On January 8, 1976, “Atlantic” label released “Songs for the New Depression”, the third Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1972 – 1976, at “Secret Sound Studio” New York, N.Y., “Electric Lady” and “Media Sound Studios” in New York, N.Y., “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York, N.Y., and was produced by Bette Midler, Joel Dorn, Ahmet Ertegün, Arif Mardin, Mark “Moogy” Klingman, and Jack Malken.
Personnel:
- Bette Midler – lead and backing vocals, assistant engineer
- Glaswegians Orchestra – arranged and conducted by Arif Mardin
- Moogy Klingman – piano, electric piano, RMI Computer keyboard, Mini Korg synthesizer, harmonica, arranger and conductor
- Ralph Schuckett – acoustic piano, clavinet, organ, Sound City piano, harmonium, string ensemble, arranger, conductor
- Bob Dylan – vocals
- Dick Hyman – piano
- David Spinozza – guitar
- Jerry Friedman – guitar
- Todd Rundgren – guitar, backing vocals
- Dave Webster – slide guitar
- Rick Derringer – pedal steel guitar
- Eric Weissberg – banjo, mandolin
- Don Brooks – harmonica
- Sivuca – accordion
- Dominic Cortese – accordion
- Boris Matusewitch – concertina
- John Siegler – bass guitar
- Milt Hinton – acoustic bass, bass guitar
- John Miller – acoustic bass
- Teddy Sommer – drums, percussion
- Mark Rosengarden – drums, percussion
- Steve Gadd – drums
- John Wilcox – drums
- Barbara Burton – percussion
- Angel Allende – percussion
- Jack Malken – additional percussion
- Norman Pride – conga
- Randy Brecker – horns, trumpet solo
- Michael Brecker – horns
- Barry Rogers – horns
- Mel Davis – trumpet
- William Siapin – flute
- John Lissauer – saxophone, chimes, arranger, conductor
- David Nadien – strings
- Barry Finclair – strings
- Raul Poliakin – strings
- Tony Posk – strings
- Gene Orloff – strings
- Harry Lookofsky – strings
- Charles McCracken – strings
- Jessy Levy – strings
- Harry Lookofsky – violin
- Matthew Raimondi – violin
- Emanuel Green – violin
- Kenny Kosek – fiddle
- Luther Vandross – arranger, backing vocals
- Dianne Sumler – backing vocals
- David Lasley – backing vocals
- Erin Dickins – backing vocals
- Annie Sutton – backing vocals
- Donny Beard – backing vocals
- Charlotte Crossley – backing vocals
- Leata Galloway – backing vocals
- Ben Harney – backing vocals
- Rhetta Hughes – backing vocals
- Thomas Moore – backing vocals
- Ula Hedwig – backing vocals
- Sharon Redd – backing vocals
- Ramona Stubblefield – backing vocals
- Clifford Townsend – backing vocals
- Revelation – backing vocals
- Rosie – backing vocals
- Gotham – backing vocals
- Arif Mardin – arranger, conductor, backing vocals, remix
- Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
- Jack Malken – recording, remix engineer
- Lew Hahn – recording, remix engineer
- Jan Rathbun – engineer
- Gerry Block – engineer assistant
- Dave Wittman – engineer assistant
- Richard Amsel – inner sleeve illustration
- Michaele Vollbracht – shopping bag
- Kenn Duncan – poster photography
- Deborah Turbville – photography
Track listing:
- Strangers in the Night – Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton, Eddie Snyder
- I Don’t Want the Night to End – Phoebe Snow
- Mr. Rockefeller – Jerry Blatt, Bette Midler
- Old Cape Cod – Claire Rothrock, Allan Jeffrey, Milton Yakus
- Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan
- Love Says It’s Waiting – Nick Holmes
- Shiver Me Timbers / Samedi et Vendredi – Tom Waits, Bette Midler, Moogy Klingman
- No Jestering – Carlton Malcolm
- Tragedy – Gerald Nelson, Fred Burch
- Marahuana – Arthur Jonston, Sam Coslow
- Let Me Just Follow Behind – Moogy Klingman
