Cher (1987 album)

Cher
Studio album by Cher
Released November 10, 1987
Recorded 1987
Genre Pop rock, adult contemporary
Length 39:48
Label Geffen
Producer Michael Bolton (tracks 1 & 10), Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora (tracks 2 & 3), Desmond Child (tracks 2-5, 6 & 9), Peter Asher (track 7), Jon Lind (track 8)
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: 1988
  4. "Bang Bang"
    Released: 1988
  5. "Main Man"
    Released: 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [2]

Cher is the 18th studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 10, 1987 by Geffen Records.[3]

Album information

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 self-titled album Cher was released in the fall of 1987. The record 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 and composed for, and which had initially been recorded by, Laura Branigan, several songs written by Desmond Child, and two by Diane Warren, who would go on to write many more songs for the singer.[4]

The album reached #26 in the UK, and peaked at #32 on the US Billboard album charts.[5] The first single released from the album and its only UK top 10 hit was "I Found Someone," which reached #5 in the UK and #10 in the US.[6] The second single, "We All Sleep Alone," peaked at #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and just missed breaking the Adult Contemporary top 10 in the US, stalling at #11.[6] It was less successful in the UK, however, peaking at #47. The album's other singles were "Skin Deep," "Bang-Bang," and "Main Man," the last two released only as promo singles in North America.

This was also her second album to be named "Cher," as Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves was initially released under the name Cher before it was retitled following the success of the single of the same name.[7] She also released a similarly-titled studio album in 1966 entitled Chér.

Promotion

The album was promoted on Saturday Night Live, where she performed "I Found Someone" and "We All Sleep Alone", and on the Late Show with David Letterman, where she performed "I Found Someone" and "I Got You Babe". Later released on VHS, the Letterman performance would be her last with ex-husband Sonny Bono before his death. The album was also promoted on UK television.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I Found Someone"  Michael Bolton, Mark Mangold 3:42
2. "We All Sleep Alone"  Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 3:53
3. "Bang-Bang" (1987 version)Sonny Bono 3:51
4. "Main Man"  Child 3:48
5. "Give Our Love a Fightin' Chance"  Child, Diane Warren 4:06
6. "Perfection" (featuring Bonnie Tyler and Darlene Love)Child, Warren 4:28
7. "Dangerous Times"  Roger Bruno, Susan Pomerantz, Ellen Schwartz 3:01
8. "Skin Deep"  Jon Lind, Mark Goldenberg 4:16
9. "Working Girl"  Child, Bolton 3:57
10. "Hard Enough Getting Over You"  Bolton, Doug James 3:48

Additional notes

Personnel and production

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1987/1988) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[8] 32
Canadian Albums Chart[9] 39
Swedish Album Chart[10] 44
UK Albums Chart[11] 26
United States Billboard 200[12] 32

Year-End Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [13] 67

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[14] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Jose F. Promis. "Cher Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Allmusic Release Information Retrieved October 15 2013
  4. ↑ "Cher Review". CherScholar.com. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Artist Chart History- Cher". Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Artist Chart History- Cher (Singles)". Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Allmusic: Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  8. ↑ http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Cher&cat=a
  9. ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0946&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=v2a76h62to0aart05gg0u3agj2
  10. ↑ "Cher", in Swedish Album Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 7, 2009])
  11. ↑ UK Albums Chart . Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  12. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299062/cher/chart?page=1&f=305
  13. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299062/cher/chart?f=412
  14. ↑ http://www.mediafire.com/view/?xaij7r71ngxbgqe
  15. ↑ "British album certifications – Cher – Cher". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Cher in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  16. ↑ "American album certifications – Cher – Cher". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links