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Cher - Backstage/Golden Greats Audio CD

A fair review of the Cher "Backstage/Golden Greats" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Cher reviews here, or go back to the Cher tabs.

Cher Band: Cher
Title: Backstage/Golden Greats
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-05-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Go Now 2: Carnival (Manha de Carnaval) (Canción de Orfeo) 3: It All Adds Up Now 4: Reason to Believe 5: Masters of War 6: Do You Believe in Magic 7: I Wasn't Ready 8: House Is Not a Home 9: Take Me for a Little While 10: Impossible Dream (The Quest) 11: Click Song 12: Song Called Children 13: All I Really Want to Do 14: Sunny 15: Alfie 16: Come and Stay with Me 17: I Feel Something in the Air 18: Where Do You Go 19: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) 20: Bells of Rhymney 21: You Better Sit Down Kids 22: Hey Joe 23: Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies) 24: Until It's Time for You to Go

Classic Cher, Love it!
She was only 22 years old when it was released and was already on her 5th studio album. I really think BACKSTAGE is a great and underated album from Cher. the 2nd part of the CD is a compliation of her best songs and hits from her previous 4 albums from Imperial. This is a must have for cher fan's who want some of her early rare 60's music! Also look out for her new album later this year, November 2008! She's still going strong at 62!.


Finally It's Here....But Could Have Been Better
The disc is in Stereo and sounds great with very little use of "no noise" tweaking. Finally, the last Cher album for Imperial records makes its CD debut! Most of the songs have never been officially released on compact disc.

However, don't be fooled by "Golden Greats". The track listing on this compact disc is different than the original US album. Missing are (1) Needles and Pins, (2) Dream Baby, (3) Elusive Butterfly, and (4) Take Me For a Little While. The last song would have repeated since it is already on "Backstage". Added to replace the four missing tracks are (1) I Feel Something In the Air, (2) The Bells of Rhymney, (3) Until It's Time For You To Go, and (4) Mama, When My Dollies Have Babies.

What BGO should have done was add the two B-side only tracks from her Imperial catalog: (1) She's No Better Than Me and (2) I'm Gonna Love You. Then, their Cher reissue campaign would have been complete!

Why Oh Why do the record companies never contact us fans?.


Cher Backstage completes Imperial Library
It also shows Cher in the sparse arrangements of Harold Battiste ,famed New Orleans musician arranger and all around great musician- man. This last Imperial(liberty) recording of Cher's last efforts for her first solo label is welcome indeed. Cher is way upfront and clear- with an array of songs that were well chosen for her voice. There is a open and free quality to her voice,and Cher is comfortable in various music styles. This reissue is remastered and Cher is presented in the best light possible for these recordings.
Some of these arrangements are great. "Masters of war" a Dylan classic gets a vital and eerie Cher reading,and the Battiste arrangement sets the mood. Cher may challenge the new listener with the Swahili song,(Click song number 1 Marien Makeba). Dr. Johns' "I wasn't ready " has a nice easy rolling mature Cher reading. She is romantic and warm,and earthy,and loose.
Her reading of Bacharach/David "A house is not a home" may be it's most heart felt and emotionally affective reading. The arrangement is better than the Bono arrangement on "Alfie". It does not detract from the lovely vocal. Cher has a way of conveying pathos with conviction and tonal color.
As a Cher fan and collector this cd is a welcome addition to the Cher's library,and has the sonic fidelity I was hoping for.
The 2nd part of the cd is hardly impossible to find, but welcome. It reminds us of some of Cher's greatest folk folk gems. The best of the lot is "Where do you go" a pathos ridden teen anthem,"Bang Bang, (my baby shot me down) which is the original hit and the definitive version of arguably Sonny's greatest writing. Cher here is the moody internal Cher that her first legion of young fans loved. This collection may introduce a whole mass of younger fans to collect the BGO series of the first wave of Cher lps. Thanks BGO !
I love these songs,and this two for one collection is very pleasurable.


You can see a complete list of all Cher discography, or go back to the Cher tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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