paul A. Rothchild
• Concerts recorded live during June & July 1978
• Stephen Innocenzi - remastering (1995 reissue)

Charts

Certifications

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. "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
7. "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
8. "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / Bette Midler – The Rose". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
9. "Bette Midler | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
10. "Bette Midler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
11. "Cash Box Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLI, no. 41. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. February 23, 1980. p. 39. ISSN 0008-7289.
12. "Albums" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 36, no. 1701. New York: Record World Pub. Co. February 17, 1973. p. 34. ISSN 0034-1622.
13. 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.
14. "Top Selling Albums of 1980 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
15. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
16. "Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLII, no. 33. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. December 27, 1980. p. 48. ISSN 0008-7289.
17. "Pop Album Awards – Top Soundtrack" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLII, no. 33. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. December 27, 1980. p. 38. ISSN 0008-7289.
18. "1980 Year-End Awards – Top Soundtrack" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 37, no. 1744. New York: Record World Pub. Co. December 27, 1980. p. 26. ISSN 0034-1622.
19. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
20. "French album certifications – B.O.F. – The Rose" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved July 18, 2021. Select B.O.F. and click OK. 
21. "American album certifications – Bette Midler – The Rose (Soundtrack)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2021.

• Bette Midler soundtracks
• 1979 soundtrack albums
• Drama film soundtracks
• Albums arranged by David Campbell (composer)
• Albums produced by Paul A. Rothchild
• Atlantic Records soundtracks