Bringing Me Ecstasy

Bette Midler & Bob Dylan “Buckets of Rain”

I only recently learned of this Bette Midler cover of a Bob Dylan classic recently, as a result of working on the 1970s surveys. This version, which she performs as a duet with Dylan himself, was recorded around the same time as the original on Blood on the Tracks and came out only a few months after that album in early 1976. It’s an incredibly charming recording, and has the feeling of something the two of them decided to throw together on a lark.

Whereas the Dylan version is an earnest acoustic ballad, this is more of a cheeky honky tonk barroom piano tune that plays on Midler’s strengths as a campy cabaret act. They sound like they’re flirting and goofing around – like, why did they change the word “bucket” to “nuggets” here other than to be silly? Midler’s ad libs are both beautiful and hilarious, especially when she sings “Bobby, Bobby, hey there Mr. D, you set me free!” The playful spirit continues through the fade out in which Bob and Bette have a bit of charming banter that ends with him noting “you and Paul Simon should have done this one.” I disagree, that could not have possibly been as cute as this.

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