Bette Midler - Art or Bust Concert (1983)

[@mrnashvilletalkslarryfergu2640]

I met her in Vesgas and she was so lovely and then ran into her the next day at another show and she came over and said hello. So lovely no makeup and I think a hat or tam, very incognito. She was off that night and went to someone else’s show that just so happened we did too. But what impressed me was that she came to us and “hey boyz”.

[@GothLunaMoth]

Your so lucky🥹😭

[@sherrycurrie8960]

I just love Bette Midler. She is the best intertainer.

[@jezebeljones659]

This was one of my favourite Bette Midler specials!

[@alexkx8599]

Was it ever on t.v.?

[@PugsDaddy]

Only ever on VHS or Laserdisc. This concert NEEDS to be on remastered blu-ray and dvd. This is history being made.

[@alexkx8599]

This is and or was what I was going to ask. If it had ever been on, "music home video", of some sort. Stone tablet...reel to reel...no...but those, yes. It should be on a recent format, yes. How about this question...has it ever been on television before? Oh, this seems to derive from perhaps a c.d.v. or v.c.d. which also seems to indicate not the U.S....

[@PugsDaddy]

@@alexkx8599 it was originally an HBO special. Never on regular TV 5hat I know of.

[@alexkx8599]

@@PugsDaddy Spank you! I imagine it would have had to have been quite edited if it were on regular t.v.! I guess I also wondered if it got any airing on MTV but I don't recall any times they were really dropping the, "f", bomb on that channel much in the first couple of decades that I know of. (I wonder if they could have shown (at least some version of) this in the bleak of the night on MTV if they had wanted to or at real creepy early morning hours? 🤔 She is far more than some emotional adult contemporary old person (😜) singer which is kind of how I viewed her for a long time. She definitely rocks and shocks! 😄

[@PugsDaddy]

@@alexkx8599 I only know it from HBO (and the video and laserdisc). No idea why this is still out of print.

[@alexkx8599]

@@PugsDaddy It's out of print because people don't buy physical media anymore and either no one has bothered with this release in the digital form, they are being strategic about when it is (perhaps with upgrades), and or legal issues/disagreements with whatever from whomever. Are my guesses.

[@wongfrancis]

What an incredibly concert, the concept was so avant garde I love every moment of it! Her costumes and the dancers were just amazing, the best of the 80s. I feel the choice of songs were quite personal, we caught a glimpse what a great singer she is, heart felt and poweful. It's almost like listening a CD! The mermaids were always a fabulous riot. I'm so glad that Bette is still with us n 2021 and well, still singing for us ❤

[@deedeeannash]

My mum and I have birthdays 2 days apart. She presented me with Bette Midler tickets and we had the best night ever. Her performances are all epic. Her comedy chops are underrated. She is the best entertainer I've ever seen.

[@wongfrancis]

@@deedeeannash wow I envy you who had seen her performaned live! Back then she was at her prime too.

[@davidstevenson404]

​@@wongfrancis I saw her at the Kansas City (near Swope Park outside with seats) Starlight Theater--she Great, good , wonderbar!!!

[@davidstevenson404]

oh in 1983 same time era as Art or Bust :))

[@mattk2277]

I saw this show twice in Los Angeles. It was a promo tour for No Frills CD and it was called: De Tour, not Art or Bust. Then an edited version was released on HBO and on VHS tapes called Art or Bust. I was in a west Hollywood video rental store. There was a big poster of Bette ( The cover of Art or Bust VHS - Delores DeLago laying on the beach). I asked if they had an extra one. They clerk said: sorry, but Bette was just here before you. Then he showed me the receipt of the list of videos she had rented. It was a most obscure list I have seen. At that time she lived in Laguna Beach in LA area. In my opinion it is the best live concert she has ever done. I WISH they would release the remastered, unedited digital version. So you ALL fans, start sending those emails and requesting it. Till then, F... em if they can't take a joke.

[@alexkx8599]

So...she rented her own video? How do you know that there is an unedited version?! Word of mouth that there was more of the show? Maybe it wasn't filmed and or recorded entirely or not properly, etc.?

[@mattk2277]

All of her live concerts in every single city are professionally recorded. They belong to her (All Girl Company). Then they are edited for the best parts. On this tour, she had go on the road twice since she did not have the rights to record "Pink Cadillac". She passed out on stage in Chicago from exhaustion. Her second show in LA was not as energetic, she was tired and her voice was raspy. She can sell her shows on contract to HBO or whomever. She only released the VHS short version of this show with added animation, etc.@@alexkx8599

[@nycartist3421]

This needs to be remastered, and put together with other great performances in a career retrospective package!

[@user-xt1yj9po4k]

SHE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO PUT ON A SHOW!!! DIVINE

[@amandamay269]

I remember renting it over and over again at blockbuster video. I never wanted to return it.

[@ArtsyFartsy5G]

What a treat. DeTour 83-84. I have the button, the poster, the VHS. I was lucky enough to see this show first at Radio City Music Hall. Then @Saratoga Springs upstate New York. Bette played four hours with a half hour intermission. It ended just after midnight. It was a tremendous switch in form and a huge success. I wanna strangle the SOB who edits these shows. Pardon my hostility. Forty years later people are still looking at this tour specifically for it`s form. Brilliant. Brava!

[@alexkx8599]

So...are you saying songs and performances were left out? Why are you so angry at whomever edited these shows? They probably had some issue of strategy to make this work as a, "music home video", and or t.v. special, yes, no?

[@ArtsyFartsy5G]

It`s all in jest. And if you had seen the show in person and were able to make the comparison you might have the same sense of disappointment. @@alexkx8599

[@derekantoine4396]

I can't imagine how bettte midler, and her team choreographed this routine /segment in 1983/4. Let alone the technological that were possible, and came about in the 1990s, and forward!?!. Thank you for the music, and stunning live performance. ❤🎉❤. Delboy xxx.

[@user-jl7ym4en5b]

What a fun memory! She was on the road to support her LP, & she stopped on Carson and said the album was a "stiff" dead", etc., selling nothing...SO HILARIOUSLY HONEST. Tx. U!

[@ewaddy9856]

Cool!..Jenifer Lewis was one of her backup singers!

[@westley5735]

The arrangement of favourite waste of time is soooo beautiful here. The drums before it start are PERFECT for the momentum

[@bobgray1226]

I'm a lifetime ZAPPA fan... just saying... my head is spinning.... at how incredibly beautiful she is and her music and entertaining brain... 83 GRAYT year I turned 21

[@reneekennedy716]

This is the BEST of Bette as far as I'm concerned! Love it! Thank you for sharing! Thank you for the great reprieve! ♥

[@TangSongs]

Dear God! This is so extraordinarily great, amazing, entertaining! She did it all!

[@dalegreene2756]

I truly love and admire you Bette, just watching you totally wears my heart out!!!Your energy never ever lets up! Wow !!!

[@alicehenderson7983]

Dale Greene, she is the most enjoyable singer I have ever watched performed, I think her raw emotions have got me, she stirs something inside me, I get emotional when I hear her sing.

[@timoconnor8520]

@@alicehenderson7983 As it should be, my friend. As it should be!! :-)

[@alicehenderson7983]

@@timoconnor8520 how long have you been a fan, I have listened to her since 1972, watched her on TV in the 70's also, she was a riot, but her voice is gorgeous.

[@davidstevenson404]

@@alicehenderson7983 Im 64 so yes, I, Too--1972

[@alicehenderson7983]

@@davidstevenson404 wow their is a lot of us who are her fans

[@davidlacoursimien5450]

There is only one Divine ! And she is Ms. Midler!!!

[@alexmuller6457]

there is only one diva .. and that is Shirley Bassey ... well, maybe it's the diva of the American version !!

[@marcosvalenca]

I pledge my allegiance to The Divine Miss M.

[@davidstevenson404]

@@alexmuller6457 in the UK friend, Yes!

[@mr.ricione]

Her best tour 😍

[@bobmaidel8341]

I was fortunate enough to see this live outside of Detroit back in 1983. The open air concert venue is no longer around.

[@charleslittle8172]

Yeah it is Pine Knob

[@BetteTwain]

I love Bette ❤ she's one of the absolute best singers/ performers of all time. So mad I missed the opportunity to see her live due to my age (29) 😢

[@GothLunaMoth]

I’m 10😢 I still love her more then anything❤

[@alicehenderson7983]

She should have millions of subscribers

[@stephenmaskrey6527]

She's absolutely fantastic, I remember watching this when I was a kid, she has to one of the best entertainers ever, so glad I found this channel

[@lenantinori6048]

This concert, its concept and design set the "stage" for what came after...Madonna, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, etc. owe so much to Bette's vision of a dramatic arc in the confines of a concert.

[@2020jjimenez]

She's unique so , but so talented and gifted.... would love to see her in the media , ....!!!!!

[@arlenecerf8833]

Spotted the Fabulous Ms Jenifer Lewis in the background as a Harlette 😘🤩🤪 #Inthesestreets

[@pennycarlson5465]

THANKS SO MUCH for making this available!!!

[@karlking629]

I saw this on HBO way back when. Had it on video tape and copied to DVD. Also have it on laserdisc ... but no player. Still great!

[@alexkx8599]

I was wondering if this had aired on t.v. in some way...and where. Had a good hunch it would have been HBO.

[@lamusiclover2264]

I went to this concert on New year's Eve 1982/83 at the Universal Amphitheater. It was The De-Tour. At midnight she came out in a diaper, and New Year's sash, and Barry Manilow came out dressed as father time and they sang Friends at midnight. This video is edited a lot. I have the original VHS.

[@mzmiller52]

Barry manilow was with her in ‘82? I think he left in 1973. The New Year’s Eve concert of 1972 in New York was when the divine miss m came out as baby new year and mr. Muzak was with her then. I think mellissa Manchester was still one of MGM, miss m’s backup singers. That was also when she made her entrance, carried out in a sedan chair. And unfortunately, when miss m asked that her fans stay with her when she stops doing the act she was doing at the time. The greatest drag show ever, thanks to bill hennessy’s brilliance and manilow’s musical direction. I wish someone had that ny concert or Carnegie hall, the capital theater in Passaic, and the palace engagement. By the time clams opened in 1974, miss m was gone and Bette Midler was transitioning into what she peddles today.

[@lamusiclover2264]

@@mzmiller52 yes he was long gone but for this New years Eve show , he came as a surprise guest and she did the same thing again with him. This was the 82/83 DeTour, which she then released on VHS as Art or Bust, which was also shown on HBO. She was promoting the No-Frills album, which is also one of my favorites. She was still being very Miss M in that concert and she was in character in Divine Madness. DeTour is one of my favorite concerts of hers, and the first time that she introduced Dolores del Lago in the wheelchair who replaced Vickie Eydie. after clams on the half shell was over, she continued her tour period I saw her in Los Angeles in Dec. 1975. It was her Depression tour. She still was doing the Divine miss him, but she was wearing sloppier clothing. It was to promote the release of her Songs for the New Depression album, which was when she started getting rid of the Divine Miss M persona, which she never really ever totally gave up. Then they released Live at Last which was recorded in Cleveland as part of this tour. I wish they had recorded the clams on the Half Shell show, or her run at the Palace. She never has completely given up the Divine with some persona, even on her TV special she opened it with Oklahoma popping out of a clamshell. Unfortunately, she did kind of homogenize her music at times, but she does have a lot of really great music. Melissa Manchester only did one album with her and then went on her own. She's one of my favorite singers of all time.

[@mzmiller52]

@@lamusiclover2264 I’m glad you still enjoy her. Once she became as vanilla as the acts she used to mock, I abandoned her. The palace was great, clams started the costumes and productions, but still great entertainment. Her club tour, which I saw at a packed Copacobana, was also wonderful. Very intimate, like her old cabaret performances, which I’ve only seen in the KZbin video of miss m at the baths. Divine madness was pretty good, too, but when I saw the idiotic costume for chapel of love, I knew Miss m was gone. Detour was fun at radio city, but all the naturalness was missing. Skipped everything after that, but had to see what she would do with dolly. $140 to find just what I expected. To be fair though, Channing was dolly. Saw a few dollys and it only works well with Channing, though I think ellen green could do it justice. Enjoy Bette Midler, I’ll stick to the divine miss m.

[@lamusiclover2264]

@@mzmiller52 Yes the club show was great here at the Roxy in LA which is posted on here. If you don't like her anymore, why are you watching her videos?

[@mzmiller52]

@@lamusiclover2264 I like everyone’s gone to the moon, here comes the flood, stay with me, broken bicycles. I just think she lost her sense of fun and spontaneity that created the legend. Plu I think manilow directed her singing voice and style early on, and she couldn’t find a voice or style. She said Hennessy used to tell her to remember the joy. I think it became work and performance when she went mainstream.

[@ciaraoneill9846]

I love Bette Midler so so much!

[@derekantoine4396]

Everything Miss Bette Midler does makes me so happy. Thank you, the ultimate, and divine bette. ❤️❤️❤️. They don't make them like her anymore.

[@mikebizzle9293]

Thanks bette and friends

[@pblaisergmail]

This has made my day. Been looking for this for decades. I certainly have missed it. Thank you.

[@mikejb3691]

DVD PLEASE Such wonderful memories....MAGNIFICENT

[@qjarman7753]

I’ve enjoyed this time and again over the years… I love it and still get a tear in my eye at the end of My Eye On You

[@suzanneslade8551]

I was fortunate enough to see this live in Feb. 1983 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA! I was 17 years old back then.

[@1957gfc]

OMG! I've been looking for this for years. Thank you!

[@Witchyvibes84]

I wish I could get this on dvd!!!

[@teamhartjes]

I still have ALL her shows on VHS🥰

[@senyum76]

Thank you for sharing this !!! Totally enjoyed my evening watching this. Much much appreciated !!!

[@ramonarroyo-carrion9890]

Cuarenta y tres años más tarde. este concierto sigue siendo tan emocionante como si fuera ayer. La Divina Bette realiza aquí un despliegue de emoción, humor, pasión y profunda sinceridad que reafirma su sitial excepcional dentro del grupo de cantantes que, sin tener una voz perfecta, resultan absolutamente inolvidables.

[@JerkyPuck]

I love that Jenifer Lewis was a Harlette at this time!

[@kenw9438]

It would be horrible if this was lost. It needs to be remastered and preserved. Just beautiful!

[@Cumbriman]

Thank you so much for this x

[@shirokumakogyo]

No one can traverse a stage in heels like the Divine Miss M!

[@StanByme00]

Exquisite

[@mattk2277]

Also Aloha and mahalo to Bette. Fred loved you too!

[@dfwjac]

Wah! Keeps jumping during "Is It Love!" My favorite song!

[@timjay77]

Thank you!!!

[@MattRyanPA]

Thank you MrReto2812.. LOVE!!!!

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Wonderfull

[@cliff9685]

You are totally blowing me away with these concerts! Could this be anymore 80’s?

[@MichaelOwenlowe1957]

She is the BEST!!!

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Thanks m'y dear

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Peace and love

[@dalegreene2756]

Ok -Enough loud noise - something soft and touching !,

[@johnking5433]

I saw this live in Norman, OK. The mermaids in wheelchairs were crazy.

[@DivineGraceQueen]

She always tears it up live, but seeing her break it DOWN in a bathhouse when she was a kid was the best for me.

[@mzmiller52]

Divine Grace absolutely correct. Before all the ridiculous productions, professionally written lines by vilanch, lousy direction, and terrible musical direction. Let’s face it Barry manilow and bill Hennessy created a legend and Bette Midler killed her off.

[@raymundoyanez3282]

FABULOUS!!!!👍👍👍👍

[@joecclesvamps8511]

I have a Dreams to help all people

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Mr. Reto!! You still exist!! This is a very fine print of this concert. I have the VHS. Is your copy remastered in any way? The picture is superb.

[@MrJoko2812]

I do thanks! :) It´s from a DVD I purchased some years ago. Glad you like it. There is just so much Bette stuff already on KZbin and I only wanted to upload the things from my collection that weren´t available online.

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

@@MrJoko2812 I really prefer the concert's version of Favourite Waste Of Time. It's bright, happy and disco-y. The album version on No Frills is down a key and the tempo drags, and sounds like early 80's pop/new wave/anything-but-disco. Your version here has a couple of skips in the song. Someone else posted the song here from the VHS. And of course, the dancers and costumes are magic.

[@BCNbananas]

I really like this version of Pink Cadillac

[@joecclesvamps8511]

For thé world

[@scottcornelius7441]

Nice to see someone dance and sing live. I wonder why J-Lo can’t do that.

[@rayyanez3527]

Cause J-lo ?????...It's Not ! As🙄 TALENTED ???????

[@davidstevenson404]

lacking that Kind/type of talent--she's more a dancer/singer

[@michaeldjohnson6333]

This was a great tour, and the only time I've been able to see Bette. Was able to see her in Utah, where it is rumored the LDS church forced her to move the performance from Salt Lake itself to Odgen. This was allegedly because the audience was expected to be primarily gay men.

[@Hazelnutcake]

Bette @ her best live!

[@joecclesvamps8511]

It's thé best

[@Zilla705]

Barry Manilow played piano for her at the Continental Baths

[@ArtsyFartsy5G]

That wasn`t Barry. That was Liberace. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. :)

[@AngelaShelton1982]

💖

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Y love carriere

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Hocus Pocus wonderfull

[@joecclesvamps8511]

🙏🏼🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@reynapoles9205]

She was like a lady gaga of that time. They have similarities.

[@lamusiclover2264]

Everybody copied Bette midler's shows. She was actually the first performer to turn a show into a Broadway production with choreography and sets.

[@joecclesvamps8511]

You make me lauthing

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Ça c'est du spectacle

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Good IS thit me

[@toddphillips563]

Thank you so much for posting these! Is there a way we could exchange an email? I wanted to ask you some questions

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Yah thank

[@user-jl7ym4en5b]

Does anyone know who wrote " IS IT LOVE THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND?"

[@roughbookeu]

James McCulloch & Nick Gilder

[@user-jl7ym4en5b]

@@roughbookeu Txs for writing. I should hv searched it on my own. Grateful for yr. time & sharing!

[@alexkx8599]

Left out, "I Will Survive/She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain When She Comes Medley", in the track list. I also think it is worthwhile to include the timings but...anyways... Would like to have seen the company ad at the end but, again, anyways...

[@joecclesvamps8511]

You're thé biggest

[@beverlylast4185]

Did you know, at the beginning, her pianist was Barry Manilow?

[@stevenrasmussen2826]

I thought this tour was called Art or Bust? or was the tv version called Art or Bust?

[@reneekennedy716]

Art or Bust

[@missyheaton1044]

The tour was called De Tour. I was at 3 different shows of that tour in 1983. I still have the tour books that they sold during the concerts. The HBO special was called Art or Bust. I have the VHS of the show.

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Y liké your dreams

[@joecclesvamps8511]

💙❤️💙❤️🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@isaysee]

Wisdom Of The Sages .. .. .. K I S S

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Films ad your prestance

[@michaelrg3836]

Remember how Madonna desperately wanted to be taken seriously as an "Artist"... with no voice and no talent? Well here is Bette saying: "Hold my paint brush!"

[@pekkaollila8505]

Why don't you crap on Gaga as well? Has voice but no creativity nor imagination.

[@maxbabin6694]

Мадонна без голоса и таланта? Тогда ты без мозга.

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Y se all you do

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Y knom

[@mega1breezy]

I love Bette Midler but the quality of these recordings are very bad and I don't have the stomach to watch them.

[@raymundoyanez3282]

Well !!!👎 DON'T!!!!!

[@mega1breezy]

@@raymundoyanez3282 í didn't. Thanks for the suggestion. I found a better recording

[@davidstevenson404]

Whatever--not a fan, huh? Is Ok

[@alexkx8599]

@@mega1breezy How and where?!

[@DonBradshaw]

Thank you!

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Magnifique

[@davidjay47]

❤