ReleasedNovember 12, 1991 GenreVocal ArtistBette Midler MovieFor the Boys
Recorded1991 Length37:06 Release date12 November 1991 LabelAtlantic Records
ProducersArif Mardin, Dave Grusin, Joe Mardin, Marc Shaiman SimilarBette Midler albums, Other albums
For the Boys is the soundtrack to the feature film of the same name starring Bette Midler and James Caan, released on the Atlantic Records label in 1991.
In the movie Midler and Caan play the USO entertainers Dixie Leonard and Eddie Sparks who travel and perform together through World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War and the soundtrack mainly consists of period music from the songbooks of Hoagy Carmichael, Ray Evans, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and Frank Loesser, including jazz standards and evergreens like "P.S. I Love You", "Stuff Like That There", "Come Rain or Come Shine", and Leonard and Sparks' signature tune "I Remember You". A few of the tracks performed by Midler and Caan were however originals composed especially for the movie. "Dixie's Dream" was written by Midler's longtime collaborator Marc Shaiman; "Dreamland" by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and co-producer Dave Grusin; Grusin also wrote the Golden Globe nominated original score.
For the Boys was promoted by the Diane Warren-penned ballad "Every Road Leads Back To You" which became a Top 20 hit on the US adult contemporary chart, peaking at #15. The second single was Midler's interpretation of The Beatles "In My Life", in the movie performed by Dixie Leonard as she entertains the U.S. troops during the Vietnam War. "In My Life" also reached #20 on the adult contemporary chart and later made its way onto Midler's greatest hits collection Experience the Divine.
For the Boys album reached #22 on the U.S. album chart, and was later certified Gold by the RIAA, and #75 in the UK.
Track listing
All tracks performed by Bette Midler unless otherwise noted
"Billy-A-Dick" (Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster) - 1:35
"Stuff Like That There" (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) - 2:50
"P.S. I Love You" (Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer) - 3:33
"The Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" (Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren) - 1:16
Performed by the cast
"I Remember You" / "Dixie's Dream" (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger) / (Marc Shaiman) - 2:21
Performed by Bette Midler and James Caan
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Frank Loesser) - 1:29
Performed by Bette Midler and James Caan
"Dreamland" (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Don Grusin) - 3:16
"Vickie and Mr. Valves" (Lenny LaCroix) - 2:29
Performed by the cast, trumpet solo by Jack Sheldon
"For All We Know" (J. Fred Coots, Sam M. Lewis) - 4:00
"Come Rain or Come Shine" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 3:30
"In My Life" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 3:26
"I Remember You" (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger) - 3:34
"Every Road Leads Back to You" (Diane Warren) - 3:47
Personnel
Bette Midler - lead vocals, backing vocals
James Caan - lead vocals
Melissa Manchester - backing vocals
Morgan Ames - backing vocals
Carmen Twillie - backing vocals
Eugene VanBuren - backing vocals
Randy Crenshaw - backing vocals
Patty d'Arcy - backing vocals
John West - backing vocals
Kevin Dorsey - backing vocals
Lorraine Feather - backing vocals
Don Shelton - backing vocals
Jo Ann Harris - backing vocals
Jon Joyce - backing vocals
David Lasley - backing vocals
Arnold McCuller - backing vocals
Alvin Stoller - drums
Jeff Porcaro - drums
Frank Capp - drums
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
Harvey Mason, Sr. - drums
Chuck Berghofer - bass guitar
Chuck Domanico - bass
Dennis Budimir - guitar
John Goux - guitar
Steve Lukather - guitar
Robbie Buchanan - keyboards, programming
Marc Shaiman - keyboards
Dave Grusin - keyboards
Randy Kerber - keyboards
Michael Lang - keyboards
Claude Gaudette - synthesizer, keyboards
Joe Mardin - synthesizer, keyboards, programming
Eric Persing - programming
Jack Sheldon - trumpet
Stuart Canin - concert master
Gerald Vinci - concert master
Production
Arif Mardin - record producer, musical arranger, string arrangements, woodwind arrangements
Dave Grusin - producer, rhythm arrangements
Joe Mardin - producer, arranger
Marc Shaiman - arranger, conductor, producer, vocal arrangement
Joel Sill - executive producer
Artie Kane - conductor
Ralph Burns - arranger, conductor
Marty Paich - arranger, conductor
Billy May - arranger, conductor
Robbie Buchanan - rhythm arrangements
Morgan Ames - vocal arrangements
Lorraine Feather - vocal arrangements
Jack Joseph Puig - engineer
Joey Wolpert - engineer
Bob Schaper - engineer
Don Murray - engineer, mixing
Michael O'Reilly - engineer, mixing
Ray Blair - assistant engineer
Brett Swain - assistant engineer
Eddie Sexton - assistant engineer
Eric Rudd - assistant engineer
Marnie Riley - assistant engineer
Mark Guilbeault - assistant engineer
Charles Paakkari - assistant engineer
Doug Sax - mastering
Sandy DeCrescent - music contractor
Lisa Maldonado - production coordination
Recorded at Capitol Studios, Studio 55, Oceanway Recording, and Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California.
Songs
1Billy-A-Dick1:35 2Stuff Like That There2:51 3PS I Love You3:33