Cher's Musical History - The 70s
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1971
"Chér"
Kapp
Produced by Snuff Garrett
The Way Of Love (Stillman/Dieval)
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves (Stone)
He'll Never Know (Sklerov/Lloyd)
Fire And Rain (Taylor)
When You Find Out Where You're Goin', Let Me Know (Laurie)
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Russell/Scott)
I Hate To Sleep Alone (Clinger)
I'm In The Middle (Gate)
Touch And Go (Fuller)
One Honest Man (Greco)
Later retitled "Gypsies Tramps & Theives"
due to the overwhelming popularity of the single.
CD reissued by MCA/Universal
Billboard® review for week ending 9/4/71
Cher does possess one of the distinctive voices in popular music today. Here she gets some lush orchestral frameworks within which to tell her story, whether it's the familiar, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "Fire and Rain" or her brand new single "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves." Her current TV show with husband Sonny should aid sales and there's strong MOR possibilities.
"Sonny & Chér Live"
Kapp
Recorded live in Las Vegas
Produced by Denis Pregnolato
What Now My Love (Sigman/Becaud/Delanoe)
The Beat Goes On (Bono)
Once In A Lifetime (Newley/Bricusse)
More Today Than Yesterday (Upton)
Got To Get You Into My Life (Lennon/McCartney)
Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You) (Hodges)
Danny Boy
Laugh At Me (Bono)
Something (Harrison)
Hey Jude (Lennon/McCartney)
I Got You Babe (Bono)
A significant portion of this album was re-released on the Cher and Sonny & Cher Kapp/MCA Anthology "All I Ever Need" featured in Music 90's
Billboard® review for week ending 9/18/71
Timed just right with the husband and wife team walking off with rave reviews for their TV series, this package should hit hard with sales impact. Recorded in live performance at the Century Plaza Hotel, with strong backing from the Al Pellegrini band, the LP captures all the excitement and humor of their act which includes their hit performances of "Beat Goes On," "I Got You Babe" and "What Now My Love."1971 Singles: "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves", "All I Ever Need Is You", "Classified 1A", "Real People", "Somebody"
1972
"Foxy Lady"
Kapp
Produced by Snuff Garrett and Sonny Bono
Living In A House Divided (Bahler)
It May As Well Stay Monday (From Now On) (Chandler)
Song For You (Russell)
Down, Down, Down (Jack)
Don't Ever Try To Close A Rose (Greco)
The First Time (Bono)
Let Me Down Easy (Stillman/Simon)
If I Knew Then (Stone)
Don't Hide Your Love (Sedaka/Greenfield)
Never Been To Spain (Axton)
Cher is back in the spotlight via TV and powerful disk sale, solo and with Mr. Bono. This LP is dynamite work and will take her right up the charts once again. Includes her current hit "Living in a House Divided," "Song for You," and "Let Me Down Easy." Two standout cuts are Sonny's "The First Time" and Hoyt Axton's "Never Been to Spain." Strong production by Snuff Garrett and Sonny Bono. A sure and speedy chart topper for the "Foxy Lady."
"All I Ever Need Is You"
Kapp
Produced by Snuff Garrett
All I Ever Need Is You (Reeves/Holiday)
Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling (McCauley/Greenway/Cook)
More Today Than Yesterday (Upton)
Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters (Laurie)
United We Stand (Hiller/Simmons)
A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done (Bono)
I Love You More Than Yesterday (Laurie/Tucker)
You Better Sit Down Kids (Bono)
We'll Watch The Sun Coming Up (Shining Down On Our Love) (Roberts/Welch)
Somebody (Bono)
1972 Singles: "The Way Of Love", "Living In A House Divided", "Don't Hide Your Love", "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done", "When You Say Love", "Somebody" (re-release), "Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters",
"Bittersweet White Light"
MCA
Produced by Sonny Bono
By Myself (Dietz/Schwartz)
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Webster/Ellington)
Am I Blue (Clarke/Akst)
How Long Has This Been Going On (Gershwin/Gershwin)
The Man I Love (Gershwin/Gershwin)
Jolson Medley: Sonny Boy (Jolson/DeSylva/Brown/Henderson),
My Mammy (Lewis/Young/Donaldson), Rock-a-bye Your Baby With
A Dixie Melody (Lewis/Young/Schwartz)
More Than You Know (Rose/Eliscu/Yeumans)
Why Was I Born (Kern/Hammerstein II)
The Man That Got Away (Arlen/Gershwin)
Reissued in 1999 as "Bittersweet: The Love Songs" with bonus tracks - featured in Music 90's
Billboard® review for week ending 4/14/73
Sonny's first production for his spouse since splitting with Snuff Garrett consists entirely of ballad-rocked standards by Kern, Gershwin, etc., and should please the artist's TV fans. Best cut: "Jolson Medley."
"Half-Breed"
MCA
Produced by Snuff Garrett
My Love (McCartney/McCartney)
Two People Clinging To A Thread (Sklerov/Lloyd)
Half-Breed (Dean/Capps)
The Greatest Song I Ever Heard (Holler)
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (Gibb/Gibb)
Carousel Man (Durrill)
David's Song (Paich)
Melody (Crofford/Garrett)
The Long And Winding Road (Lennon/McCartney)
This God-Forsaken Day (Segal)
Chastity Sun (Seals/Crofts)
"Mama Was A Rock & Roll Singer, Papa Used To Write All Her Songs"
MCA
Produced by Denis Pregnolato, Michel Rubini and Sonny Bono
It Never Rains In Southern California (Hammond/Hazelwood)
I Believe In You (Pregnolato, Rubini, Dunne)
I Can See Clearly Now (Nash)
Rhythm Of Your Heartbeat (Macauley/Stevens)
Mama Was A Rock & Roll Singer, Papa Used To Write
All Her Songs (Part 1 & 2) (Bono)
By Love I Mean (David/Jacobs/Trujillo)
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show (Diamond)
You Know Darn Well (Macauley)
The Greatest Show On Earth (Stone)
Listen To The Music (Johnston)
"Sonny & Chér Live In Las Vegas
Volume 2"
MCA
Produced by Denis Pregnolato
All I Ever Need Is You (Reeves/Holiday)
Music & Dialogue: I Can See Clearly Now (Nash), You've
Got A Friend (King), Where You Lead (King/Stern)
Comedy Monologue
Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves (Stone)
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show (Diamond)
You and I (Wonder)
Superstar (Russell)
Monologue
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (Bono)
Introduction
You Better Sit Down Kids/A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done (Bono)
I Got You Babe (Bono)
A significant portion of this album was re-released on the Cher and Sonny & Cher Kapp/MCA Anthology "All I Ever Need" featured in Music 90's
"The Two Of Us"
Atco
Produced by Sonny Bono
I Got You Babe (Bono)
Unchained Melody (North/Zaret)
Then He Kissed Me (Spector)
Sing C'est La Vie (Bono/Greene/Stone)
It's Gonna Rain (Bono)
Baby Don't Go (Bono)
Just You (Bono)
The Letter (Bowman Harris/Terry)
Let It Be Me (Curtis/Becaud)
You Don't Love Me (Cobbs)
You Really Got A Hold On Me (Robinson)
Rhythm Of Your Heartbeat (Macauley/Stevens)
Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (Spector/Greenwich/Barry)
The Beat Goes On (Bono)
Groovy Kind Of Love (Wine/Bayer)
Monday (Bono)
Love Don't Come (Bono)
Podunk (Bono)
Little Man (Bono)
We'll Sing In The Sunshine (Garnett)
Misty Roses (Hardin)
Stand By Me (King/Glick)
Living For You (Bono)
Cheryl's Goin' Home (Lind)
Billboard® review for week ending 8/19/72
Currently a smash on both CBS TV and Kapp Records, Mr. & Mrs. Bono's older material has been repackaged by Atco into this super two record set which will prove a favorite with their many fans, old and new. Includes their classics "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On" as well as "The Letter," "Misty Roses," "Let It Be Me" and many more. Sure to be an addition to the long string of this year's chart hits.
1973 Singles: "Am I Blue", "Superstar",
"Half-Breed", "Mama Was A Rock & Roll
Singer, Papa Used To Write All Her Songs (Part 1)", "The Greatest
Show On Earth", "Carousel Man"
1974
"Dark Lady"
MCA
Produced by Snuff Garrett
Train Of Thought (O'Day)
I Saw A Man And He Danced With His Wife (Durrill)
Make The Man Love Me (Weil/Mann)
Just What I've Been Lookin' For (O'Dell)
Dark Lady (Durrill)
Miss Subway Of 1952 (Cain)
Dixie Girl (Durrill)
Rescue Me (Smith/Miner)
What'll I Do (Berlin)
Apples Don't Fall Far From The Tree (Stone)
"Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves", "Half-Breed"and "Dark Lady" were partially re-released on CD as "Half-Breed" featured in Music 90's
Billboard® review for week ending 5/25/74
This could finally be the LP that will establish Cher as a major album artist as well as a sure single seller, TV and club star. She has a distinctive style which immediately identifies her, yet she is able to handle songs ranging from straight Top 40 pop to country to show type music to rock to ballads. In short, this set, more than any she has done before, exposes just how versatile this lady is. With top production from Snuff Garrett and Al Kapps' fine arrangements, there is little territory not covered by Cher here. She is appealing to all her audiences, not too much for any yet not too little either. In short, she has put together a recognizable voice with fine songs, a set that flows throughout and superb production. Best cuts: "Train of Thought," "Dark Lady," "Miss Subway of 1952," "Dixie Girl," "Rescue Me." Dealers: Cher has fans from Top 40, clubs and TV. She is a personality as well as a singer, so display in rock, pop and on stepdowns.
"Chér/Greatest Hits"
MCA
Produced by Snuff Garrett
Dark Lady (Durrill)
The Way Of Love (Stillman/Dieval/Revgauch)
Don't Hide Your Love (Sedaka/Greenfield)
Half-Breed (Dean/Kapps)
Train Of Thought (O'Day)
Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves (Stone)
I Saw A Man And He Danced With His Wife (Durrill)
Carousel Man (Durrill)
Living In A House Divided (Bahler)
Melody (Crofford/Garrett)
Reissued on CD with bonus track "Dixie Girl"
Billboard® review for week ending 11/2/74
While many tend to take Cher for granted, she has proven one of the most consistent hitmakers of the past five years with a batch of songs that are not only good but which vary from rock to ballads to that vague in-between. Working with Snuff Garrett, Cher has almost always managed to come up with that "just right" song, be it through use of a strong hook, a catchy chorus or perfect words. As a plus, she is a fine singer whose audience ranges from teenage AM listeners to people who never listen to a radio but have been captivated by her on her TV show. And, these songs really are her greatest hits. Best cuts: "Dark Lady," "Half-Breed," "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves," "I Saw A Man And He Danced With His Wife," "Train Of Thought." Dealers: A proven superstar who always sells records. Place this one in MOR as well as rock and pop and take full advantage.
"Sonny & Cher Greatest
Hits"
MCA
Billboard® review for week ending 9/14/74
Sonny & Cher, for all the criticism leveled at them during their career together for being too commercial, put together some of the finest singles of the past decade, reaching audiences of all types. This LP represents the entire spectrum of their career (earlier hits are not the originals, but live versions) and traces their progression from teen idols to over-all stars. Cher possesses one of the finest voices in popular music, and while there are those with better vocals than Sonny's, he remains an excellent interpreter and a topnotch writer. Excellent LP for collectors and for new fans they may have gained through their TV show. Best cuts: "You Better Sit Down Kids," "I Got You Babe," "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done," "The Beat Goes On." Dealers: Duo has a decade of fans. Sonny has his own TV show this fall and Cher is sure to do a number of guest stints.
1974 Singles: "Dark
Lady", "Train Of Thought",
"I Hate To Sleep Alone", "I Saw A Man And He Danced With His Wife", "A Woman's Story"/Baby I Love You"
1975
"Stars"
Warner Brothers
Produced by Jimmy Webb
Love Enough (Moore)
Bell Bottom Blues (Clapton)
These Days (Browne)
Mr. Soul (Young)
Just This One Time (Webb)
Geronimo's Cadillac (Murphey)
The Bigger They Come The Harder They Fall (Cliff)
Love Hurts (Bryant)
Rock And Roll Doctor (George/Martin)
Stars (Ian)
Billboard® review for week ending 4/19/75
First LP for Cher since joining Warner Bros. and first with Jimmy Webb as producer is a mix of MOR type cuts, bluesy rock, progressive country and more standard rock. Standard Cher vocals are buffered by big Webb productions, but the major problem is that the artist's vocals sound strained and/or overdone on most of the cuts and the mood doesn't seem to change a great deal from song to song. These faults, however, should not deter the usual army of Cher fans, an army that has swelled since her TV show began. Excellent musicianship throughout from a number of prominent players, but with the exception of a few of the slower and mid-tempo cuts, it would appear that the artist is capable of better. Best cuts: "Stars," "Love Hurts," "These Days," "Geronimo's Cadillac." Dealers: Artist certainly a more salable quantity with recent TV solo success and will undoubtedly perform LP songs on the show.
1975 Singles: "Rescue Me", "Geronimo's Cadillac"
1976
"I'd Rather Believe In You"
Warner Brothers
Produced by Steve Barri and Michael Omartian
Long Distance Love Affair (Price/Walsh)
I'd Rather Believe In You (Omartian/Omartian)
I Know (You Don't Love Me) (George)
Silver Wings And Golden Rings (Sklerov/Leikin)
Flashback (Wayne/O'Day)
It's A Cryin' Shame (Lambert/Potter)
Early Morning Strangers (Manilow/David)
Knock On Wood (Floyd/Cropper)
Spring (Tipton)
Borrowed Time (Hill/Soden/Weber/Michlin)
Billboard® review for week ending 9/25/76
Cher and Steve Barri are two of the biggest names in the history of singles, and this first collaboration between them is, as might be expected, highly entertaining and of course commercial. Since it has been 2 1/2 years since "Dark Lady" and Cher's last hit string, the teaming with producers Barri and Michael Omartian, who handled "Theme from `SWAT'" and "Happy Days" this year, could be a smart move. There are a few torchy melodramas, but mostly this is a fun, uptempo album that should please Cher's many fans even if it won't win over any non-believers. Highlights include "I Know," the Barbara George hit from 1962; "Flashback," a Fifth Dimension hit; "It's A Cryin' Shame," a 1971 Lambert & Potter chart record and "Knock On Wood," the 1966 Eddie Floyd hit. Best cuts: All of those plus the single, "Long Distance Love Affair." Dealers: Sonny & Cher will be back on TV this month.
1976 Singles: "(A Love Like Yours) Don't Come Knocking Every Day" - Cher and Harry Nilsson, "Long Distance Love Affair", "Pirate"
1977
"Cherished"
Warner Brothers
Produced by Snuff Garrett
Pirate (Dorff/Herbstritt/Harju)
He Was Beautiful (Sklerov/Lloyd)
War Paint And Soft Feathers (Miller/Pinkard/Capps)
Love The Devil Out Of Ya (Durrill/Pomus)
She Loves To Hear The Music (Allen/Bayer Sager)
L.A. Plane (Harju/Herbstritt)
Again (Allen)
Dixie (Durrill/Pinkard)
Send The Man Over (Crofford/Garrett)
Thunderstorm (Durrill/Pinkard)
Billboard® review for week ending 8/20/77
Cher's recent outings with producers Jimmy Webb and Steve Barri were not notably successful but here she is reunited with Snuff Garrett, who helmed three No. 1 singles for her between '71 and '74. The colorfully-shaded sagas of down-on-their-luck ladies again highlight the usual mix of torch songs, hook-laden catchy pop numbers and soft MOR. The arrangements, many by Al Capps, are full-bodied and feature nice occasional touches of Indian and Cajun music, as did "Half Breed" and "Dark Lady." Best cuts: "L.A. Plane," "Send The Man Over" (co-written by Garrett), "She Loves To Hear The Music.""Two The Hard Way"
Gregg Allman & Cher as Allman and Woman
Warner Brothers
Produced by Johnny Sandlin, Gregg Allman and John Haeny
Move Me (Beckmeier/Beckmeier/Cameron/Cameron)
I Found You Love (Gordon)
Can You Fool (Smotherman)
You Really Got A Hold On Me (Robinson)
We're Gonna Make It (Davis/Smith/Miner/Barge)
Do What You Gotta Do (Webb)
In For The Night (Sanford/Townsend)
Shadow Dream Song (Browne)
Island (Cher as "Ilene Rappaport")
I Love Makin' Love To You (Weisman/Sands/Germinero)
Love Me (Leiber/Stoller)
1977 Singles: "War Paint And Soft Feathers", "Pirate", "You're Not Right For Me" -
Sonny and Cher
1978
Album track "Living In Sin" on Gene Simmons' "Gene Simmons" solo KISS release (Casablanca)
1979
"Take Me Home"
Casablanca
Produced by Bob Esty and Ron Dante
Take Me Home (Aller/Esty)
Wasn't It Good (Aller/Esty)
Say The Word (Aller/Esty)
Happy Was The Day We Met (Castro)
Git Down (Guitar Groupie) (Aller/Esty)
Love & Pain (Bear)
Let This Be A Lesson To You (Snow)
It's Too Late To Love Me Now (Bourke/Dobbins/Wilson)
My Song (Too Far Gone) (Cher/Hudson)
Billboard® review for week ending 2/10/79
Cher teams up with Bob Esty under the aegis of the Entertainment Company, which has revitalized and redirected the record careers of such other household names as Barbra Streisand and Glen Campbell. Two of the cuts here were produced by Ron Dante, who co-produces Barry Manilow's LPs. The songs include offerings by Tom Snow and Richard T. Bear with one by Mark Hudson and Cher. Jimmy Haskell provides several of the discotized string and horn arrangements. Best cuts: "Love & Pain," "Take Me Home," "My Song," "Wasn't It Good," "Git Down (Guitar Groupie)."
"Prisoner"
Casablanca
Produced by Bob Esty
Prisoner (Esty)
Holdin' Out For Love (Weil/Snow)
Shoppin' (Esty/Aller)
Boys & Girls (Falcon)
Mirror Image (Brooks/Esty)
Hell On Wheels (Esty/Aller)
Holy Smoke (Esty/Aller)
Outrageous (Esty/Aller)
"Take Me Home" and "Prisoner" were re-released on CD as "The Casablanca Years" featured in Music 90's
1979 Singles: "Take Me
Home" (also released as 12" remix and 12"
picture disc), "Wasn't It Good", "It's Too Late To
Love Me Now", "Hell On Wheels" also
released as 12" remix b/w 12" remix of "Git Down (Guitar
Groupie)", "Prisoner", "Hell On Wheels" appears on "Roller Boogie" Soundtrack
(Casablanca)
[ 1964 - 1969 ]
©1998-2001 Chastity Sun Productions Inc. coldday@geocities.com
Billboard® reviews are from the Reviews and Previews section of Billboard online
