Bette Midler to Release First New Album in 8 Years, 'It's The Girls', Out 11/4

The Divine Miss M is back! Billboard.com reports exclusively today that Bette Midler will release her first studio album in eight years, 'It's the Girls,' featuring songs from female groups who have had the greatest influence on her throughout her career. The album will drop on Nov. 4 via Warner Bros. Records (Nov. 10 in the UK via East West Records/Warner Music UK.)

Covering seven decades of music beginning with the 1930's, the album will feature an array of girl groups including The Boswell Sisters, The Andrews Sisters and R&B legends TLC. Marc Shaiman will produce.

Midler told Billboard, "I have loved the sound of females harmonizing since I was a kid; I always sang along. Didn't we all? I think the idea that you could become part of the group was the thing that endeared me to the girl groups. You weren't just singing along, you were THERE!"

Speaking on the evolution of the music, the actress added, "Since this is a kind of overview of girl groups, I wanted to re-arrange some of the really popular songs and put a new spin on them; 'Can't Hurry Love" being the most extreme example."

She continue, "The Boswell Sisters was the first girl group record I ever owned. A friend of my parents gave it to them, and I played it to death. They killed. They are nearly forgotten today. The '60s were the height of girl-group frenzy, so there were a lot of songs to chose from, but from the '90s on, my favorites were TLC and Destiny's Child. 'Waterfalls' was a heartbreaker, especially if you were a mom, and it had a big effect on me. I never thought I would have the nerve to sing it, but we had an idea for it that works, and I am so glad I took the chance."

The track list for It's The Girls is as follows:

1. BE MY BABY
Originally performed by The Ronettes

2. ONE FINE DAY
Originally performed by The Chiffons

3. BEI MIR BIST DU SCHÖN
Originally performed by The Andrews Sisters
All Vocals by Bette Midler

4. BABY IT'S YOU
Originally performed by The Shirelles
All Vocals by Bette Midler

5. TELL HIM
Originally performed by The Exciters

6. HE'S SURE THE BOY I LOVE (duet with Darlene Love)
Originally performed by The Crystals

7. MR. SANDMAN
Originally performed by The Chordettes

8. COME AND GET THESE MEMORIES
Originally performed by Martha & The Vandellas

9. TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA
Originally performed by The Marvelettes

10. TEACH ME TONIGHT
Originally performed by The DeCastro Sisters

11. WATERFALLS
Originally performed by TLC

12. YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE
Originally performed by The Supremes

13. GIVE HIM A GREAT BIG KISS
Originally performed by The Shangri-Las

14. WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW
Originally performed by The Shirelles

15. IT'S THE GIRL
Originally performed by The Boswell Sisters
All Vocals by Bette Midler

Read the article in full here!

Midler finished her Broadway run of I'LL EAT YOU LAST this spring, starring as the legendary Hollywood agent Mengers in her first Broadway appearance in almost 40 years. Written by John Logan, I'LL EAT YOU LAST was directed on Broadway by Joe Mantello.

Midler began her legendary career as an entertainer in 1965, in New York, where she developed the trademark act that would make her one of the most renowned talents of her generation. Her debut album, 1972's The Divine Miss M set her on the path that has led her to earn Grammys, Emmys, Golden Globes and Academy Award nominations in a career that has spanned over 40 years. She has toured the world, sold millions of albums, published two books and appeared in over two dozen films, including The Rose, Beaches, Ruthless People, Hocus Pocus, First Wives Club and For The Boys.

In addition to her work on stage and in films, Bette has made her mark in television, with the Emmy Award-winning CBS special of Ol Red Hair Is Back, and several HBO concerts, Live at Last and Art or Bust, and the Emmy Award-winning Diva Las Vegas. In 1992 she starred in the CBS television adaptation of the musical Gypsy, for which she won both a Golden Globe and the national board of review award for her performance.

In January 2009 she concluded her sold-out Vegas spectacular The Showgirl Must Go On, at Caesar's Palace, with over 200 performances. In 1994, she returned to New York after nearly 20 years in Los Angeles, and started the New York Restoration Project, a non-profit organization devoted to bringing abandoned and neglected parks, gardens, and open spaces in all five boroughs back to life. NYRP includes the beautiful New Leaf Cafe in Fort Tryon Park as part of its success, and is committed to helping restore parks and gardens devastated by Hurricane Sandy.