The Bette Midler Show - Up the ladder to the roof

[KMGNYC77]

I do believe that is Katey Segal (Peg Bundy) in the middle of the Harlettes

[SillySinger1990]

This is fun!

[tomyazvids]

jean terrell should kick her ass for this horrible soull-less performance.

[railroaded1000]

When Bette sing 'Strangers in the Night' (which in my book is an awful, dreary and boring kind of song) SHE makes it sound like magic and making you cry on top of that. Must be a kind of genius, my sweet laughing and crying Bette...

[traingirl6]

don't be so ugly mean people calling names saying nasty things, just don't watch it save yourself the torment you don't know a thing about a true pure natural entertainer- Bette is the best ever.

[stevensondavid096]

you who called her a pig...well it says more about YOU than it says about Bette...oh im sooo sorry--NOT

[AaronOwenBailey]

This video has confirmed for me what I already knew... Bette Midler is a closet African-American!! Although I prefer Sherie Renee Scott's smooth, sultry vocals on the 'Every Rapture' version, this performance could have rivaled James Brown and even Tina Turner in their hey days.

[Livingallalone]

Love it

[tomyazvids]

awful. should be puniable by law. she ruins this song it's not her style. you cant rush a slow soul classic. at 1:45 it get really bad. What an ugly set as well.

[ScottJayNY2011]

@tomyazvids your taste is in your ass. What would you know about quality entertainment. For 1977, this was fresh !!!

[tomyazvids]

@ScottJayNY2011 she can hardly breathe and she's so winded.. and prolly high. yeah the concept was fresh for the time,

[PGinOZ]

when oh when will they release these shows on DVD?

[karelleimena]

@PGinOZ you can buy it on ioffer.com

[PinkCowgirl925]

I first heard this on the soundtrack of Everyday Rapture and The Divine Ms. M is even if not more entertaining.

[steelhorse64]

I remember watching this everytime it aired on HBO. June 1977.  Amazing live performance!!!

[vibrani]

Bette Midler is phenomenal. She puts on the best concerts - gives them her all. An amazing talent.

[Covellos1]

I really really likie Bette Midler, BUT when she does covers-sometimes-IMO she wrecks them. I don't like this and I hate her version of Miss Otis Regrets. I loved the whole LP of The Divine Miss M.. I like her showmanship, just not those 2 songs.- done by her. PS I am a Jean Terrell fan, but , I never understood why she should be "difficult". It's not like the public ever really knew her like they did Miss Ross. She wasn't really popluar enough to be a true "diva"..

[motorcitymiguel]

Wow! never saw this, fun fun fun,,, I'm so used to seeing & hearing Mary Wilson's 70s Supremes do this. This was fun to watch. Thanks

[ahj71]

Always loved Bette's version of this!

[StevesWifeCharlo]

Yes, I agree. It was very cold and snowy that weekend. We were staying at Bimbo's Celebrity Motor Lodge/Hotel. Had a great time, then we got snowed in on our way to Columbus or Cinncinatti and had to perform at the lounge of the hotel. It was nuts!

[VJTOMYAZ]

HORRIBLE! A CLASSIC RUINED!

[StevesWifeCharlo]

Well, at this point in the show she was out of breath...but that isn't what is important. Of course her vocals are common, and no she isn't Jean Terrell, who is a piece of work btw. Ask me, I was there. She wasn't trying to be Jean Terrell.

She was putting her spin on it. The 3 of us girls were trying to put our Supreme spin on it because we know the source. We wanted to create that sound and I think we did it.

Charlo~

[etrax2000]

Its always great to ask "somewhere who was there" so tell us what did you mean by Jean terell was a piece of work. My sister uses that expression (which I hate" yeah my sister too) but why was she so difficult to be with (jean) ?

[StevesWifeCharlo]

It is no secret that Jean Terrell is a great vocal talent, but her professionalism is in question because of the way she refuses to work and let's just say, she can be a pain the the butt, and producers don't have time to coddle or deal with her aloof and cool manner. Time is money, people have to be professional and on purpose when in the studio. That is a requirement of professional studio singers.

[etrax2000]

Don't stop there (please)(LOL), I read Mary's book and Tony;s book and they both paint Jean as difficult .but I want to know just to what extreme does dificult turn into? Does she resent direction -interferring in her style or skills? Only want the spotlght on her? Too much knowledge from those who were actually there is never enough..details.. we want details.!

[hallauthor]

@etrax2000 Mary calling Jean difficult? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

[etrax2000]

@hallauthor To be honest Mary is very delusionall on so many levels and by the way this performance by bette is an insult to music, let's hope that someone has posted the version that the public didn't get to hear. on those old shows they had a "sweetner" who replaced the audio on disasters such as this

[ScottPSProductions]

@etrax2000 you`re a schmuck. Until your tucas is up there doing better you should zip. This was a 3 hour show. Many costume changes, lots of music. Dancing. And NO technical equipment available. This was a phenomenal performance. Find something constructive to do other than bashing those THAT DO.

[etrax2000]

@ScottPSProductions SCHMUCK AND TUCAS.. THAT SAYS IT ALL !..... OH..... HOW THOSE FROM HYMIE TOWN PROTECT THEIR OWN. HEIL HITLER !

[ScottJayNY2011]

@etrax2000 Are you psychotic ??

[yandrsupreme]

I've heard from others that were there.... that she was only difficult when people tried to tell her how to sing.

[BeccaJrockadale]

Love Bette but this is so dreadful! A bastardisation of a classic! She should be ashamed! I know i am!!

[ronnykmarshall]

Oh please.

[BeccaJrockadale]

Is she trying to be funny?

[StevesWifeCharlo]

She had her appendix out during REHEARSALS for this tour, we were in Los Angeles at the time. Ask someone who was there. Ask me...I Was There!

Charlo

[jon609]

just DIVINE!!!!

[StevesWifeCharlo]

Toni Basil choreographed this number, and we rehearsed this for ever. LOL!!!

[brianwilliams9]

Charlo-

How great to see you on here-I first saw this on HBO when I was 7 or 8...I was shocked, stunned, and even at that young age, knew I was in the presence of so much talent-the three of you and Bette were mesmerizing.

[ohjoyyyy]

I love this rendition! and the way she dances haha it's just too divine!

[drtpur16]

Bette is amazing no matter what you fuckers say. I thought she did a incredible job especially since she got out of the hospital a couple of weeks before this performance. She will always be the best live performer in our history. (Love Ya Bette!)

[piscescarodine]

that is a song that like until now

[drichards1953]

She did a near identical concert in Columbus, OH the night before she went to Cleveland. It was a concert to remember. I was there and I had seen her in concert a couple of times before and several times since. She was awesome, and still is!

[Koach127]

I think she was a little out of breath from another performance. Manybe she would've been better if this was her first.

[jimk0403]

This was near the end of the show and Bette was heading, or rather sprinting, towards the finale.

[StevesWifeCharlo]

She had downed a snifter of Courvosier in the 'Bar scene' number at the very end of it, and was a bit bombed by the time this number came along. WE had 2 more to do after this song! Ask me, I was There!

[jimk0403]

Of course I want to ask more questions! For starters, were you a Harlette? Bette's shows were definitely an inspiration for me.

[Koach127]

I think she was a little out of breath from another performance. Manybe she would've been better if this was her first.

[Melliegrubber]

I love Bette, and I love this rendition but she did look a little crazy in the eyes. But you still rule!

[drichards1953]

The Thursday before she was in Cleveland for this taping, she played Columbus, Ohio. I had very good seats at that performance.  It was and still is one of the best concerts I have every attended. Most of the show was the same except for adding some local touches to some of the jokes.

[tomyaz]

What did she snort before she hit the stage and did this nutty performance? LOL

[earthmother]

spoken like a true non-fan

why bother watching?

[missmluva]

this is divine! for all those whining, just shut up and go watch your little supremes video.

[motownbaby]

That's funny...I was just thinking about doing that - LOL!

[nschenk]

I used to have a old copy of this concert on VHS and it got lost. I am SO happy to see some of these songs again!!

[grai]

I'm so jealous of you seeing this show live!

I'm also 49 and was loaned the Bette Midler album by my cousin in 1975 and as soon as I heard her singing 'Skylark' I was a major major fan

I've been listening to this on the Live At Last album for 30 years so its great to see footage of it - didnt realise it had been filmed

Thanks for sharing

[raremark]

I love Bette but her rendition of Up The Ladder is too rough. One misses the delicate almost etheral way in which Jean Terrell of The Supremes recorded that song and made it a top 10 hit back in 1970.

[StevesWifeCharlo]

Well of course. Bette had just downed a snifter of brandy coming at the end of the Ready To Begin Again reprise...and was lit up for this number.  Watch the video. It's all in there, people.

[qwisp]

That was just hillariously bad, Bette. Almost painfully.

[divaenvy]

No, she's not in top form vocally here, but she's dancing around like mad, and singing live...which today's young singers don't do...she is so exciting to see live. She's one of a kind. Love her!!

[LILMISSKIKI099]

BETTE IS THE BEST !!! love it thanks for this !! <3 bette x

[kerrykop]

This is a joke. The supremes being brought down a couple of notches.

[freshair345]

Sorry,Bette cannot ruin anything.Even bad Bette is better than no Bette at all.

[jlpmusic100]

she ruined it and made a fool of herself to anyone with half and ear....

[motorcitymiguel]

Check out Up The Ladder To The Roof on the tube by the original singers of this song, The Supremes Mary Wilson. Love Miss Bette though...

[ivyfield]

Note: The ORIGINAL singers of this song are THE SUPREMES - NOT The Supremes Mary Wilson..!

[JHudfanaticDiva19]

The Divine Bette Midler she is a multi-talented woman and deserves the title of one of the greatest legends in show biz!!!

[NathanJones]

Not bad, but I've heard Bette do a better job on this song.

As if she wanted to get as far away from Jean Terrell's delivery as possible here. A bare bones version of Up the Ladder to the Roof. Almost as if Janis Joplin were singing.

If you haven't heard Jean do Wind Beneath My Wings you should. It's here on You Tube, but a better version is on Jean's DVD Thru the Eyes of A Supreme.

[Alvin4NY]

You can definately here more Janis than Jean...pretty ramped up.

[pvclax]

There is only 1 Bette Midler!!!!!! I'm still holdin' out hope for Sophie perhaps? LOL

[StevesWifeCharlo]

Give me break!! That is totally delusional to think that. If you only knew the inside track you wouldn't even mention that in polite company. Ask Martin, the husband. If he'll give you the time of day. Don't get me started on them....

[johnnycher2]

GREAT!!!!!

[TerryT1976]

Great performance by Bette!

[om92555]

So Divine!!!!