Cher (1987 album)

Last updated
Cher
Chercher.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 10, 1987
Recorded1986–1987
Studio
Genre
Length39:48
Label Geffen
Producer
Cher chronology
I Paralyze
(1982)
Cher
(1987)
Heart of Stone
(1989)
Singles from Cher
  1. "I Found Someone"
    Released: November 19, 1987
  2. "We All Sleep Alone"
    Released: January 28, 1988
  3. "Skin Deep"
    Released: July 1988 [1]
  4. "Main Man"
    Released: October 1988 [2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
New Musical Express 2/10 [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Cher is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 10, 1987 by Geffen Records. [6] The album has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA and Gold in Australia by ARIA and the UK by BPI. [7] [8]

Contents

Background

Five years after the release of Cher's last album, I Paralyze , and her decision to focus on a film career, Cher signed with Geffen Records (which would later absorb one of her former labels, MCA Records) and was rushed to the studio to record what would become her comeback album. The album, Cher, was released in the fall of 1987 and was produced by Michael Bolton, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child. Among the notable guest artists, Bonnie Tyler and Darlene Love were backing vocalists on "Perfection".

After a series of pop and disco records, Cher moved to a radio-friendly rock sound, which helped her get back onto the charts. The album includes a new version of her 1966 hit "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", Michael Bolton's "I Found Someone"—which Bolton and Mark Mangold had originally written for Laura Branigan, released on her 1985 album Hold Me —several songs written by Desmond Child, and two by Diane Warren, who would go on to write many more songs for the singer. [9]

This was also her third album to be named Cher or Chér, as Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves was initially released under the name Chér before it was retitled following the success of the single of the same name, [10] while a studio album in 1966 was also titled Chér .

Reception

The album reached No. 26 in the UK and peaked at No. 32 on the US Billboard albums chart. [11] The first single released from the album and its only UK top 10 hit was "I Found Someone", which reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 10 in the US. [12] The second single, "We All Sleep Alone", peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and just missed breaking the Adult Contemporary top 10 in the US, reaching No. 11. [12] It was less successful in the UK, however, peaking at No. 47. The album's third single was "Skin Deep". The fourth and final single was "Main Man", released in the US and Australia in October 1988.

"Bang Bang", was released as a promotional single in Europe.

Promotion

On November 13, 1987, Cher appeared on Late Night with David Letterman , where she performed "I Found Someone" and "I Got You Babe", the latter with ex-husband Sonny Bono. [13] Later released on VHS, the Late Night performance would be her last with Bono before his death. On November 21, Cher appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live , performing "I Found Someone" and "We All Sleep Alone". [14] The album was also promoted on UK television.

Track listing

Cher track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Found Someone"Bolton3:42
2."We All Sleep Alone"
  • Child
  • Bon Jovi
  • Sambora
3:53
3."Bang-Bang" (1987 version) Sonny Bono
  • Child
  • Bon Jovi
  • Sambora
3:51
4."Main Man"ChildChild3:48
5."Give Our Love a Fightin' Chance"Child4:06
6."Perfection" (featuring Bonnie Tyler and Darlene Love)
  • Child
  • Warren
Child4:28
7."Dangerous Times"
  • Roger Bruno
  • Susan Pomerantz
  • Ellen Schwartz
Peter Asher 3:01
8."Skin Deep"Lind4:16
9."Working Girl"
  • Bolton
  • Child
Child3:57
10."Hard Enough Getting Over You"
  • Bolton
  • Doug James
Bolton3:48

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. [15]

Production

Technical

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Cher
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [23] Gold35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [25] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Heart of Stone</i> (Cher album) 1989 album by Cher

Heart of Stone is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on June 19, 1989 by Geffen Records. As of January 1991, the album had sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. The album was supported by Cher's 1989–1990 Heart of Stone Tour.

<i>House of Love</i> (Amy Grant album) 1994 studio album by Amy Grant

House of Love is the eleventh studio album by Christian and Pop singer Amy Grant, released in 1994.

<i>Love Hurts</i> (Cher album) 1991 album by Cher

Love Hurts is the twentieth studio album by American singer and actress Cher, released on June 18, 1991, by Geffen Records. The album was her final studio album with the record company after a 4-year recording contract. The lead single from the album in Europe was "The Shoop Shoop Song ", while other regions "Love and Understanding" acted as the lead. The follow-up singles were "Save Up All Your Tears", "Love Hurts", "Could've Been You" and "When Lovers Become Strangers". It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart with the sales of 19,000 copies. In November 2011, Billboard stated that Love Hurts had sold 600,000 copies in the US. In Europe the album was a major success, peaking at number one and top 10 in several countries, including the UK where it spent 6 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Soul Provider</i> 1989 studio album by Michael Bolton

Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 26, 1989, by Columbia Records/CBS. The album has sold 12.5 million copies worldwide.

<i>All That Matters</i> (Michael Bolton album) 1997 studio album by Michael Bolton

All That Matters is an album by Michael Bolton, released in 1997, and was his first studio album since 1993's The One Thing. Bolton was aided in production by Babyface and Tony Rich, and among the songwriters are Bolton, Diane Warren, Babyface, Lamont Dozier, Gary Burr, and Tony Rich. Bolton’s U.S. fans were puzzled by the album’s title, "All That Matters", until the phrase was found on the bonus track, "When There Are No Words", on the UK version of the album. The two singles from the album, "The Best of Love", and "Safe Place from the Storm" were disappointing in sales and radio play, and fans were disappointed that the songs were performed only a handful of times during Bolton’s 1998 tour in support of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Wouldn't Know Love</span> 1990 single by Cher

"You Wouldn't Know Love" is a song written by Michael Bolton and Diane Warren appearing in 1989 on Bolton's Soul Provider album and Cher's Heart of Stone album. The song was only released as a single in Europe and Australasia by Cher in 1990. Cher's version of the song was produced by Bolton. It was a minor success in the UK, faring better in Ireland. Michael Landau played the guitar solo in the middle of the song on both Cher and Bolton’s versions of the song.

<i>Cocker</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Joe Cocker

Cocker is the tenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in April 1986, his second on Capitol label. It features hit singles "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and "Don't You Love Me Anymore", the first made popular after its use in the famous striptease scene in the film 9½ Weeks. Released as a single, Cocker's version of the song peaked at No. 35 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. The album also features rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues", a Motown legend's classic lament to urban decay.

<i>Never Let Me Go</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1993 studio album by Luther Vandross

Never Let Me Go is the eighth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on May 26, 1993, in the US by Epic. It was his first studio album not to debut at #1 on the R&B Albums chart.

<i>Burnin</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1991 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Burnin' is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on October 1, 1991, in the United States to mixed reviews. The album features several collaborations, including duets with Gladys Knight and Michael Bolton, and a reunion track with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash from Labelle. It yielded three Billboard R&B chart hits: "Feels Like Another One", "Somebody Loves You Baby " and "When You've Been Blessed ".

<i>Emotional</i> (Jeffrey Osborne album) 1986 studio album by Jeffrey Osborne

Emotional is the fourth album by American singer Jeffrey Osborne. It was released by A&M Records on May 27, 1986. Produced by Osborne, Rod Temperton, Richard Perry, T. C. Campbell, Michael Masser, and George Duke, Emotional reached number five on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and number 27 on the Billboard 200. It spawned one of Osborne's biggest pop hits, "You Should Be Mine " which peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Other tracks that charted include "In Your Eyes", "Soweto", and "Room with a View."

<i>Oasis</i> (Roberta Flack album) 1988 studio album by Roberta Flack

Oasis is Roberta Flack's first solo album of newly recorded songs since 1982's I'm the One. Released 1 November 1988, Oasis features the number-one U.S. singles, "Oasis" (R&B), and "Uh-uh Ooh-ooh Look Out ".

<i>Good to Be Back</i> 1989 studio album by Natalie Cole

Good to Be Back is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released in May 1989 by EMI USA, it contains the hit singles "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I Do".

<i>Reservations for Two</i> 1987 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Reservations for Two is a studio album by the American singer Dionne Warwick. It was recorded during the spring of 1987 and released on July 30 of that year. Her eighth album for Arista Records, it was again executive produced by label head Clive Davis. Warwick reteamed with Barry Manilow and the duo Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager to work on the album, while Kashif, Jerry Knight, Howard Hewett and Smokey Robinson also contributed to the tracks.

<i>20/20</i> (George Benson album) 1985 studio album by George Benson

20/20 is a studio album by George Benson, released on the Warner Bros. record label in 1985. The lead single by the same name reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "You Are the Love of My Life" is a duet with Roberta Flack. It was one of a number of songs used for Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo on the American soap opera Santa Barbara. Also included on 20/20 is the original version of the song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" which would later become a smash hit for Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros.

<i>Everlasting</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1987 studio album by Natalie Cole

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peaked at number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Dangerous</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1985 studio album by Natalie Cole

Dangerous is a 1985 album by American singer Natalie Cole released on May 15, 1985, through the Atco Records-distributed Modern Records label. The album reached peak positions of number 140 on the Billboard 200 and number 48 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

<i>In Your Eyes</i> (George Benson album) 1983 studio album by George Benson

In Your Eyes is a 1983 album by George Benson. It is his only album produced by producer Arif Mardin. It includes the hit "Lady Love Me ".

<i>Working Girl</i> (soundtrack) 1989 soundtrack album by Carly Simon

Working Girl (Original Soundtrack Album) is the soundtrack album to the 1988 Mike Nichols film Working Girl, released by Arista Records, on August 29, 1989.

<i>Hard Love</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Needtobreathe

Hard Love is the sixth studio album by American rock and alternative band Needtobreathe, released on July 15, 2016, through Atlantic Records.

<i>Can You Stop the Rain</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Peabo Bryson

Can You Stop the Rain is the fifteenth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1991, in the United States. Following the release of All My Love (1989), his sole return release with his longtime label, Capitol Records, the singer signed with label Columbia to complete work on his next project along with Walter Afanasieff, Peter Bunetta, Rick Chudacoff, and Barry Mann. Bryson himself became instrumental in composing and producing several songs on his own for the album along with Sir Gant and Dwight W. Watkins.

References

  1. "Cher singles".
  2. "Cher singles".
  3. Jose F. Promis. "Cher: Cher". Allmusic.
  4. Kirsch, Michele (14 November 1987). "Split Personality". New Musical Express . p. 36.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide . New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p.  158. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone cher album guide.
  6. Cher: Cher. Geffen Records. November 10, 1987.
  7. "Cher: Cher". riaa.com.
  8. "Cher: Cher". bpi.co.uk.
  9. "Cher Review". CherScholar.com. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  10. "Allmusic: Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". AllMusic . Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  11. "Artist Chart History- Cher" . Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  12. 1 2 "Artist Chart History- Cher (Singles)" . Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  13. "Sonny and Cher Reunite on 'The Late Show with David Letterman'".
  14. "Watch Saturday Night Live Episodes at". Nbc.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  15. "Cher [1987] – Cher | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 61. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  17. "RPM 100 Albums". RPM . Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  18. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Cher – Cher %5B1987%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  20. "Cher | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  21. "Cher Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  22. "Top Pop Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  23. ARIA Cher data
  24. "British album certifications – Cher – Cher". British Phonographic Industry.
  25. "American album certifications – Cher – Cher". Recording Industry Association of America.