Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits

1993 greatest hits album by Bette Midler

Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits

US edition

Greatest hits album by

Bette Midler

Released| June 22, 1993
1996 (re-release)
Genre| Vocal
Length| 51:35
66:27 (re-release)
Label| Atlantic
Bette Midler chronology
| For the Boys
(1991)  | Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits
(1993)  | Gypsy
(1993)

|
|

Alternative cover

International edition

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Robert Christgau| [2]
Entertainment Weekly| B−[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [4]

Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American singer Bette Midler, featuring many of her best-known songs. The fourteen track compilation was released on Atlantic Records in 1993.

While several greatest hits albums with Midler had been released in the UK, Continental Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and Japan throughout the 1970s and 1980s, such as The Best of Bette (1978) and The Best of Bette (1981)—two different compilations with the same title—and Just Hits (1987), this was the first career overview to be released worldwide including the US and Canada, some twenty years after Midler recorded her first studio album for the Atlantic Records label. The album included one new recording, Midler's Emmy Award-winning rendition of "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)", sung to retiring talk show host Johnny Carson on the penultimate Tonight Show in May 1992. Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 1993 and was three years later certified platinum for one million copies sold in the US.

Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits was re-released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 1996 with a slightly altered track list, then also including two of Midler's biggest hits which for some reason had been left off the 1993 edition; "Favorite Waste of Time" and the Rolling Stones cover "Beast of Burden", both from the 1983 album No Frills. The 1996 edition also included two versions of the US hit single "To Deserve You", taken from what became Midler's final studio album for Atlantic, 1995's Bette of Roses.

## Track listings

[edit]

### 1993 edition

[edit]

1. "Hello in There" (John Prine) – 4:17
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
2. "Do You Want to Dance?" (Bobby Freeman) – 2:44
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
3. "From a Distance" (Julie Gold) – 4:37
* From the 1990 album Some People's Lives
4. "Chapel of Love" (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector) – 2:53
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
5. "Only in Miami" (Max Gronenthal) – 3:57
* From the 1983 album No Frills
6. "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright) – 4:42
* From the 1979 soundtrack album The Rose
7. "The Rose" (Single version) (Amanda McBroom) – 3:40
* From the 1979 soundtrack album The Rose
8. "Miss Otis Regrets" (Cole Porter) – 2:39
* From the 1990 album Some People's Lives
9. "Shiver Me Timbers" (Live version) (Tom Waits) – 4:42
* From the 1977 album Live at Last. Original studio version appears on 1976 album Songs for the New Depression
10. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar) – 4:52
* From the 1988 soundtrack album Beaches
11. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Don Raye, Hughie Prince) – 2:19
* Previously unavailable on album hit 45 version. Original studio version appears on 1972 album The Divine Miss M
12. "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" (Live) (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, additional lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Bette Midler) – 4:06
* Previously unreleased. Recorded and aired on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992.
13. "Friends" (Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart) – 2:55
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
14. "In My Life" (Single version) (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:12
* From the 1991 soundtrack album For the Boys

### 1996 edition

[edit]

1. "To Deserve You" (single remix) (Maria McKee) – 4:11
* Original version appears on the 1995 album Bette of Roses
2. "Beast of Burden" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 3:48
* From the 1983 album No Frills
3. "Favorite Waste of Time" (Marshall Crenshaw) – 2:40
* From the 1983 album No Frills
4. "Hello in There" (Prine) – 4:17
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
5. "Do You Want to Dance?" (Freeman) – 2:44
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
6. "From a Distance" (Gold) – 4:38
* From the 1990 album Some People's Lives
7. "Chapel of Love" (Barry, Greenwich, Spector) – 2:53
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
8. "Only in Miami" (Gronenthal) – 3:57
* From the 1983 album No Frills
9. "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Lewis, Wright) – 4:54
* From the 1979 soundtrack album The Rose
10. "The Rose" (McBroom) – 3:34
* From 1979 soundtrack album The Rose
11. "Miss Otis Regrets" (Porter) – 2:39
* From the 1990 album Some People's Lives
12. "Shiver Me Timbers" (Live version) (Tom Waits) – 4:42
* From the 1977 album Live at Last. Original studio version appears on 1976 album Songs for the New Depression
13. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Henley, Silbar) – 4:53
* From the 1988 soundtrack album Beaches
14. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Single version) (Prince, Raye) – 2:19
* Original version appears on the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
15. "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" (Arlen, Mercer, additional lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Bette Midler) – 4:06
* Previously unreleased. Recorded and aired on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992.
16. "Friends" (Klingman, Linhart) – 2:55
* From the 1972 album The Divine Miss M
17. "In My Life" (Single version) (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:12
* From the 1991 soundtrack album For the Boys
18. "To Deserve You" (album version) (McKee) – 5:13
* From the 1995 album Bette of Roses

## Production (1993 edition)

[edit]

* Bette Midler – compilation producer
* Arif Mardin – compilation producer
* Scott Wittman – creative consultant
* Doug Sax – digital remastering at The Mastering Lab
* Greg Gorman – cover photo
* Rod Dyer Group / Qris Yamashita – art direction

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Initial weekly chart performance for Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits | Chart (1993–1994)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] | 3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[6] | 35
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] | 27
European Albums (Music & Media)[8] | 31
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] | 67
Irish Albums (IFPI)[10] | 2
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] | 3
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 88
UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 3
US Billboard 200[14] | 50
US Top 100 Pop Albums (Cash Box)[15] | 49
Latter weekly chart performance for Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits Chart (1996–2005)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 31
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] | 1
European Albums (Music & Media)[18] | 65
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] | 95
UK Albums (OCC)[20] | 95

### Year-end charts

[edit]

1993 year-end chart performance for Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits | Chart (1993)  | Position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] | 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] | 34
UK Albums (OCC)[23] | 20
1996 year-end chart performance for Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits Chart (1993)  | Position

|

Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] | 11

## Certifications and sales

[edit]

Certifications for Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[25] | 4× Platinum  | 280,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[26] | Gold  | 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[27] | 2× Platinum  | 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] | Gold  | 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | Platinum  | 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits at AllMusic
2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Bette Midler". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
3. ^ Woodard, Josef (July 30, 1993). "Experience the Divine". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
6. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
7. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2191". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
8. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 3\. January 8, 1994. p. 13\. OCLC 29800226.
9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
10. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe – Ireland" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 46\. November 13, 1993. p. 20\. OCLC 29800226.
11. ^ "Charts.nz – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
13. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
14. ^ "Bette Midler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
15. ^ "Top 100 Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 47\. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. July 31, 1993. p. 14\. ISSN 0008-7289.
16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bette Midler – Experience The Divine - Greatest Hits" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
18. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 31\. August 3, 1996. p. 16\. OCLC 29800226.
19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
20. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
21. ^ "End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1993". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
22. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
23. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music Week. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. January 15, 1994. p. 25\. ISSN 0265-1548.
24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jaaroverzichten – Album 1996" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
25. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
26. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bette Midler – Experience the Divine". Music Canada.
27. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Bette Midler – Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 22, 2020. Enter Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2000 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
28. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Bette Midler – Experience the Divine". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
29. ^ "British album certifications – Bette Midler – Experience the Divine". British Phonographic Industry.
30. ^ "American album certifications – Bette Midler – Experience the Divine". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Bette Midler

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* The Divine Miss M
* Bette Midler
* Songs for the New Depression
* Broken Blossom
* Thighs and Whispers
* No Frills
* Some People's Lives
* Bette of Roses
* Bathhouse Betty
* Bette
* Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook
* Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
* Cool Yule
* It's the Girls!

Soundtracks|

* The Rose
* Beaches
* For the Boys
* Gypsy

Live albums|

* Live at Last
* Divine Madness
* Mud Will Be Flung Tonight

Compilations|

* The Best of Bette
* The Best of Bette (II)
* Just Hits
* Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits
* (Jackpot!) The Best Bette
* Memories of You
* A Gift of Love

Video albums|

* Divine Madness
* The Bette Midler Show
* Diva Las Vegas
* The Showgirl Must Go On

Singles|

* "Do You Want to Dance?"
* "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
* "Friends"
* "In the Mood"
* "Strangers in the Night"
* "Old Cape Cod"
* "Buckets of Rain"
* "Married Men"
* "Hang On in There Baby"
* "You're Movin' Out Today"
* "Storybook Children (Daybreak)"
* "Big Noise from Winnetka"
* "When a Man Loves a Woman"
* "The Rose"
* "My Mother's Eyes"
* "Chapel of Love"
* "All I Need to Know"
* "Favorite Waste of Time"
* "Beast of Burden"
* "Under the Boardwalk"
* "Wind Beneath My Wings"
* "From a Distance"
* "Night and Day"
* "In My Life"
* "To Deserve You"
* "In This Life"
* "You Don't Own Me"
* "My One True Friend"
* "I'm Beautiful"
* "White Christmas"
* "Fever"
* "Be My Baby"

Concerts and tours|

* Diva Las Vegas
* Kiss My Brass
* The Showgirl Must Go On
* Divine Intervention Tour

Books|

* The Saga of Baby Divine

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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