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
Old Cape Cod being issued as a single. Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "Old Cape Cod" for his 1968 album release, "Tennessee Ernie Ford's World of Pop and Country Hits". That same year, Dottie West recorded "Old Cape Cod" for her album "Feminine Fancy", which mostly consisted of remakes of signature songs of well-known female singers, and also featured West's take on Patti Page's career record "Tennessee Waltz". Bette Midler recorded "Old Cape Cod" for release on her 1972 debut album "The Divine Miss M" although the track – produced by Midler with Joel Dorn – was debuted in 1976 on "Songs for the