The Rose (soundtrack)

The Rose is the soundtrack to the feature film of the same name starring Bette Midler which was 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
The Rose Concert Band "Love Me With a Feeling" Band "The Rose" Ensemble
 * Bette Midler - lead vocals
 * 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
 * Greg Prestopino - acoustic guitar
 * Bill Elliott - piano
 * Jon Sholle - electric guitar
 * Scott Chambers - bass
 * Harry Stinson - drums
 * 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)