CHER'S GREATEST HITS 1965 - 1992

Cher has undoubtedly had more "Greatest Hits" collections than any other artist in history. Primarily because of her numerous label changes, and the cheap licensing of her earlier material. This has unfortunately only served to dilute the impact of her recording career due to overmarketing of her songs.

Consequently, it is difficult to put a fresh spin on any collection of Cher material, however this release comes close. Released in the UK in November 1992, just in time for Christmas, this CD featured a bumper collection of 16 songs, three of which were previously unreleased. It was also nicely timed to capitalise on the success of Love Hurts which was a big hit in England, going triple platinum, and her Love Hurts tour which travelled the UK and USA extensively.

All three unreleased tracks are knockouts.

Oh No Not My Baby was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1965. It was recorded by Maxine Brown and peaked at #24 on the UK charts in 1965 and became Maxine's second-biggest pop hit, and also her last Top 40 pop hit. It was also covered the same year by Manfred Mann as a #11 British hit and later in 1972 by Merry Clayton as a Top 75 single, by Rod Stewart in 1973 as a Top 60 single, and in 1980 by co-songwriter Carole King as an album track (Pearls: Songs of Goffin & King CD). In addition to Cher's version it was also recorded as an album track by Linda Ronstadt in 1996.

The arrangement on Cher's version is very simple and the rolling piano and sweeping strings give it a retro-feel. It would have been very at home on the Mermaids soundtrack and I would not be surprised to learn that it had been recorded in the same sessions as Baby I'm Yours and The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

Many Rivers To Cross was originally written and sung by Jamaican artist Jimmy Cliff in 1972, and has since been recorded by such luminaries as Elvis Costello, UB40, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Cocker, Toni Childs and more. Cher was not new to Jimmy Cliff material; he had written The Harder They Come, The Harder They Fall which featured on Cher's 1975 album, Stars. Cher's recording of Many Rivers to Cross is the definitive version of this powerful song, more so because it is sung live, and is a true testament to the beauty of her voice.

Written by Tommy Shawy (of Styx fame) and Jack Blades, Whenever Your Near is an outstanding rock ballad.

The packaging features a 10 page booklet with plenty of photos (mostly from the Tour program) and this description:

The textbook definition of metamorphosis is "to change into a different physical form, especially by supernatural means." No one word better describes this one word phenomenon: CHER. Few performers have risked as much artistically with greater frequency or success than Cher. Her career chronology confirms this fact. She is a one of a kind force. A survivor ... no nonsense ... no frills ... just plain Cher.

Favourite Songs
Oh No Not My Baby

Featured Clip
Oh No Not My Baby


TRACK LISTING
Oh No Not My Baby
Whenever You're Near
Many Rivers To Cross
Love and Understanding
Save Up All Your Tears
The Shoop Shoop Song
If I Could Turn Back Time
Just Like Jesse James
Heart of Stone
I Found Someone
We All Sleep Alone
Bang-Bang
Dead Ringer For Love
Dark Lady
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
I Got You Babe

- CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE CHER'S GREATEST HITS: 1965 - 1992 PHOTO GALLERY

Added: January 11th 2003
Reviewer: Webmaster
Score:
Hits: 5595
Language: english