An exhaustive look at Cher compilations with Robrt Pela
Robrt Pela and Cher Scholar parse through the plethora of Cher compilations by year. We discuss this list separately in a Facebook Messenger chat that occurred in November of 2022.
Non-U.S. compilations are indented.
1965
1. Title: Sonny and Cher and Friends: Baby Don’t Go Label: Reprise Year issued: 1965 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: Only “Baby Don’t Go” Obvious hits missing: Not many other hits yet. Strange non-hit track(s) included: The instrumental B-side “Walkin’ the Quetzal.” Yikes!
Notes: Containing five Sonny and Cher/Caesar and Cleo tracks, plus other Reprise stuff by The Lettermen, Bill Medley, and the Blendells (whoever the hell they are), this is a chance for Reprise to cash in on the Top 5 title hit.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars, for interest, and for a chance to have early duo recordings on an LP. Is this comp a rip-off? It’s more of a completist’s collectible.
1966
2. Title: The Best of Cher
Label: Liberty (Japanese import) Year issued: 1966 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: Well, both of her two solo hits up to this point. Obvious hits missing: Nothing, yet. It’s 1966!
Notes: This Japan-only LP was pressed in black or red vinyl and used the Sonny Side of cover sleeve art. International markets often compiled previous LPs when a singer caught on in their country.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars for rarity and interesting set list
Is this comp a rip-off? Kinda. But it’s also the first-ever Cher comp, and the first to employ this oft-used title.
1967
3. Title: The Best of Sonny and Cher Label: Atco Year issued: 1967 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: Every duo hit from this era sans “Baby Don’t Go” Obvious hits missing: Why not throw “The Letter” on here? It charted on Billboard (in the low Seventies ) and appears on Look at Us, so there’s no licensing issue. Instead, we get “Sing C’est La Vie,” which didn’t chart in the US, but was a hit overseas. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Let it Be Me” was never a single. “Living for You” stalled at #87, yet it’s here, while “Have I Stayed Too Long,” which charted at #49, isn’t. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Lots of candid back cover photos, including Sonny with his camera and their German Shepard.
Notes: The first-ever “official” hits comp. 8-track has songs in different order.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: 5 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Good first official compilation option.
4. Title: The Golden Hits of Cher Label: Liberty (Japanese import) Year issued: 1967 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Bang Bang,” “Sunny,” “Alfie.” Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Ma Piano” is included here—never released in the US, and not collected on any previous album. Rare tracks: “Ma Piano”
Notes: Another early comp in Japanese red vinyl, and not to be confused with the later comp from the UK with the same title. This one collects from the first three Cher solo records.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars for interest and rare-track inclusion.
Is this comp a rip-off? No. Instead, it’s a comp that combines music from Cher’s first three albums, which likely weren’t issued in Japan at the time.
5. Title: Golden Greats
Label: Imperial Year issued: 1967 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All of the Imperial solo hits are here. Obvious hits missing: Nothing, though a couple of single flops aren’t included. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Instead of failed singles like “Behind the Door,” “Magic in the Air,” and “Click Song Number One,” we find three non-single filler tracks (“Come and Stay with Me,” “Elusive Butterfly,” and “Needles and Pins,” none of which were singles or hits for Cher). Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: The first sentence of Al Stoffel’s liner notes: “There are no smiles here.” Magnificent.
Notes: That cover image is a stunner. How many wiglets are we seeing? How many pairs of false eyelashes is that? She’s glorious.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 4 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Good first official Cher greatest hits, but slim on hits. Robrt: This is the first-ever solo Cher comp, it’s an official label release, and it’s got all the solo hits up to that point, so I’m in love.
6. Title: Sonny and Cher’s Greatest Hits Label: Atco Year issued: 1967 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All but one, up to that point. Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go” wasn’t licensed, natch. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Podunk” and “Monday” are odd filler choices, this early in the duo’s career. Likewise “I Look for You” and “So Fine.” Rare tracks: “Plastic Man” is available on an LP for the first time.
Notes: Why did the duo release a double-album comp mere months after their “Best of” collection? Because this record is a Columbia Record Club exclusive and wasn’t available in stores. It expands the “Best of” disc with some also-ran singles and more filler.
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for inclusive selection, although using an outtake from the duo’s last studio LP cover seems weird.
Is this comp a rip-off? No. It’s an official and almost complete collection of its era.
1968
7. Title: Mama Label: Liberty (Italian import) Year issued: 1968 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Sunny” and “Alfie,” plus the title cut, which was a hit in Italy. Obvious hits missing: Anything from the first two Imperial LPs, which suggests this is a second comp for the Italian market. Is it? Strange non-hit tracks included: Both sung in Italian, “Ma Piano” and “Nel Mio Cielo Ci Sei Tu” (“In My Sky, There You Are,” sung to the track from “I Feel Magic in the Air”) are included here. Rare tracks: See above. Bonuses: Wow! Both of Cher’s Italian sides are included here, for obvious reasons. These were never collected in the US.
Notes: “Like a Rolling Stone” is listed here as “Stone.”
Rating: Robrt: 3.5 stars, for interest, and because this really does collect the Cher hits of Italy at that time.
Is this comp a rip-off? Depends on where you were born.
1969
8. Title: Sunny Label: Liberty (Japanese import) Year issued: 1969 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Bang Bang,” “Alfie.” Obvious hits missing: Pretty much everything else that charted in the U.S. Strange non-hit tracks included: The whole rest of the album!
Notes: This is one of the rarest, most pricey Cher LPs. Issued on red vinyl in Japan, it’s a weird collection of Imperial album tracks that include “Carnival” and “Go Now” as well as the UK hit “Sunny,” also a single in Japan. Weird!
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars, as comps go, but 5 stars for weird collectible-ness!
9. Title: The Best of Cher Label: Liberty (Japanese import) Year issued: 1969 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: Only “Sunny” and “Bang Bang” Obvious hits missing: All the others. Strange non-hit track included: “Carnival”
Notes: This is a gorgeous package that collects tracks from all five of Cher’s solo records to date, with a silver foil gatefold sleeve and a red vinyl platter. Not really a Best of, at least in most domestic markets.
Rating: 3 stars for packaging and rarity.
Is this comp a rip-off? Not really inclusive of her U.S. hits, but issued for the Japanese market, so who would know?
1970
10. Title: Cher Label: SR International (German import) Year issued: 1970 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Sunny,” “Bang Bang.” Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Alfie,” “You Better Sit Down, Kids” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “But I Can’t Love You More” doesn’t get a lot of comp love, usually.
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Meh. Interesting German comp of mostly non-hits.
1971
11. Title: This is Cher Label: United Artists (German import) Year issued: 1971 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits. Obvious hits missing: None Notes: This is not to be confused with the reissue of Backstage, which appeared in the U.S. with this title in both 1971 (on Sunset Records) and 1978 (on Pickwick). Instead, this is a repackage of the 1968 US Cher’s Golden Greats package. It’s confusing. The cover of this is a closeup detail from the Greats sleeve, and it’s kind of gorgeous.
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for same-old with a nice cover.
Is this comp a rip-off? It was probably released to coincide with Cher’s comeback that year, so kinda.
1972
12. Title: Superpak Label: United Artists Year issued: 1972 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the biggest Imperial era solo hits are here, plus “Mama,” “Alfie,” “Where Do You Go,” and “Sunny.” Strange non-hits included: It’s odd to see “Girl Don’t Come,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “There But for Fortune,” and a whole bunch of other deep tracks on a comp. Quality of recording: Good, but why is “All I Really Want to Do” the mono mix here? Bonuses: Lovely gatefold plus bio by J. Robert Armstrong and Martin Robert Cerf.
Notes: So much to love about this “official” Cher comp, meant to take advantage of the duo’s new TV popularity and chart hits, by reminding us that Cher had released big records a few years ago, too. Interesting to note that the title of this record appears to be simply Cher (making it the third of four albums with that non-title), at least until you read the label on the discs themselves; Superpak doesn’t appear anywhere on the spine or LP cover. And what’s a Superpak, anyhow? (It’s a United Artists LP series, actually.) Determined to get make some bucks, UA even released a single from this budget-line package, but “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” didn’t chart. The 8-track presents songs in a different order.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: 5 stars for high-concept packaging, nice price, and all-hits inclusion.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: No way. Mary: A plethora of her Sixties songs minus anything from Jackson Highway.
13. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Two of Us Label: Atco Year issued: 1972 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: “I Got You Babe,” “The Beat Goes On,” “Baby Don’t Go.” Obvious hits missing: “What Now My Love,” “Little Man.” Quality of recording: “Baby Don’t Go” is, for some reason, a crappy mono mix stripped on in place of the LP track “500 Miles.” Bonuses: Beautiful gatefold with family photos and jean-jacket outfits from the All I Ever Need Is You cover shoot.
Notes: Not technically a comp, this is a repackage of the duo’s first and third solo albums, with a little Reprise licensing, timed to cash in on their recent TV comeback.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars (sentimental, mostly for production); Robrt: 3 stars for nicely timed exploitation and good packaging.
Is this comp a rip-off? Not a real compilation
14. Title: Les Plus Belles Chansons de Sonny and Cher Label: Atlantic (French import) Year issued: 1972 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the Atco hits are here. Notes: This is the same package as the 1967 Atco Best of, with different title and art.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars for historical accuracy.
15. Title: Superpak Vol. II Label: United Artists Year issued: 1972 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: None, but none are promised. Quality of recording: Good
Notes: The double-LP budget-priced Superpak had done well enough that United Artists put together this all-filler, no-hits follow-up. The only Imperial singles included here are “Hey Joe” and “Take Me for a Little While,” although the label released “Our Day Will Come” as a single from this collection in 1972.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: 3 stars for interesting packaging and smart exploitation of back catalog.
Is this comp a rip-off? Not really, though it contains no hits. It’s a good compilation of 60’s LP cuts; as with its predecessor, nothing from Jackson Highway was licensed. No hits, but none are promised.
1973
16. Title: Star-Collection: Sonny and Cher Greatest Hits Label: WEA (European import) Year issued: 1973 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the Atco hits Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go” didn’t get licensed from Reprise. Notes: Tracks-wise, this is a straight reissue of the Atco Best of from 1967. The cover is a cheap crop of the Wondrous World sleeve.
Rating: 3 stars for completeness.
Is this comp a rip-off? No, but it has a weird title. I presume Star-Collection is the (incorrectly punctuated) name of a WEA album series of the time.
1974
17. Title: Greatest Hits Label: MCA Year issued: 1974 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp solo hits and near-hit singles are here. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Don’t Hide Your Love,” “Melody.” Quality of recording: Good
Rating: Mary: 5 stars for being official; Robrt: same.
Is this comp a rip-off? Good array of singles (hits and misses) plus “Melody,” for some reason.
18. Title: Cher’s Greatest Hits Label: Springboard Year issued: 1974 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang Bang,” “Where Do You Go.” Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids,” “Alfie” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Don’t Think Twice” isn’t often a comp filler track. Quality of recording: Okay.
Notes: Robrt: Odd that the first time the “Greatest Hits” title is used, it’s not for an “official” label release, but by this crappy, low-budget licensed mess (which was released just ahead of the MCA collection of the same name). With only two big hits, this is mostly filler from Cher’s Imperial days. The cover image is a bad repro of the Golden Greats sleeve photo. This record sold enough to make it to two printings, at least, because I have two copies, each with a different back cover. Springboard sucks!
Rating: Mary: 2 stars; Robrt: 1 star—and I’m being generous.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Yes. It sucks. Mary: What the hell is this?
19. Title: Sonny and Cher: Greatest Hits Label: MCA Year issued: 1974 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: This is the first official Kapp-era comp of duo hits, and all of them are here, as well as the live versions of the Atco hits—a trend we’ll see a lot of in future comps, because it’s cheaper than having to license the studio versions from Atco. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters,” “United We Stand,” “Mama was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer.” Rare tracks: First time we see the single edit of “Mama Was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer” on an LP. Quality of recording: Good
Notes: This is the last time Cher’s name appears on an LP sleeve with an accent aigu over the “e.” When Pickwick Records reissued this collection in 1979, the accent was gone. So was the song “When You Say Love,” because Pickwick always deletes one track when it reissues an LP. The 8-track has songs in different order and for some reason “Crystal Clear” and “All I Ever Need” are listed twice.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: 3 stars for official-ness and a pretty cover design.
Is this comp a rip-off? Of its time, but good.
20. Title: The Very Best of Cher Label: United Artists Year issued: 1974 and again in 1975 with different cover art. Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All three of the biggies, plus “Sunny,” “Alfie,” and “Where Do You Go?” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Cruel War” almost never gets collected, and frankly seems a little out of place here. Quality of recording: Good
Notes: This official comp was issued by United Artists with two different covers. On the 1975 version, Cher is seen in a candid, talking on the phone. In the previous issue, there’s no cover photo at all.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 3 stars for being official.
Is this comp a rip-off? Her Sixties hits plus some others. A good collection of her early career milestones.
1975
21. Title: Cher Sings the Hits Label: Springboard Year issued: 1975 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: Only “Alfie.” Obvious hits missing: All the rest of the Imperial stuff. (Nothing licensed from Kapp.) Strange non-hit track(s) included: A bunch of Imperial LP tracks like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “I Want You” and “Masters of War.” Quality of recording: Good
Notes: Robrt: Cheapjack Springboard International brings us yet another Cher comp, this one featuring the worst cover of any Cher LP, ever. The photo on the back is crappy moired copy of the Golden Greats cover photo. The only interesting thing about this is the concept, though it’s not very well spelled-out: Cher isn’t singing her hits, but rather the hits of other singers.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt; half a star.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: The biggest! Mary: When I originally bought this I was disappointed, thinking it was a new album of covers. It’s her covers of other singers’ hits from the Sixties (so the title isn’t a lie, really) with Sonny’s “Magic in the Air,” for some reason.
22. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Beat Goes On Label: Atco Year issued: 1975 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: Almost every Atco-era hit is here, plus “Baby Don’t Go” from Reprise. Obvious hits missing: “But You’re Mine” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You,” “I Walk on Gilded Splinters,” and “Do Right Woman” have never been collected anywhere, before or since. Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: See above. The inclusion of these three solo-Cher Atco songs is what makes this LP something more than just another midline hits package.
Notes: Mary: Bummer that there’s no images here. What the hell?
Rating: Mary: 5 stars (sentimental); Robrt: 3.5 stars for including those rare Cher solo tracks.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: It’s simple, and includes the main hits plus other gems. Robrt: No, it’s one of the duo’s official compilations, with some unusual filler.
23. Title: The Very Best of Cher Vol. II Label: United Artists Year issued: 1975 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: None Quality of recording: Good
Notes: The follow-up to United Artists’ comp of the year before, with no hits but nice album tracks.
Rating: Mary: 2 stars; Robrt: 3, for official-ness.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: No. It’s the first time we see UA kind of splitting SuperPak into two separate LPs, which they will do again in a few years. Mary: Odd thing.
24. Sonny and Cher: Greatest Hits Label: Atlantic (Australian import) Year issued: 1975 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All of the Atco-era Sonny and Cher hits are here, including “Baby Don’t Go” from Reprise. Obvious hits missing: None Strange non-hit track(s) included: Several, including “Podunk” and “Stand By Me.”
Notes: Schizo import comp alert! This has a 70s-era portrait (the one used on THE TWO OF US) with 60s tunes, and squeezes a whopping sixteen tracks onto a single disc.
Rating: Robrt: Eek! Two stars for completeness but I’m terrified about the potential sonic quality here.
1976
25. Title: Sonny and Cher Once Again Label: MCA Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp-era hits from Cher and Sonny and Cher, plus Kapp “Live” covers of Atco hits. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” “Long and Winding Road,” “Gotta Get You into My Life (live),” “More Today Than Yesterday (live),” “I Can See Clearly Now,” “Song For You,” “He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “United We Stand.” Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: The cover art is a painting.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 3.5 stars for earnestness, packaging, and good Kapp-era coverage.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: It’s a good Seventies mix.
26. Title: Golden Hits of Cher Label: Sunset Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: 1960s Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang Bang,” “You’d Better Sit Down Kids,” “Alfie,” “Mama.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Sunny,” “Come and Stay with Me,” “I Feel Something in the Air,” “Hey Joe,” “Until it’s Time for You To Go.” Quality of recording: OK
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: I just don’t get the selection. Robrt: This is the UK version of Golden Greats.
27. Title: The Best of Cher Label: United Artists Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial solo hits are here. Obvious hits missing: Nothing. Even most of the failed singles are here!
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for gorgeous packaging. So many of these imports have great sleeve designs!
Is this comp a rip-off? No. It’s a nice look at the Imperial era in both the US and other markets.
28. Title: Pop-Chronik Label: UA (German import) Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All of them from this era. Notes: This is a straight reissue of SUPERPAK Vol. 1, with different packaging and a Seventies era photo.
Rating: 3 stars for zany packaging.
Is this comp a rip-off? No more so than Superpak.
29. Title: The Hits of Sonny and Cher Label: TVP Records (This LP was also issued by Springboard Records in 1977.) Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp-era hits from Cher and Sonny and Cher, plus Kapp “live” covers of Atco hits. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “The Long and Winding Road,” “United We Stand,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” “He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Gotta Get You Into My Life (live),” “More Today Than Yesterday (live).” Quality of recording: Okay. Rare tracks: Usually when a compilation producer chooses an MCA-version of “You Better Sit Down, Kids,” he goes with a live version. Looks like this one’s the Sonny solo version from All I Ever Need is You.
Notes: This was a TV-only comp, marketed via television commercials and licensed by Springboard International, that cheap-jack indie that brought us two of the worst-ever bargain-bin Cher compilations.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars, for sentimental reasons.
Is this comp a rip-off? Not if you’re looking for all the Sonny and Cher hits and don’t mind that half of them are live versions.
30. Title: Golden Hits Of Cher Label: United Artists Year issued: 1976 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the solo Imperial stuff Obvious hits missing: None from this era. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Filler here includes “Come and Stay with Me,” “Bells of Rhymney,” and “Until It’s Time for You to Go.”
Notes: Imperial and Liberty were absorbed into United Artists Records in the early 1970s. This particular album drives me nuts because it’s both a later-day UK version of Golden Greats and also because it was reissued with so many different covers in different countries, at least one of which is a variation on the This Is Cher cover. The world of Cher comps rarely gets so complicated as it does with this Imperial-era comp.
Rating: Robrt: I love this collection, though it comes late to revive this material, during one of Cher’s rare musical fallow periods.
1977
31. Title: The Story of Pop Label: United Artists (German import) Year issued: 1977 Era depicted: Imperial Notes: Sigh. This is another reissue of Golden Greats, with a 1970s era photo.
32. Title: Her 20 Greatest Hits Label: K-Tel Year issued: 1977 Era depicted: Imperial and Kapp solo Obvious hits included: All of them Obvious hits missing: None from these eras Strange non-hit track(s) included: “A Woman’s Story,” “For What It’s Worth,” and “Am I Blue?”
Notes: Worth it just for the inclusion of the late-early period singles.
Rating: Robrt: 3.5 stars because of those rare tracks.
Is this comp a rip-off? No, this is the very sort of best-of set a casual fan is looking for.
1979
33. Title: Sonny and Cher Greatest Hits Label: Pickwick Year issued: 1979 Era depicted: Kapp Quality of recording: Good
Notes: This is a Pickwick reissue of the 1974 MCA comp, without “When You Say Love.”
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? No, because it’s a straight reissue.
1980
34. Title: 20 Golden Greats Label: Liberty (Australian import) Year issued: 1980 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang Bang,” “Sunny,” “Alfie” Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids”
Notes: This truncated version of Superpak (Vol. 1) crams 20 songs onto a single disc. Ouch! The cover image is a nice Casablanca-era portrait.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars because this can’t sound great, right?
1981
35. Title: The Very Best of Sonny and Cher Label: Jem Records (Pickwick International) Year issued: 1981 Era depicted: Atco Notes: This is a Pickwick reissue of the 1967 Atco Best of Quality of recording: Poor Bonuses: Short jacket bio, uncredited
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Simple crap release.
36. Title: Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves Label: Music for Pleasure (UK import) Year issued: 1981 Era depicted: Imperial and Kapp Obvious hits included: All three Kapp #1s, plus four of the biggest Imperials Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids” Notes: This is a weird mashup of eras: Imperial and Kapp music with a Take Me Home costume image. Also, strange filler choices include “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.”
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars for incompleteness and weirdness.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mostly it’s just confusing.
37. Title: The Greatest Hits of Sonny and Cher Label: J&B Records (Australian import) Year issued: 1981 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp-era solo and duo hits. Obvious hits missing: “When You Say Love” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and most weirdly, “Miss Subway of 1951”
Notes: This is another TV-only album, sold via television commercials after Sonny and Cher’s peak. The cover features Eighties-era Cher photos, plus one picture of Sonny—but none of the duo together.
Rating: 3 stars for inclusiveness and weird filler.
Is this comp a rip-off? Well, it’s got the Kapp bases covered.
1982
38. Title: The Best of Cher Vol. 1 Label: Liberty Year issued: 1982 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang Bang” Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids,” “Alfie,” Sunny” Notes: Uses an earlier United Artists package (Liberty became UA in the early 1970s) and Superpak artwork. This package is kind of a reissue of half of Superpak, except now you can buy the discs separately.
Rating: 3 stars for being a nice starter kit.
39. Title: The Best of Cher Vol. 2 Label: Liberty Year issued: 1982 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: You Better Sit Down Kids,” “Alfie,” Sunny” Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang Bang” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Catch the Wind,” “House is Not a Home,” “Click Song,” “Homeward Bound” and “There But for Fortune” are rarely collected and remind us that any Volume Two of a hits comp is going to be bursting with filler.
Notes: This is sort of Part Two of the title above; Superpak has now been made available as two separate volumes.
1985
40. Title: Golden Greats Label: MCA (UK Import) Year issued: 1985 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All four of the big Kapp solo singles. Obvious hits missing: None. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Never Been to Spain” is as close as this collection gets to “rare” tracks.
Notes: Not to be confused with the Imperial-era comp of the same name from 1968. This one was reissued in 1991 in the UK with different cover art.
Rating: 3 stars, because even the soft Kapp hits are included here.
41. Title: Half Breed Label: MCA Year issued: 1985 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: The three Kapp #1s Obvious hits missing: “The Way of Love” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Let Me Down Easy” and “Song for You.”
Notes: The first of many comps to use this title. The Warner Bros. portrait by Norman Seef is used here.
Rating: Mary: 2 stars for meh packaging.
42. Title: The Best of Cher Label: Liberty EMI (UK import) Year issued: 1985 Era depicted: Imperial and Kapp Obvious hits included: Most all the biggest solo hits from these eras are represented. Obvious hits missing: “The Way of Love” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Hey Joe,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Magic in the Air,” “Come to Your Window,” “Pied Piper,” “I Want You,” “A Young Girl,” “Come and Stay with Me.” Bonuses: Bio by Bob Fisher
Notes: Unusual UK comp that reuses the cover art from Cher’s self-titled LP from 1966.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars for a decent pre-Geffen-comeback comp that documents two label eras; Mary: 2 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: It’s a weird, uneven mix. Robrt: But it does a great job of collecting both of Cher’s first solo eras.
43. Title: Perfil de Cher Label: MCA (Argentinian import) Year issued: 1985 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: The three Kapp #1s Obvious hits missing: “The Way of Love” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Fire and Rain,” “Am I Blue?,” “Man I Love,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and “What’ll I Do.”
Notes: Late-Sixties era Cher photo on the cover.
Rating: 3 stars for offering some unusual filler.
44. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Hit Singles Collection Label: MCA (Germany) Year issued: 1985 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: Both Kapp duo hits, plus lots of studio and live filler Strange non-hit track(s) included: “I Can See Clearly” and “United We Stand” are rarely included in a comp.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? It’s fine for a casual fan.
1986
45. Title: Sonny and Cher at Their Best Label: Pair Records/Warner Special Products Year issued: 1986 Era depicted: Atco
Notes: This isn’t technically a comp, as it’s really just a reissue of The Two of Us, which was itself a reissue of two complete Atco LPs.
1987
46. Title: Best of Cher Label: EMI Year issued: 1987 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All three of the biggies from this era are here. Obvious hits missing: “Alfie” gets passed over in favor of the usual LP tracks. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Does “Come to Your Window” get collected much?
Rating: Mary: 2 stars; Robrt: 1.5 stars for its misleading title and its horrible design, even for a budget release.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Sort of. Mary: It’s got Cher hits and someone’s deep favorites. Dime a dozen.
1988
47. Title: Gypsy Lady Label: Pair Records/Warner Special Products Year issued: 1988 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves,” “Half Breed.” Obvious hits missing: “Dark Lady,” “The Way of Love” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “If I Knew Then,” “It Might as Well Stay Monday From Now On,” and “This God Forsaken Day” are almost never collected.
Notes: This is an unusual, low-budget twofer that cashes in on Cher’s recent hair-metal comeback. At least the cover art is appropriate to the Kapp-era music collected here.
Rating: Mary: 2 stars, because it’s weird. Robrt: 2 stars for cheap packaging and lazy curation.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Pretty much. This is basically an uneven re-release of Foxy Lady with a dab of Half Breed deep cuts and a few hits. A mess.
48. Title: Star Portrait Label: EMI Year issued: 1988 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: Obvious ones Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids”
Rating: 1 star—more of the same, with a missing hit.
1989
49. Title: Greatest Hits Label: EMI Electrola (UK and European import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All except… Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down, Kids” Notes: Eighties era images for a Sixties comp. No!
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
50. Title: Outrageous Label: Casablanca/PolyGram Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Casablanca Obvious hits included: “Take Me Home,” “Hell on Wheels.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: Casablanca disco-era filler. Quality of recording: Poor
Rating: Mary: 3 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Well, to its credit, it’s the best Casablanca would be able to do with a compilation. It’s not a full re-release of the two disco-era albums and it has the two hits with filler to give it reason to live. As the only real Casablanca comp I’ve ever seen, that gives it some value.
51. Title: Sonny and Cher: Greatest Hits Label: Duchesse (German import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Atco/Imperial Obvious hits included: The usual stuff. Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go,” “All I Really Want to Do.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: The weirdest of the weird: “I Can’t Love You More.”
Notes: “Let it Be Me” is back. Say it with me: Never a single! Not a hit!
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars, because the cover image is nice and because all the Atco hits are here.
Is this comp a rip-off? No. Just a little weird.
52. Title: Holdin’ Out for Love Label: Trend (German import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Imperial and Casablanca (no, really) Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Sunny.” Obvious hits missing: “Bang Bang,” “You Better Sit Down Kids,” “Take Me Home.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “See See Blues,” most of the Casablanca ones.
Notes: It must be a German-market-licensing thing. This is the weirdest collection of unrelated tracks.
Rating: Robrt: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? Kind of. Who wants these two eras together, alone?
53. Title: The Best of Cher Label: Club Records (German import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Imperial, Atco, Casablanca Notes: This is another reissue of that Holdin’ Out for Love comp, this time with two Atco-era duo hits: “I Got You Babe” and “Beat Goes On.” Weirdness continues!
Rating: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? It’s weird!
54. Title: Sonny and Cher: 16 Original World Hits Label: Music for Pleasure (Australian import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: The two Kapp duo biggies, plus the usual live versions of Atco hits. Obvious hits missing: No Kapp-era Cher solo stuff here. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Listen to the Music” and “Rhythm of Your Heartbeat” never turn up on comps. Likewise “I Believe in You” and “By Love I Mean,” which are also seen here.
Notes: This is a weird one!
Rating: 2 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes, unless you’re looking for a sort of generic middle-period Sonny and Cher comp.
55. Title: Sonny and Cher: 16 World Hits Label: Rainbow MFP/MCA (European import) Year issued: 1989 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All of them Obvious hits missing: None from that era Strange non-hit track(s) included:
Notes: Yet another MCA-era cheapie, with live versions of a couple Atco hits to entice buyers.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars because by now we’re all exhausted by MCA licensing its own masters.
1990
56. Title: Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down): The Best of Cher Label: EMI Year issued: 1990 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All of them. Obvious hits missing: None of them. Strange non-hit track(s) included/Rare track: First appearance of “She’s No Better Than Me” on a CD. Bonuses: Special Sonny intro to “Needles and Pins,” six-page bio by Steve Kolanjian, single info, chart info, good photos; wonderful liner notes that even include which take of each song is used. Quality of recording: Excellent remastering for stereo.
Notes: This is part of EMI’s excellent Legendary Masters Series.
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 5 stars. If you’re looking for only one Imperial collection, this is the one. The songs are presented chronologically, and all the early Cher singles of the era are here, as well as some relevant LP tracks.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: First great Sixties Cher compilation. Lots of care. My favorite Cher Sixties comp. Robrt: Not a rip-off. It’s an “official” comp! Gorgeous in many ways.
57. Title: The Sonny and Cher Collection Label: WEA International (Japan and Germany) Year issued: 1990 Era depicted: Atco/Kapp Obvious hits included: The biggest duo and solo hits from Atco and Kapp Obvious hits missing: None Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Dead Ringer for Love.” Maybe because it was a hit in these markets? Rating: Mary: 3 stars
Bonuses: Mary: Mine has extra Japanese packaging. Robrt: My notes say this was released in both Japan and Germany.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: This is the first comp with 100 hits! But on a short set the jumps from decade to decade are jarring and it’s a total shuffle. This kind of thing takes extra care. Packaging is weak.
58. Title: 16 Original World Hits Label: MCA Year issued: 1990 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the big Kapp hits, as well as the also-ran Kapp hits Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Melody” and “Dixie Girl” turn up again, and so, for a change, do “Long and Winding Road” and “My Love.” Rare tracks: “Rescue Me” and “Two People Clinging to a Thread” don’t get a lot of comp action.
Notes: The title is misleading.
Rating: 4 stars for including all the Kapp singles, big and small.
Is this comp a rip-off? No, but the packaging sucks.
59. Title: Sonny and Cher: All I Ever Need is You Label: MCA Special Products Year issued: 1990 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: “All I Ever Need is You,” “A Cowboy’s Work is Never Done” Notes: Not to be confused with the studio album of the same name, this collects four songs from that album, two from Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, and the rest is stuff from the two Kapp “Live” albums.
Rating: 1 star for ugly packaging (blurry photos!) and a misleading title.
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. It sucks.
1991
60. Title: Greatest Hits Label: Dynamic Year issued: 1991 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the big ones
Rating: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Another cheesy early-era comp.
61. Title: The Beat Goes On: The Best of Sonny and Cher Label: Atco Year issued: 1991 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the Atco-era hits are here Obvious hits missing: Nothing Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love,” “Leave Me Be,” “Love Don’t Come,” “My Best Friend’s Girl is Out of Sight,” and “Hello” hadn’t been collected before. Quality of recording: Good, Remastered Rare tracks: “Good Combination” also makes its first CD appearance. Bonuses: Twelve pages of bio by Ken Barnes and a great booklet of pics, includes single detail and chart info.
Notes: This is the definitive single-disc “official” Atco compilation for fans of Sonny and Cher’s early period stuff. The booklet is gorgeous and the chart notes (with some errors—“Why Don’t They Let Us” was never a single) are excellent.
Rating: Robrt and Mary: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Nope. Official and neatly collected. Mary: This was the first good 1960s Sonny and Cher comp as far as I’m concerned. Loved the inclusion of “Hello.” The songs are listed in order. Good quality. Not as long as a two-disc set, but do you need that? My pic for best of the Sonny and Cher Sixties comps.
62. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Star Collection Label: MCA Year issued: 1991 Era depicted: Kapp
Notes: This is a straight reissue of 1980’s 16 World Hits, with a different title and package; it was released this year in Germany, Europe, and Indonesia.
1992
63. Title: Turning Back Time Label: Geffen (promo only) Year issued: 1992 Era depicted: Geffen Obvious hits included: All the big-hair stuff Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Love on a Rooftop” and “Who You Gonna Believe?”
Notes: This is a comp meant to promote the Love Hurts tour.
Rating: 3 stars for collectability and super packaging.
64. Title: Half Breed Label: Ariola Express/MCA (European import) Year issued: 1992 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp hits except… Obvious hits missing: “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Man I Love” and “My Love.”
Rating: Mary: 2 stars
65. Title: Cher’s Greatest Hits 1965-1992 Label: Geffen (worldwide import, excluding USA) Year issued: 1992 Era depicted: Atco, Kapp, Geffen Obvious hits included: Some of each… Obvious hits missing: A ton. Rare tracks: This collection contains three previously unreleased tracks, all of them subsequently issued as international singles from this collection: “Oh No Not My Baby,” “Whenever You’re Near,” and “Many Rivers to Cross.” Bonuses: Uncredited year by year bio. Good pics, Mermaid page, merch page
Notes: An official comp featuring mostly Geffen-era hits. It includes “I Got You Babe,” but not “The Beat Goes On”; two Kapp solo hits but no “Way of Love” or “Half Breed”; and no “Take Me Home.” A nice big-hair-era collection with retrospective appeal.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars; Mary: 5 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: I was excited when this came out as an Import. It was the only somewhat far-reaching comp we’d ever seen and it had lots of UK rarities on it. This is the CD that should have been released in the US but we had to wait until 1999 for a US version, a little too little, too late. This is my choice for best Eighties Cher comp.
66. Title: Half Breed Label: MCA Special Products Year issued: 1992 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: The three Kapp #1s; “The Way of Love.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “The First Time” is here.
Notes: Robrt: Another misleadingly-titled comp (did people buy this thinking it was Cher’s fourth Kapp solo album?) with some interesting filler (like “The First Time” and “Song for You”). The liner notes tell us that “Train of Thought” and “Way of Love” are “bonus tracks available on CD only,” which might have been true in 1992. Still. Mary: Another, similar comp to the 1985 Half Breed collection, with a few more songs, and still using a Warner-era portrait.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars because of the interesting filler and because this is a nice Kapp hits package for the casual fan. Crappy budget-line cover art, though. Mary: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Fans would say “Yes.” Mary: Novel when it came out (due to the dearth of new Cher releases) but now that we’re not so desperate, no great shakes. The comp is missing “Train of Thought” and “The Way of Love” (but includes non-hits at the expense of these). Packaging is cheap.
67. Title: The Star Collection Label: MCA Year issued: 1992 (German import) Era depicted: Kapp
Notes: This is a repackage of the UK Golden Greats LP from 1985. There is an identical South African version with a different catalogue number from the same year.
1993
68. Title: Sonny and Cher: I Got You Babe Label: Rhino Year issued: 1993 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the biggest ones Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go,” for reasons of licensing. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Let It Be Me” (never a single, anywhere), yet again; “Have I Stayed Too Long” and “Revolution Kind,” both flops.
Rating: Robrt: 3.5 stars, for collecting all the big Atco hits in one budget disc. Mary: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Not at that price! Mary: Yes, despite the two rare tracks.
69. Title: Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves: 25 Great Songs Label: Movieplay Gold (Portuguese import) Year issued: 1993 Era depicted: Imperial and Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits; half the Kapp hits Obvious hits missing: “Half Breed” and “Dark Lady” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “It All Adds Up Now”
Notes: This feels like a solid Imperial collection with some Kapp stuff grafted on. Choosing “Don’t Hide Your Love” and “Living in a House Divided” instead of the other two Kapp #1s is interesting.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars
70. Title: Holdin’ Out for Love Label: WZ Tontrager (German import) Year issued: 1993 Era depicted: Casablanca, plus Imperial and one Atco track. Seriously! Obvious hits included: “All I Really Want to Do” and “Bang Bang,” plus “Sunny” (a hit there) Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids” and “Take Me Home” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Sing C’est La Vie” was a hit there, so not really strange.
Notes: It’s funny to see a comp with only one duo track, and it’s “Sing C’est La Vie,” a big hit in Germany.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars for weirdness
1994
71. Title: Bang Bang and Other Hits Label: Cema (Capitol Special Markets) Year issued: 1994 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All of them! Obvious hits missing: None
Notes: Of all the budget Cher comps, this one really gives you the biggest bang (bang) for your buck: All five of the biggest Imperial-era singles, plus “Where Do You Go” and a nice sampling of the usual popular LP tracks (“Elusive Butterfly,” “Needles and Pins”).
Rating: Mary: 2 stars; Robrt: 4 stars, for being a comprehensive hit collection at a budget price.
Is this comp a rip-off? Not even a little. Mary: Same ole same ole Sixties retread.
72. Title: Cher: Guest: Sonny Label: The Entertainers Year issued: 1994 Era depicted: Imperial and Atco Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits are here, plus both of the biggest Atco duo hits.
Notes: What makes this one interesting is that the third of the three duo hits chosen here is “Little Man.”
Rating: Robrt: 2.5 stars
73. Title: Best of Cher: Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves Label: MCA (worldwide import) Year issued: 1994 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All of them
Notes: This is a nice Kapp-era budget comp, with all the hits and near-misses by the duo as a bonus.
Rating: Robrt: 3 stars
74. Title: Gypsies Tramps and Thieves Label: MCA (UK import) Year issued: 1994 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the big Kapp solo and duo hits Obvious hits missing: The live “I Got You Babe” is here, but not the live “Beat Goes On” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Let Me Down Easy” plus—are you ready?—four from Bittersweet White Light: “The Man I Love,” “Am I Blue?”, “Man That Got Away,” “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good.” Bonuses: Recording info on each track and an uncredited eight-paragraph bio. Rare tracks: Stuff from Bittersweet White Light!
Rating: Robrt and Mary: 4 stars for being inclusive, plus the weird filler is interesting.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Not if it’s 1994 and you’re looking for digitized rarities. Mary: Good survey of the early Seventies and with Sonny, too. This comp tries. Not one of the best. Only one package pic.
1995
75. Title: Blue: The All-Time Great Love Songs Label: MCA (UK and Argentinian import) Year issued: 1995 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: None Obvious hits missing: All Strange non-hit track(s) included: Five rarely collected duo tracks: “Danny Boy (Live),” “You and I (Live),” “You’ve Got a Friend/Where You Lead (Live),” “I Can See Clearly Now,” and “It Never Rains in Southern California.” Bonuses: CD booklet has two pages by John Howard about Bittersweet White Light and other songs.
Notes: Robrt: This is an unusual comp of love songs and American songbook standards, made all the more interesting because its five duo tracks are unique. Mary: In the US version of this, packaging looks better but uses 1980s pics of Cher which is not allowed!
Rating: Mary: 4 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? It’s Bittersweet White Light in its entirety mixed with other love songs. And then the four final songs with Sonny make it just bonkers. And yet, it’s kind of interesting in a weird way. Aside from the last four songs the ordering tries to have meaning, more so than the Cher Bittersweet CD would. But having the Bittersweet songs in order is important too. Someone picked these songs for some thematic thread they saw in them. A for effort, I say. Or in this case B. I’m kind of intrigued by these hitless comps, but I wish they were more balanced and didn’t dominate one past album, as these “love songs”/Bittersweet re-releases do.
Reissued in 1999 with an alternate cover.
76. Title: Cher and Sonny and Cher: The Kapp/MCA Anthology Label: MCA Year issued: 1995 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp era hits are here. Obvious hits missing: None Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Make the Man Love Me” is an unusual choice in this context. Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: Both versions of “Classified 1A,” “Real People,” and “Somebody” are rare at this point. So is Sonny’s late-career farewell to Cher, “Our Last Show.” Bonuses: Eleven pages of bio and pics by Todd Everett, extensive single info and chart info.
Notes: This is an interesting, well-made, and responsible comp of Kapp-era stuff. Disc One is bookended by Cher’s “Classified 1A,” the first thing the duo did for Kapp (Sonny wrote and produced the single, making its CD debut here) and Sonny’s post-divorce version. Hers is about Viet Nam; his is about the end of their marriage, yet Sonny doesn’t change a single lyric. Disc Two compiles tracks from the two live albums, plus Sonny’s last single for Kapp, another post-divorce shot at Cher called “Our Last Show.” The booklet is full of great sleeve art, photos, and good solid chart info.
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 5 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Not even close. Mary: Great packaging, rarities, loving tribute. Best Seventies Sonny and Cher comp.
77. Title: Original Hits Label: Disky (European import) Year issued: 1995 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Bang Bang,” “You Better Sit Down Kids,” “Sunny.” Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do.” Rare tracks: This might be the only place you’ll find an alternate take of “Like a Rolling Stone.” It’s an entirely different recording timed at 4:07, and you can hear Cher murmuring during the bridge, and Sonny talking in the background. Exciting!
Notes: Eighties-era Cher photo on the cover of a Sixties comp. This is part of a series of similar comps put out by this label by other artists.
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars, for that great alternate track (and in spite of skipping hits and blah packaging).
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Not a bad jumping-off point.
78. Title: Bang, Bang (20 Original Hits) Label: Charly (German import) Year issued: 1995 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All of the Imperial hits Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Take Me for a Little While” doesn’t usually get collected.
Rating: Robrt: 2.5 stars for more-of-the-same.
1996
79. Title: You Better Sit Down Kids Label: Disky (Holland) Year issued: 1996 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Bang Bang,” the title song. Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Alfie” (not a single in Europe, though). Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Cry Myself to Sleep”
Notes: Okay, maybe “All I Really Want to Do” wasn’t a hit in Holland. I don’t know. Still, this budget comp is one of the weirder ones.
Rating: Robrt: 1 star for a terrible title choice, an incomplete hits listing, and pairing an Eighties era Cher photo with Sixties era music. Mary: 1 star.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Yes. Mary: Typos on the cheap packaging. Lots of hits but this feels opportunistic. Done by a factory corporate hack. To add insult to injury, the packaging has an Eighties pic of Cher for a Sixties collection. Monkeys made this.
80. Title: The Long and Winding Road Label: Ariola Express Year issued: 1996 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All four Kapp-era solo hits Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Touch and Go” almost never gets collected; likewise “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”
Rating: Robrt: 2.5 stars for era-correct photos and complete hits selection.
1997
81. Title: Favorites Label: EMI Year issued: 1997 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the big ones Obvious hits missing: Some of the near-hits aren’t here Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Come and Stay with Me,” “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” “Until it’s Time for You to Go.” Bonuses: Table of Billboard rankings for each song.
Notes: Nice, era-appropriate cover image on a good comp. Still, how about a single-disc, Imperial-era Cher comp that includes all the singles, with no filler?
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars; Mary: 1 star.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: No booklet. More non-hits than hits.
82. Title: Sonny and Cher: I Got You Babe and Other Hits Label: Rhino Flashback Year issued: 1997 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: The biggest ones, sans “Baby Don’t Go” Obvious hits missing: “Laugh at Me” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Good Combination.” And why did flop single “Have I Stayed Too Long” show up so often in the Nineties? Bonuses: Small booklet bio by Julee Stover.
Notes: This comp is almost identical to the Rhino Flashback bargain comp of four years before, with different filler.
Rating: Robrt: 2 stars for ho-hum-ness, but if you’re looking for the big Atco duo hits in the bargain bin, this one’s fine. Mary: 2 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: I hate these Rhino Flashback things. At least this one has hits on it. But the packaging photo is godawful and the booklet printing is sloppy. I think this is my least favorite comp cover and that’s a competitive field.
83. Title: The Ultimate Collection Label: Universal/MCA (European import) Year issued: 1997 Era depicted: Kapp
Notes: This is yet another repackage of the UK Golden Greats LP from 1985.
1998
84. Title: Sunny Label: Magic Records Year issued: 1998 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: “Alfie,” “Sunny,” “Bang Bang,” “All I Really Want to Do” Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: See below
Notes: This is a comp-by-default. It’s a kind-of reissue of Cher’s self-titled third album on Imperial, but with “Until It’s Time for You to Go,” “Cruel War,” and “Catch the Wind” deleted and these songs, some of them hits, substituted: “Where Do You Go,” “Bang Bang,” “Milord,” “All I Really Want to Do,” “Come and Stay With Me,” “Dream Baby,” “Mama,” and “Behind the Door.” What the hell?
Rating: 1 star for substituting a comp for Cher’s third album into what had otherwise been a swell Cher Imperial reissue series.
Is this comp a rip-off? Categorically.
85. Title: Cher and Sonny and Cher: Greatest Hits Label: MCA Year issued: 1998 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Kapp era hits, both solo and duo, are here. Obvious hits missing: None from this era Strange non-hit track(s) included: “When You Find Out Where You’re Going,” “I Hate to Sleep Alone,” “Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters,” “United We Stand,” and even weirder: the “album version” of “Greatest Show on Earth.” Rare tracks: That “album version” of “Greatest Show on Earth” hasn’t been collected before. Usually we get the single mix. Bonuses: Nice booklet essay about “the Kapp years” by Todd Everett.
Notes: This is an excellent collection of the Kapp era singles, both hits and misses. Even if it cheats a little with one of the live versions of “I Got You Babe.”
Rating: Robrt: 3.5 stars for getting all the Kapp hits onto a single disc, for being “official,” and for nice packaging. Mary: 4 stars
86. Title: Golden Rock Classics Label: Club Eve (Polish import) Year issued: 1998 Era depicted: Imperial, plus “Believe.” What the fuck? Obvious hits included: None, unless you count “Alfie” and “Where Do You Go.” Obvious hits missing: None of the big Imperial hits are here.
Notes: This has to be a bootleg, right? It has no photographs of Cher, the label is one I’ve never heard of, and, uh, a bunch of Imperial album tracks plus “Believe”? Seriously.
Rating: Robrt: 1 star for weirdness, bootlegginess, and no artist photos.
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. Run!
1999
87. Title: Bittersweet Label: MCA Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: Not a hits compilation, though “The Way of Love” is here. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Missing Sonny’s liner notes but including a new six-page bio by Joseph F. Laredo.
Notes: This gorgeous “official” comp brings us the entire Bittersweet White Light album, Cher’s album of standards from 1973. The eight additional tracks are all torch songs that fit nicely with the standards.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars. Robrt: 5 stars, because this was a long-awaited record for fans of Cher’s ninth solo album (which I personally can’t stand).
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Almost gave this five stars because it was the first official re-release of Bittersweet White Light, which felt amazing at the time. But looking back, to release an album in its entirety and then to slap on eight other songs that are, granted, of that era but not of that style, it just feels weird. Like it could have been a great thing, but some of these sleepy songs just don’t jive with the big orchestral experimental torch pieces. Robrt: No. Beautiful production, a gorgeous booklet with a thoughtful essay, and a deluxe package.
88. Title: The Greatest Hits Label: Warner UK Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: All of them Obvious hits included: Most of them, except… Obvious hits missing: “Half Breed,” “Dark Lady,” “Take Me Home,” “You Better Sit Down, Kids”; no Kapp-era Sonny and Cher stuff. Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: “Love Can Build a Bridge” (a hit in the UK). Bonuses: Cher fold-out booklet poster.
Notes: This “official” hits package was marketed to dozens of different countries (but not the US) in 43 different pressings, all with the same track listing and cover art. It makes a passing glance at Sonny and Cher with two big Atco hits, but when you do that, ardent fans start to notice what’s missing.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 4 stars for its officialness, its nice packaging, and its UK inclusiveness.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Eh. Falls short with the other comps soon to come.
89. Title: Best of Cher: The Early Years Label: Columbia River Entertainment Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: The big stuff from Kapp. Obvious hits missing: None. Strange non-hit track(s) included: A ton of stuff from the 1971 “Gypsys” LP; also “Don’t Hide Your Love,” “The First Time,” “Let Me Down Easy,” and “Song For You.” Quality of recording: Good
Notes: This is a bootleg that combines Cher’s first solo Kapp LP with that crappy 1985 comp called Half Breed.
Rating: Mary: 2 stars, Robrt: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. It’s not really a best-of, and it’s not actually “the early years.” It’s Kapp stuff from Cher’s early middle-period, a two-CD set that’s mostly just rehash of the 1971 Cher and Foxy Lady albums. No booklet.
90. Title: If I Could Turn Back Time: Greatest Hits Label: Geffen Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Mostly Geffen, with most of the previous-era solo hits Obvious hits included: All the Geffen-era hits Obvious hits missing: “Beat Goes On,” “Way of Love,” all the Imperial-era solo stuff; Kapp-era duo hits. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Nice packaging, CD unfolds into a poster of Cher. Year by year bio by Mike Khouri. Great photos. Rare tracks: “Don’t Come Crying to Me” (previously unreleased), “Heart of Stone” (remix version).
Notes: “Believe” had just happened but Geffen was pretending it hadn’t. Nothing to see here.
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for being a mostly comprehensive, pre-“Believe” era collection. Mary: 5 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: I’m torn between a 4-5 here because although this is a nice package, it came too late. Why didn’t this appear earlier in the Nineties instead of waiting for her to have a huge comeback on another label? It smokes of opportunism instead of respect.
91. Title: Bang Bang: The Early Years Label: Imperial/Capitol Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All from this era. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Two-page bio by Chris White.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Really good, hip-designed, thoughtful comp . Songs are in order and sound really well together. No awkward leaps. Robrt: Props for including most of the failed Imperial singles here, too.
92. Title: Pop Giants Label: Spectrum (German import) Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Casablanca Obvious hits included: “Take Me Home”
Notes: This is both of Cher’s Casablanca solo albums, so is it really a comp? Nineties cover photo.
Rating: 1 star for alluding to hits-collecting.
Is this comp a rip-off? Yep.
93. Title: Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection Label: Geffen (European import) Year issued: 1999 Era depicted: Kapp, Geffen Obvious hits included: All of the Kapp stuff; a handful of Geffen EU hits. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “When Love Calls Your Name” from Love Hurts.
Notes: This one’s weird.
Rating: 1 star for being confusing.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Kinda!
94. Title: All I Really Want to Do Label: Neon (UK and European import) Year issued: 1999
Notes: Yet another reissue of that weird German Holdin’ Out for Love comp.
Rating: Robrt: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. Not again!
2000
95. Title: Cher The Story 1964-1972 Label: EMI Plus (Europe) Year issued: 2000 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits, big and small, are here. Obvious hits missing: None. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Finally, someone has included “Take Me for a Little While,” a flop single. But why do we also get “I Can’t Love You More” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”? Quality of recording: OK
Rating: Mary: 2 stars. Robrt: 3 stars, because even though this material has been collected repeatedly, this one’s more comprehensive than most. The cover art sucks, though.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: So lame I didn’t even recognize it as a comp at first. Lame booklet. The title promises content into 1972 that is just not there. The latest content in the disc is 1968. It does come with a bonus CD-ROM with a bio, photo gallery and discography in English, German, French and Spanish.
96. Title: The Way of Love Label: MCA Year issued: 2000 Era depicted: Imperial, Kapp, Casablanca Obvious hits included: Every one of the biggest solo and duo hits is here, up to and including “Take Me Home” Obvious hits missing: None from these eras. Strange non-hit track(s) included: A handful of deep cuts from Kapp LPs here, as well as non-LP B-sides “Don’t Put it On Me” and “Classified-1A.” Quality of recording: Good. Bonuses: Good booklet with photos and seven-page bio by Lisa Sutton. Single and album info, chart positions.
Notes: This is a wonderful two-disc collection: comprehensive and thoughtful, with some stuff that never gets collected (like “David’s Song” and “Am I Blue?”) and a nice booklet and essay.
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Beautiful comp focusing on ballads, including with Sonny. Oddly includes one late Seventies hit that seems out of place. At the time, this was the only way to get reissued early Seventies material on CD without a bootleg.
97. Title: The Best of Cher: The Millennium Collection (20th Century Masters Series) Label: MCA Year issued: 2000 Era depicted: Kapp, Casablanca Obvious hits included: All of the Kapp-era solo hits are here, even the soft hits. Obvious hits missing: None of the solo hits are missing, though if you’re going to include “All I Ever Need Is You,” why not “A Cowboy’s Work”? Strange non-hit track(s) included: None Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Three-page bio, booklet has good pictures and design. Rare tracks: None
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 4 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: It’s the 20th Century Masters series, so the hits are hits. “Take Me Home” is an interesting add. Even the non-hits were almost hits. One early Eighties pic snuck in that’s irritating me.
Notes: This is the German edition of Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Why add Seventies hits but avoid Nineties hits on Geffen? It makes no sense. Plus the inside booklet is advertising. Bad cover photo.
99. Title: Lift Me Up, Sonny Label: Poptoones (German import) Year issued: 2000
Notes: Yet another reissue of that strange Holdin’ Out for Love comp. Weirdest title and artwork ever.
100. Title: Holdin’ Out for Love Label: Planet Song (European import) Year issued: 2000
Notes: This is an EU version of the weird 1989 comp of the same name.
101. Title: Sunny Label: Pop Stars (UK and Spanish import) Year issued: 2000
Notes: The fifth consecutive reissue of the super-strange Holdin’ Out for Love comp, again with songs in a different order.
Rating: Mary: 1 star.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: This is a monstrosity. These two eras smashed together makes my chest hurt…literally. The booklet is empty inside. White nothingness. Typos in the song list. It should be burned.
102. Title: Cher Label: Geffen (French import) Year issued: 2000
Notes: French reissue of Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection.
103. Title: Superstars Label: Universal (European import) Year issued: 2000
Notes: This is the EU version of Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection.
104. Title: Behind the Door 1964-1974 Label: Raven Records (Australian import) Year issued: 2000 Era depicted: Imperial and Kapp Obvious hits included: None Obvious hits missing: All Strange non-hit track(s) included: Loads! Rare tracks: Several. Bonuses: Booklet with good pics and a five-page bio by Glenn A. Baker.
Notes: Subtitled “Overlooked Gems and Missed Moments from Her First Decade of Recording,” this comp collects album tracks from Cher’s first two recording eras that the casual hits fan would have missed. Interesting stuff here, including “Take Me for a Little While,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” and “Greatest Song I Ever Heard.”
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 5 stars for originality!
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: No, but Cher fans who want a hits-only package wouldn’t enjoy this. Mary: Not a hits comp but a comp nonetheless. At least it’s in order. And there’s some love given to it.
105. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Singles Plus Label: BR Music (Holland import) Year issued: 2000 Era depicted: Atco, Imperial, and Kapp Obvious hits included: Every single one of them from these eras. Obvious hits missing: “Carousel Man,” which may not have been a single in Holland. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Everything here was a single in one country or another, except for “Needles and Pins”; presumably that’s the “Plus” in the comp’s title. Rare tracks: “The Letter” and “Love is Strange” hadn’t been collected before this. Also interesting: “The Revolution Kind,” “Have I Stayed Too Long,” “Plastic Man,” “Good Combination,” “Thought of Loving You,” “Classified1-A,” “Real People.” Bonuses: Pics of the singles, table of international chart positions.
Rating: Robrt: 5 stars for this glorious two-disc collection, with a booklet that shows picture sleeves for every single included. Mary: 4 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Not on your life. Mary: Bad package but good selection and info. Hits are in order too. That’s nice. Compiles both Cher and Sonny and Cher. Lots of rare tracks.
106. Title: Cher Greatest Hits Volume Label: Fuel 2000 Year issued: 2004 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All Imperial hits are here. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “The Bells of Rhymney,” “I Wasn’t Ready,” “Until It’s Time for You To Go.” Quality of recording: Mary: Never opened it! Rare tracks: “She’s No Better Than Me.” Bonuses: Outer box with Sonny’s liner notes from All I Really Want to Do album but when you open that, it’s just Cher Absolutely the Best Vol 1 from 2002 inside! No wonder I never opened it. Fuckers. There’s a long bio inside by Bill Dahl.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Yes, but I feel ripped off by the trick mentioned above. Still, this collection is better than average. Another annoyance: I never came across a Volume Two. And also, the outer box has a Seventies pic for a Sixties collection and that’s not okay.
2001
107. Title: Essential Collection Label: Hip-O/Universal Year issued: 2001 Era depicted: Imperial, Kapp, Casablanca, Columbia (!) Obvious hits included: All the obvious stuff from some disparate label eras. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Don’t Hide Your Love,” “I Saw a Man,” “Wasn’t It Good,” “Young and Pretty,” “Rudy.” Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: “Bad Love,” “Dead Ringer for Love.” Bonuses: “Bad Love” is almost never collected alongside other Casablanca tracks. Unretouched Take Me Home photo; nine-page bio by Robyn Flans; single, album and chart info.
Notes: This is a strange collection of eras, but let’s hear it for Universal for using its various label affiliations to include both a Black Rose cut and a single from I Paralyze! Another unusual selection here is the international single “Dead Ringer for Love.”
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 3.5 stars for an unusual combination of comprehensive early and middle-period hits plus late-middle-period singles.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: No. It’s fun! A strange mix of different eras, to be sure. Mary: What a weird comp this is. A touch of everything in a mashup spanning from 1965-1982. And a Black Rose song in there! This is someone’s idea of a good Cher mix and I’m intrigued by that, but every time there’s a jump from Dark Lady to Take Me Home, I feel sad in my heart. The lost Warner Bros. albums are missing. And that tarnishes any comp that spans this timeframe. It’s just not a reflection of her true growth.
108. Title: King of World Music Label: Alba Records (Israeli bootleg) Year issued: 2001 Era depicted: Atco, Kapp, Geffen Obvious hits included: Don’t ask. Obvious hits missing: See above. Notes: This has to be a bootleg: Even for a foreign-language comp, the use of the word “King” in the title is crazy; the sequencing is all over the place; there’s no denoting the duo from the solo stuff; entire eras are skipped (there’s Atco duo hits and tracks, but nothing from Imperial); Kapp hits are missing… With the exception of “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves,” all tracks here are WEA.
Rating: Robrt: 1 star.
Is this comp a rip-off? It’s too crazy to comment on. Plus it’s a boot.
109: Title: All I Really Want to Do Label: Road Classics (German import) Year issued: 2001
Notes: Still another reissue of the Holdin’ Out for Love comp, with songs in a different order
Rating: 1 star
This comp had an alternate cover.
2002
110. Title: Sonny and Cher: 36 All-Time Favorites Label: Warner Year issued: 2002 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All of the Atco hits, big and small. Plus Caesar and Cleo stuff and “Baby Don’t Go”! Strange non-hit track(s) included: A ton of them; lots of deep cuts. Rare tracks: “Love is Strange,” “Do You Wanna Dance?”
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: No booklet, lame package. Rare comp with Good Times tracks.
111. Title: Oro Grandes Exitos Label: Universal (Argentinian edition) Year issued: 2002
Notes: This is the Argentina version of Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection.
112. Title: All I Really Want to Do Label: Pure Gold/Disky (European import) Year issued: 2002 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: The title song. Obvious hits missing: All other Imperial hits and singles. Rating: Two stars for collecting interesting early-era album tracks.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: One hit. An Eighties pic on a Sixties collection. Cheap packaging.
113. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Essentials Label: Rhino Year issued: 2002 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All of ‘em. Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go,” not licensed this time. Strange non-hit track(s) included: “A Beautiful Story,” which bombed, is included. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Three-page bio by Sheryl Farber
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 4 stars for offering a nearly complete picture of early Sonny and Cher.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Wow, actually a comp of real hits. Some good booklet pics and a bio. Good quality from a series.
114. Title: Absolutely the Best Vol. 1 Label: EMI Special Markets Year issued: 2002 Era depicted: Imperial Strange non-hit track(s) included: “I Want You” and “I Go to Sleep” are LP tracks that are less often included in comps. Once again, the lovely “She’s No Better Than Me” is here. Perhaps the strangest track here is “Reason to Believe,” a non-single track that’s rarely collected. And will someone tell me why “The Bells of Rhymney” gets collected so often in Cher comps? It’s one of her very worst performances. Bonuses: Sonny’s liner notes from the All I Really Want to Do album. There’s a long bio inside by Bill Dahl.
Notes: Robrt: I admit it, I love the packaging here, especially the Superpak art used for the cover.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 4 stars, for being perhaps the second best Imperial-era collection.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Collection is better than average. Another annoyance: I never came across a Volume Two.
2003
115. Title: The Very Best of Cher (2-CD “International” version) Label: Warner Bros/Universal Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: All but Warners, natch. Obvious hits included: Most. Obvious hits missing: “You Better Sit Down Kids.” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Rudy,” “Love Hurts,” “Not Enough Love in the World,” “Born with the Hunger,” “Bang Bang” (Geffen version). Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: “Piu Che Poi,” “Love Can Build a Bridge,” “Bad Love,” “Dead Ringer for Love.” Bonuses: Slipcase, four-page bio by Kurt Loder, chart info.
Rating: Mary, Robrt: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: This double-disc set was a big deal to me because it was the most decade-spanning comprehensive comp there ever was and it was mostly all hits (with some rarities and strange add-ins like “Rudy”). It kind of goes back in time but not precisely. And it did well on the charts, which was really nice. For these reasons, this double-disc version is my second favorite for best comp, period. Robrt: No, because the is the most comprehensive comp, ever, even including a Columbia-era song and something from Not.com.mercial.
116. Title: The Very Best of Cher (US single-disc version) Label: Warner Bros/Universal Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: All but Warners and Columbia. Obvious hits included: A ton of them. Obvious hits missing: Kapp-era Sonny and Cher hits. Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Slipcase, four-page bio by Kurt Loder, chart info.
Note: Variation: This version does not contain “Piu Che Poi,” “Love and Understanding,” “Walking in Memphis,” “Love Can Build a Bridge,” “Dove L’Amore” or “The Music’s No Good Without You.”
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for near-completeness.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Good for those not-so-big fans who don’t need the two-CD version, just the big hits. Cher is finally at a point where the whole comp can be hits. Not much room anymore for deep cuts. Not even enough room for all of Sonny and Cher’s hits, just the two Sixties biggies. Not sure about the sequencing scheme, if there is one.
117. Title: The Very Best of Cher (French single-disc version) Label: Warner Bros/Universal Year issued: 2003
Note: Variation: This version does not contain “After All,” “All or Nothing,” “Song for the Lonely,” “Take Me Home,” “Half Breed,” or “Dark Lady.”
118. Title: The Very Best of Cher (UK single-disc version) Label: Warner Bros/Universal Year issued: 2003
Note: Variation: This version does not contain “Piu Che Poi,” “Song for the Lonely,” “After All,” “Take Me Home,” “Half Breed” or “Dark Lady.”
119. Title: The Sonny and Cher Seventies Collection: I Got You Babe Label: Universal Special Markets Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: Kapp Obvious hits included: “All I Ever Need is You” and “A Cowboy’s Work” are live versions here. Obvious hits missing: None, because, well, they barely had any hits on Kapp. Strange non-hit track(s) included: How about nearly all of them? It’s nice to see “Somebody” and “Real People” on a non-exhaustive set like this, but this is clearly not a hits collection, per se. It’s great to finally have most of the All I Ever Need is You album on CD, and of course there’s the cheating bit where the two biggest Atco hits are live-Kapp-versioned here. Quality of recording: Good Rare tracks: “Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling” never gets collected, and look! There’s “When You Say Love,” a non-album single! Also “Real People” is here again. Nice.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 3.5 stars for innovation.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: If you’re looking for a proper hits package, it is. Mary: Issued as a package with the The Sonny & Cher Ultimate Collection DVD set of variety shows. Some good deep cuts from their Seventies albums but not a great package.
120. Title: Behind the Door Label: Falcon (German import) Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: Imperial, a little Kapp Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits are here. Obvious hits missing: “Half Breed,” “Dark Lady.”
Notes: Another weird hybrid of eras. Why only two Kapp solo hits (“Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” and “The Way of Love”)?
Rating: Robrt: 2.5 stars for near-miss.
Is this comp a rip-off? It is.
121: Title: If I Could Turn Back Time Label: Motor Music (German import) Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: Kapp and a little Geffen Obvious hits included: All the Kapp solo hits are here.
Notes: It’s all Kapp hits, except two Geffen hits: the title song and “Just Like Jesse James.” Weird
Rating: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? It’s mostly just a weird hybrid of two eras.
122. Title: Le Signore della Canzone (The Lady of Song) Label: Il Giornale (Italian import) Year issued: 2003 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits and near-misses Rating: Robrt: 3 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: No. It’s a nice import Imperial collection.
Notes: The ninth of nine (known) reissues of the super-weird Holdin’ Out for Love comp, with songs in still another different order. This one has Geffen-era photos.
Rating: 1 star
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. It’s a rip-off with legs! Run!
2004
124. Title: The Best of Cher: The Millennium Collection Vol. 2 (20th Century Masters Series) Label: Hip-O/Universal Year issued: 2004 Era depicted: Geffen/“Believe” Obvious hits included: most of them Obvious hits missing: “Strong Enough” Strange non-hit track(s) included: None Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Three-page bio by Robin Flans.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars; Robrt: 3 stars, mostly because this era hasn’t been this well collected outside of a retrospective disc.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: The 20th Century Masters series is good. All hits, good package.
2005
125. Title: Gold Label: Geffen Year issued: 2005 Era depicted: All of them Obvious hits included: All the big ones Obvious hits missing: Some of the early Sonny and Cher hits Strange non-hit track(s) included: None (although why is “Train of Thought” here? Not as big a hit as the other stuff here, and it seems out of place). Quality of recording: Good Bonuses: Good to have the extended “Take Me Home.” Nice six-page bio by Scott Schinder, with single and album chart info.
Rating: Mary and Robrt: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Although I don’t understand why this CD exists, coming as it does on the heels of the official (and many-editioned) Very Best of comp, this is a really excellent career retrospective that includes literally every one of Cher’s biggest hits, and all of the biggest Sonny and Cher hits, besides (though some of their less-remembered Atco-era hits are missing). Mary: I love the packaging on this comp. Cher pics reimagined with fabulous art, colors and fantastical elements, like she’s a tree fairy. This one also grabbed all her major and minor hits, sacrificing nothing for a “Rudy” or indulgent “Born with the Hunger.” The only misstep is including remixes on two songs instead of the originals. Despite that, this is the disc that most fulfills its obligations as a hits comp. I also love its ordering scheme, which is a complete shuffle that was well thought out, letting go all claims to historical ordering (which not many comps do, anyway). I love that this “Believe”-era comp does not privilege “Believe.” This is my pick for best overall timeless Cher comp.
126. Title: Legends Label: Universal (Taiwanese import) Year issued: 2005
Notes: This is the Taiwan version of Classic Cher: The Universal Masters Collection.
2006
127. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Definitive Pop Collection Label: Atco/Rhino Year issued: 2006 Era depicted: Atco/Imperial Obvious hits included: All of them! Obvious hits missing: “Alfie” Strange non-hit track(s) included: Props to this compilation’s producer for including rarely collected tracks like “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love,” “It’s Gonna Rain,” “I Look for You,” “Leave Me Be,” “So Fine,” “Have I Stayed Too Long,” and “Monday,” among others. Quality of recording: Good; remastered. Rare tracks: “Good Combination” is a late-Atco bomb single that’s not often included in hits packages. Bonuses: Box cover, six-page bio and pics by Sheryl Farber, single info and chart positions.
Rating: Robrt: 3.5 stars; demerits for cutting a licensing-fee corner by not paying for “Alfie.” Mary: 5 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: This is a very respectable, orderly set and my pic for best Sixties comp that includes solo and duo recordings.
128. Title: Greatest Hits Volume One Label: Fuel Records Year issued: 2006 Era depicted: Imperial
Notes: This is a bootleg of the Absolutely the Best Volume One compilation. Rating: Robrt: Half a star for being a bootleg and for pairing a Seventies image with Sixties recordings.
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. Run screaming from bootlegs.
129. Title: She’s No Better Than Me Label: Traditional Line (German import) Year issued: 2006 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial hits Obvious hits missing: “Sunny” isn’t here. Rare tracks: The title track is less often collected.
Notes: The packaging is nice, even if it uses Geffen-era photos. But, seriously, I have to personally love this one because it takes its name from a non-LP track that is my personal favorite Cher recording. Woo hoo!
Rating: Robrt: 4 stars for being an almost complete Imperial hits collection, plus (again!) the title!
130. Title: Sonny and Cher: I Got You Babe and Other Hits Label: Warner Custom Products (Canadian import) Year issued: 2006 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: The usual. Obvious hits missing: “Baby Don’t Go”
Notes: This might dupe the songs from one of the two Rhino midline sets.
Rating: 3 stars for being a good early-era starter set.
2007
131. Title: The Best of Cher: The Imperial Recordings, 1965-1968 Label: EMI Year issued: 2007 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the big Imperial hits are here Obvious hits missing: It wasn’t a hit, but the single “Hey Joe” isn’t included here. Bonuses: Four-page bio by Dave McAleer, chart and album info.
Notes: For the most part, this comp is a track-by-track rundown of Cher’s five Imperial albums. The tracks appear chronologically and in their original running order, with the exception of the second album, which rearranges the song order. All of All I Really Want to Do appears here; from Sonny Side of, the deleted tracks are “Time,” “Old Man River,” and “A Young Girl”; deleted tracks from Cher are “Cruel War,” “Catch the Wind,” and “Pied Piper”; from With Love, the songs “I Can’t Love you More,” “Hey Joe,” “Look at Me,” and “There but for Fortune” are missing, and from Backstage, “Go Now,” “Masters of War,” “Do You Believe in Magic?”, and “A House is Not a Home” have been dumped.
Rating: Mary: 5 stars; Robrt: I’d give it 4 stars for being near-complete, and for its package design.
132. Title: Sonny and Cher: Classics/Original Artists Recordings Series Label: Rhino Flashback Year issued: 2007 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: Only “Baby Don’t Go” and “Laugh at Me” Obvious hits missing: Most of them! Strange non-hit track(s) included: “Love is Strange” never gets included in a single-disc comp; likewise “500 Miles,” “Unchained Melody,” “Then He Kissed Me,” and “You Really Got a Hold On Me.” What’s up? Bonuses: Three-paragraph bio by John Bolsar. Rare tracks: See above.
Notes: This is a weird one. But the title doesn’t promise us any big hits, either. Fun!
Rating: Mary: 2 stars; Robrt: 2.5 stars for originality.
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Only if you’re looking for big hits! Mary: Oy. What to say. This would be a total shitshow if not for the Inner Views and pre-album rare bits.
133. Title: Sonny and Cher Classics Label: Flashback/Rhino Year issued: 2007
Notes: Just an alternate packaging of the Sonny and Cher Classics comp, above. The booklet is literally just advertising material.
134. Title: Sonny and Cher: Collector’s Edition (Tin box set) Label: Universal Year issued: 2007 Era depicted: Atco and Kapp Obvious hits included: All of them; everything. Obvious hits missing: Nothing. Bonuses: Gorgeous color booklet, and great tin-box packaging.
Notes: This is a good collection of all the hits and misses from both of the duo’s hitmaking eras.
Rating: Robrt: 5 stars for cool packaging and completist collecting.
Notes: No, seriously: Still another reissue of the Holdin’ Out for Love comp, this time with songs in a different order
Rating: 0 stars
2008
136. Title: The Very Best of Cher (single-disc Collosseum cover version) Label: Warner Bros/Universal Year: 2008 (Cher began her residency there on May 6, 2008)
Note: Same as above US Edition, with black Colosseum slipcase
137. Title: Most Famous Hits: The Album Label: Digi-Planet (UK import; bootleg?) Year issued: 2008 Era depicted: Atco, Kapp, Casablanca Obvious hits included: Several from each era Obvious hits missing: Too many to list.
Notes: So much to say about this schizophrenic collection of hits and tracks from various eras. First of all, don’t call your comp “Most Famous Hits” and then kick it off with “Reason to Believe,” which wasn’t even a single, let alone “famous” or a hit. Badly informed collection.
Rating: 1 star for being neither one thing nor another. Ack!
Is this comp a rip-off? Yes. Because it’s so misleading. Just give it a different title and I’d be more generous.
138. Title: The Best of Cher Label: Universal (Canadian import) Year issued: 2008 Era depicted: Atco, Kapp, Geffen Obvious hits included: “I Got You Babe,” “Beat Goes On,” three Kapp #1s, all the Geffen biggies. Obvious hits missing: Lots of Atco-era hits, both the Kapp duo hits, “The Way of Love,” and no Casablanca licensing here. Bonuses: Two-page bio by Dan Winkley.
Notes: Plenty of bona fide hits, but lots missing, too. Another near-miss collection.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 2 stars
Is this comp a rip-off? Robrt: Rather. Mary: All hits. Tries to bridge the gap between decades but it’s awkward.
2009
139. Title: All I Really Want to Do: Best of the Early Years Label: MicroWerks Year issued: 2009 Era depicted: Imperial Obvious hits included: All the Imperial solo hits. Obvious hits missing: None Strange non-hit track(s) included: Hey, look! “The Click Song Number One” got included! Also one doesn’t usually see “Don’t Think Twice” on a Cher comp. The other non-single tracks are “Needles and Pins,” “Elusive Butterfly,” and “I Go to Sleep.” Quality of recording: Mary: Okay. Bonuses: Three-page bio.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 2.5 stars, because we don’t need this collection again. Extra points for “Click Song” inclusion.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: It’s better than crap.
2011
140. Title: Icon Label: Geffen Year issued: 2011 Era depicted: Kapp and Geffen Obvious hits included: All the biggies from those two eras are here. Obvious hits missing: None from these two eras. Usually soft hits like “Train of Thought” get added, but this is a lean, mean comp that skips over Cher’s first, brief disco era. Strange non-hit track(s) included: None. Quality of recording: Okay
Rating: Mary: 3; Robrt: 3, mostly because it’s such a strange middle-period group of hits.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: One of the few Geffen comps, but one that mixes eras that are difficult to merge. Cheap packaging. Robrt: Not really. It’s just…weird.
141. Title: Flashback with Sonny and Cher Label: Rhino Flashback Year issued: 2011 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the Atco hits, plus “Baby Don’t Go” Obvious hits missing: None Strange non-hit track(s) included: “A Beautiful Story” and “Have I Stayed Too Long” were more misses than hits, but they were singles, so it’s nice to see them included here.
Rating: 3 stars for a simple and complete (“Baby Don’t Go” and “Just You”!) early-era comp.
Is this comp a rip-off? No.
2012
142. Title: Sonny and Cher: The Collection Label: Rhino/Music Club Deluxe UK Year issued: 2012 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All of them. Obvious hits missing: None Bonuses: Box cover, four-page bio by Michael Heatley.
Rating: Robrt: 4.5 stars for neato packaging, era-correct photos, and an exhaustive collection of singles and album tracks from the duo’s first act; Mary: 3 stars.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Lots of nonhits but pretty good choices. Only one pic. Rare comp with Good Times tracks.
2013
143. Title: The Album Label: Black Line Collection (Spanish import, obviously a boot) Year issued: 2013
Notes: Spanish edition of the bootleg Most Famous Hits: The Album.
2014
144. Title: The Album Label: Black Line Collection (European import; probably a boot) Year issued: 2014
Notes: EU edition of the bootleg Most Famous Hits: The Album.
2018
145. Title: Iconic Mixes from Believe Label: Warner Bros. Year issued: 2018 Era depicted: Warner disco Obvious hits included: All four singles from Believe.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars for delivering exactly what it promises.
146. Title: Greatest Hits Label: Warner Bros. (European import, has to be a bootleg) Year issued: 2018 Era depicted: All of them except for Imperial and the middle-period Warner Bros. Obvious hits missing: Most of the Atco-era stuff, all the Imperial hits.
Notes: Even though the packaging looks very official, this has to be a bootleg, because it collects tracks up to and including the ABBA album. WEA wouldn’t issue something like this without a huge launch.
Rating: 2 stars because it’s a boot.
2019
147. Title: The Best of Sonny and Cher (“Drop the Needle” series) Label: Rhino Year issued: 2019 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: All the Atco stuff, plus “Baby Don’t Go” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “A Beautiful Story” and “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love” make the filler grade again, as does “Love Don’t Come.” Why?!
Notes: Vinyl is back, and Rhino/Atco made a deal with Barnes and Noble to put this one out. Neato! Nice package and, hey, it’s been nearly 40 years since any label issued this duo on vinyl, so?
Rating: Mary: 3 stars; Robrt: 4 stars because of sentimentality and that unusual out-take photo on the cover.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Good for a non-fan; Robrt: Nah.
2024
148. Now Playing Sonny & Cher Label: Atlantic Year issued: 2024 Era depicted: Atco Obvious hits included: Most of the big Atco-era ones Obvious hits missing: “Just You,” Strange non-hit track(s) included: “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” and “Sing C’est La Vie.” (“Have I Stayed to Long” charted higher than “Sing C’est La Vie.” Just sayin’.) Bonuses: None. Quality of recording: Fair
Notes: Mary: Besides the sea-blue vinyl (and I can’t resist colored vinyl releases), what is the point of this? The liner note sentences are really painful. Robrt: I think “Sing C’est La Vie” is here because it went to Number One in a couple of European countries.
Rating: Mary: 1 star; Robrt: 2 stars for packaging, but this is really just for new vinyl fans. Then again, it’s not trying to be an all-inclusive Atco-era comp.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: I don’t even like the cover; Robrt: It’s a nice piece for completists, especially since Rhino hasn’t collected Sonny and Cher since the 90s and not on vinyl.
149. Forever Label: Warner Bros Year issued: 2024 Era depicted: All of them Obvious hits included: Most of the big ones Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do,” “Bang, Bang,” “Fernando” (not a hit but the biggest song from Dancing Queen). Also charting singles like “But You’re Mine” and all of the duo Kapp hits. The most glaring omission from Forever and Forever Fan versions is “Half Breed,” which charted at #1 on Billboard in 1973 and therefore, presumably, should be included here. It’s likely this is part of a new trend in artists self-censoring their past work, as reported on in Rolling Stone magazine recently (‘Half-Breed’ and ‘Brown Sugar’ Vanished: Why Classic Artists Are Censoring Themselves). Strange non-hit track(s) included: “I Hope You Find It” Quality of recording: Remasters as of 2024. Bonuses: None.
Notes: This seems like a comp for Gen Y (Millennials), Z and Alpha. Not for Boomers and Gen X.
Rating: Mary: 3 stars because it’s lacking in liner notes and a guiding organizing principle that I can discern, and because the packaging is weak and the photos are recycled. Robrt: There’s so much that isn’t here, or has been relegated to the streaming version of this LP, that I’m not sure how to comment on it. I mean, I get it: There can’t be a definitive Cher comp that includes every charting hit. Still, this one might have opted for one or two Top 40 hits in place of one of the ABBA tracks.
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: Eh. It’s adequate I guess, not the best; Robrt: I like the package and I understand that it’s a cash-in on the Hall of Fame moment.
150. Forever Fan Label: Warner Bros Year issued: 2024 Era depicted: All of them, plus some minor hits and fully rare non-singles. Obvious hits included: All the big ones Obvious hits missing: “All I Really Want to Do” is still inexplicably missing. Sonny finally appears, but “Just You” and “What Now My Love” were biggies. “You Better Sit Down Kids” was a giant, and doesn’t appear on this version of FOREVER, either. Strange non-hit track(s) included: Lots of rare bits that can only be Cher’s favorites, plus ones she figured were fan favorites. Quality of recording: Remasters as of 2024. Bonuses: This would have been a good time to do a truly comprehensive box set with all the rare singles and a meaningful booklet. Another release missed opportunity. But that said, thankful for the nod to Not Commercial. “I’d Rather Believe in You,” Two the Hard Way and “I Paralyze.”
Notes: This is where we throw Boomers and Gen X a bone or two.
Rating: Mary: 4 stars for the attempt to bring to light lost gems but why only on streaming? Robrt: I don’t understand why the loss-leader cuts (“Move Me,” “A Woman’s Story,” etc.) are on the streaming-only version. Maybe because I’m old?
Is this comp a rip-off? Mary: $15 is a good price for 40 songs I guess but true fans want the physical thing; Robrt: Exactly! I’d buy it as a completist if this extended version were a box-set or whatever. My head hurts thinking about streaming “comps.”
These Are Not Comps
There are at least three early albums that are not comps but are instead straight reissues of early-era Cher albums. This is confusing as these are often considered comps.
1. Title: This is Cher Label: Sunset Records Note: A reissue of Backstage, with songs in a different order and minus these cuts: “A House is Not a Home,” ”Song Called Children.”
2. Title: This is Cher Label: Pickwick Year issued: 1978 Note: A reissue of the Sunset Records This Is Cher minus “Click Song.”
3. Title: This Is Cher Label: Max Cat Year issued: 2010 Era depicted: Imperial Note: Another version of the Pickwick/Sunset edited version of Backstage.
Other examples of misleading non-comps: Cher Hits (Sunset, 1969) which is just Cher’s first solo album re-released and Sonny & Cher’s Two of Us (Atco, 1972) which just repackages Look at Us and In Case You’re In Love and Sonny and Cher at Their Best (Pair Records, 1986) which is just a reissue of The Two of Us.
The Statistics of Cher Compilations
Sampling of Titles
Song titles: 40
All I Really Want to Do: 5
Bang Bang: 4
I Got You Babe: 4
Half Breed: 3
Holding Out for Love: 3
Turn Back Time: 3
Behind the Door: 2
Bittersweet: 1
Gypsy Lady: 1
You Better Sit Down Kids: 1
Cream of the Crop titles:
Absolutely/Very/Their Best: 24
Greatest Hits: 19
Classic/Classics: 7
Golden Hits: 3
World Hits: 3
Golden Greats: 2
Golden Rock Classics/Gold: 2
The Hits: 2
World Hits: 2
Superpak: 2
The Collection/Ultimate or Essential Collection: 2
Forever: 2
Definitive Pop Collection: 1
Most Famous Hits: 1
Original Hits: 2
Pop Greats: 1
Sings the Hits: 1
Retro:
Flashback: 1
Once Again: 1
Cher as Star
Icon/Iconic: 2
Lady of Song: 1
Legends: 1
Star Collection: 2
Superstars: 1
This is: 3
Roundup of some kind:
Anthology: 1
Favorites: 1
Millennium Edition: 1
Singles Plus: 1
Oddball titles
Behind the Door: 2
The Album: 2
Blue: 1
King of the World: 1
Lift Me Sonny: 1
She’s No Better Than Me: 1
Now Playing: 1
By a Country/Region Other Than United States
Germany: 19
Europe: 12
UK: 9
Australia: 5
Japan: 5
Argentina: 2
Brazil: 2
France: 2
Holland: 2
Italy: 2
Spain: 2
Worldwide (except U.S.): 2
Canada: 1
Israel: 1
Poland: 1
Portugal: 1
Taiwan: 1
By Year (busy comp years are in bold, with 4 or more comps):
1965: 1
1966: 1
1967: 4 (result of two busy years)
1968: 1
1969: 2
1970: 1
1972: 4 (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour a hot show)
1973: 1
1974: 4 (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour a hot show, the couple’s divorce)
1975: 4
1976: 6 (Cher show a hot show)
1977: 3
1978: 0
1979: 1 1980: 1
1981: 3
1982: 2
1983: 0
1984: 0
1985: 6 (Mask a hot movie)
1986: 1
1987: 1
1988: 2
1989: 6 (after a few years of Moonstruck, Witches of Eastwick, MTV videos)
1990: 4
1991: 2
1992: 6 (Mermaids)
1993: 3
1994: 4
1995: 4
1996: 2
1997: 3
1998: 4
1999: 8 (“Believe” is a worldwide hit)
2000: 12
2001: 3
2002: 5
2003: 10
2004: 1
2005: 1
2006: 4
2007: 6
2008: 2
2009: 1
2010: 0
2011: 2
2012: 1
2013: 1
2014: 1
2015: 0
2016: 0
2017: 0
2018: 2
2019: 1
2020: 0
2021: 0
2022: 0
2023: 0
2024: 3
There are 55 years with at least one comp and only eleven years in which zero comps were issued.
89. Title: Best of Cher: The Early Years
94. Title: All I Really Want to Do
149. Forever
150. Forever Fan
Label: Pickwick