Richard Amsel a nationwide artists’ talent search; the artist was 22 at the time. Amsel quickly found popularity within New York's art scene, and his illustrations caught the attention of Barry Manilow, then a young singer/songwriter named who was working with Bette Midler, a newly emerging entertainer in cabaret clubs and piano bars. Manilow introduced the two, and it was quickly decided that Amsel should do the cover of her first Atlantic Records album. The cover, for "The Divine Miss M" proved to be one of the most ubiquitous of the year. More album covers and posters soon followed, as did a
Do You Want to Dance master. The song was first released in 1965 in mono on the band's album "Today!" with a stereo remix of the song being released in 2012 on the stereo remaster of that same album. Sourced from Musician's Union AFM contract sheets and surviving session audio, documented by Craig Slowinski. A live version from March 1965 was released in 2015 for the archival "Live in Chicago 1965". Bette Midler included the song—with the original title restored, "Do You Want to Dance"—on her 1972 debut album "The Divine Miss M". In contrast to the Bobby Freeman, Cliff Richard, and Beach Boys versions,