Cher has done a great amount of covers on her albums, TV shows and in concerts (which is why I like to call her the Cover Queen to Tom Jones as Cover King). Some day I’ll publish the whole spreadsheet I have noting the hundreds of covers.

But also many of her actual hits were covers. I myself was reminded of this on a road trip home from Cleveland when “The Way of Love” came up on a Sirius channel and Mr. Cher Scholar asked me if this was a Cher original. It was not; but in “road-googling” it, I discovered its history back to a French song. More on that below.

Let’s just go through the list of Cher hit and non-hit singles because there are some interesting non-hit single covers in there too and this serves to remind us that Cher has had many, manymore single failures than hit smashes.

Hits That Were Covers

Major and minor hits, anything that made the US or UK Top 40 or stray #1 hits on other US lists. Listing the chart position as: US/UK.

For example, “All I Really Want to Do” made it to #15 US and #9 UK.

  1. All I Really Want to Do (15/9) (Bob Dylan)  (Information | Bob Dylan version) – we all know about this one, Cher most auspicious first solo cover which did better in the charts than the concurrent cover by The Byrds.
  2. What Now My Love with Sonny (14/13) (Information |  French version, “Et Maintenant”) – allegedly Sonny and Cher were really interested in French things back in the mid-1960s. The French version has more emotion but the Sonny & Cher version sounds more dead inside. So both have their features.
  3. Alfie (32 US) (Cilla Black)  (Information | Cilla Black original) – Cher’s version is largely forgotten in the shadow of Dionne Warwick’s soon-after cover.
  4. Sunny (32 UK) (Bobby Hebb) (Information | Bobby Hebb version) – the original is a bit of smooth, 60s groovyness.
  5. All I Ever Need Is You (7/8) (Ray Charles) (Information | Ray Charles version) – a totally different vibe but I also love the Charles version.
  6. The Way of Love (7 US) (Information | Kathy Kirby version | original French song “J’ai le mal de toi” by Colette Deréal) – Cher’s canonical version uses the intro from the Kirby version but brings back the sultriness of the Deréal version.
  7. I Found Someone (10/5) (Laura Branigan) (Information | Laura Branigan version) – Branigan was a powerful singer but Cher really blows the top off with her fierceness.
  8. Heart of Stone (20 US) (Information | Bucks Fizz version) – had no idea this was a cover!
  9. The Shoop Shoop Song (33/1) (Betty Everett) (Information | Betty Everett version) – I could never get behind this two minute bit of bad advice. But everyone seems to love Cher’s reanimation of this thing.
  10. Save Up All Your Tears (37/37) (Bonnie Tyler, Robin Beck) (Information | Bonnie Tyler version | Robin Beck version) – I love Bonnie Tyler but these two versions, well they’re not stern and angry enough. Cher again raises the anger decibel. Their versions made me want to listen to Cher’s again.
  11. Oh No Not My Baby (33 UK) (Maxine Brown) (Information | Maxine Brown version) – I like the slower, more lilting Brown version.
  12. Love Can Build a Bridge (1 UK) (The Judds) (Information | The Judds version) – anything that puts Chrissie Hynde and Cher together is okay by me.
  13. Walking in Memphis (11 UK) (Marc Cohn) (Information | Marc Cohn version) – the Marc Cohn version is a pretty-much perfect thing but this has become such a beloved Cher cover for Cher fans. She Chers it right up.
  14. Not Enough Love in the World (31 UK) (Don Henley) (Information | Don Henley version) – I don’t love Don Henley’s voice TBH. But I also don’t love Cher’s version either. They sound pretty much the same to me. But the line “I was either standing in your shadow or blocking your light/though I kept on trying, I could not make it right” is pretty good.
  15. The Sun Aint Gonna Shine (Anymore) (26UK) (Frankie Valli, The Walker Brothers) (Information | The Walkers version) – Cher’s version pulls more from the Walkers’ great version.
  16. When the Money’s Gone ( US Dance 1) (Bruce Roberts) (Information | Bruce Roberts version) – I love both of these versions, although the songs takes on resonance as sung by Cher (considering her personal history).
  17. Love One Another (US Dance 1 with above) (Amber) (Information | Amber version) – so very similar.
  18. I Hope You Find It (25 UK) (Miley Cyrus) (Information | Miley Cyrus version) – also so very similar.
  19. Stop Crying Your Heart Out with BBC Radio 2 Allstars (7UK) (Oasis) (Information | Oasis version)  – I don’t like Oasis so the Allstars are deemed better by default.

Singles That Were Covers (failed hits)

  1. Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix) (Information | Jimi Hendrix version) – Hendrix is more convincing but don’t we all just listen to the bass part anyway?
  2. The Click Song Number One (Miriam Makeba) (Information | Miriam Makeba version) – I remember being very excited about finding this cover decades ago. It’s pretty great.
  3. Take Me For a Little While (Evie Sands) (Information | Evie Sands version) – I actually really like Cher’s version of this one. She sounds so innocent. Cher’s version also sounds more of-a-piece.
  4. For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield) (Information | Buffalo Springfield version)  – Cher does a respectable job but it’s hard to compete with this classic.
  5. I Walk on Guilded Splinters (Dr. John) (Information |  Dr. John version) – Sonny and Cher were early supporters of Dr. John. I still think Cher’s version is the canonical one here. Less theatrical than Dr. John’s version, it’s more fierce and potent. To coin a phrase from my house, Cher’s version” isn’t trying too hard.”
  6. (Just Enough to Keep Me) Hangin’ On (The Gosdin Brothers) (Information | The Gosdin Brothers version) – Cher’s version doesn’t put me to sleep, let’s put it that way.
  7. Yours Until Tomorrow (Dee Dee Warwick) (Information | Dee Dee Warwick version) – Cher’s version seems to be playing at the right speed to me where the Warwick version (and I love that Warwick family tree) seems playing on the wrong speed.
  8. Superstar (Delaney & Bonnie) (Information | Delaney & Bonnie version)  Arguably this song was not a hit until the The Carpenter’s version in 1971. But what a super lineup in this band Delaney & Bonnie! I didn’t know the idea for this song came from the band’s once-member Rita Coolidge. Their version is pretty swell. But Karen Carpenter gives it that bit of innocence that just breaks our hearts.
  9. Am I Blue? (Standard) (Information)
  10. Rescue Me (Fontella Bass) (Information | Fontella Bass version) – Cher’s version is fine, but I love the Fontella Bass version.
  11. A Love Like Yours (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday) with Harry Nilsson (Martha and the Vandellas) (Information | Martha and the Vandellas version) – these mid-70s Phil Spector records, although forged in the fire of crazy, are interesting experiments to me, whereas the Vandellas version is a bit dull.
  12. Baby I Love You (The Ronettes) (Information | The Ronettes version) interesting b-side cover to Cher’s “A Woman’s World” single and as per note above, Spector’s molasses remake of his own production here is fascinating to me.
  13. Geronimo’s Cadillac (Michael Martin Murphy) (Information | Michael Martin Murphey’s version) – Cher’s version is the bomb on this one.
  14. You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me with Gregg Allman (The Miracles) (Information | The Miracles version) – Sonny & Cher also covered this but they never made it a single. You can’t mess up this song IMHO.
  15. It’s Too Late to Love Me Now (Charly McClain) (Information | Charley McClain version)  – had no idea this was a cover! These are both different and good.
  16. Skin Deep (CINDY) (Information | CINDY version) – had no idea this was a cover either. Very similar versions but Cher adds that sultry touch.
  17. Main Man (Desmond Child & Rouge) (Information | Desmond Child & Rouge version) – had. no. idea. Love this earlier somewhat delicate version but when Cher tells you you’re her main man, you better sit up straight, son.
  18. You Wouldn’t Know Love (Michael Bolton) (Information | Michael Bolton version) – Michael Bolton also wrote “I Found Someone” so there’s also a version of him singing that song too but later than Laura Branigan and Cher’s versions. I’m agnostic about this contest between these two on this bombastic song. I too annoyed that each of them are forced to sing wouldn’t as “would-dent.”
  19. Baby I’m Yours (Barbara Lewis) (Information | Barbara Lewis version) – part of the Mermaids soundtrack for Cher, I highly prefer it to “The Shoop Shoop Song.” But these are not my favorite Cher remakes.
  20. Love Hurts (The Everly Brothers, Nazareth) (Information | Nazareth version) – Cher recorded this song twice so she must have loved it, pulling each time (but to different results) from the Nazareth version. The single is from her Love Hurts album but the lush production by Jimmy Webb on the Stars version can’t be beat.
  21. Could’ve Been You (Bob Halligan) (Information | Bob Halligan version) – don’t love either version.
  22. Many Rivers to Cross (Jimmy Cliff) (Information | Jimmy Cliff version) – one of Cher’s best covers and testament to the wonderful almost holy-sounding original version.
  23. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered with Rod Stewart (standard) (Information) – I refuse to even talk about this.
  24. Fernando (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version)  – I would say all the ABBA versions are hard to beat but this is the best of Cher’s covers of their songs.
  25. Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version)
  26. S.O.S. (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version)
  27. Chiquitita (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version) Cher’s Spanish Version was the single – probably second best Cher ABBA cover.
  28. One of Us (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version)
  29. Dancing Queen (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version)  (no mention of Cher on that Wikipedia page)
  30. Super Trouper (ABBA) (Information | ABBA version) – fun little cover but too short on Cher.
  31. What Christmas Means to Me (Stevie Wonder, now standard Christmas song) (no Wikipedia page!!??) (Stevie Wonder’s version)
  32. Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry) (Information | Chuck Berry’s cover) – this song deserves all the attention it can get. The best song on Cher’s Christmas album.
  33. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Darlene Love, now standard Christmas song) (Information | Darlene Love version) – This was the great new Christmas song on the Phil Spector Christmas album. Cher and Darlene Love revisit it with relish in this cover.

In this case Cher covered the song before the songwriter did

Behind the Door (Graham Gouldman) – Cher’s single, non-hit version was recorded in 1967, his 1968.

This project also reminded me how many hits Cher were penned by Sonny. Looking on Wikipedia, it seems Cher (including Sonny & Cher) has had 33 US Top 40 hits and 10 of those were written by Sonny. She’s had 36 UK hits under 40 and 6 of those were written by Sonny.

Sonny Bono Hits

  1. Baby Don’t Go with Sonny (8/11)
  2. I Got You Babe with Sonny (1/1)
  3. Just You with Sonny (20US)
  4. Where Do You Go (25 US)
  5. But You’re Mine (15/17)
  6. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (2/3)
  7. Little Man with Sonny (21/4)
  8. The Beat Goes On with Sonny (6/29)
  9. You’d Better Sit Down Kids (9 US)
  10. A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done (8 US)

Sonny Bono Singles (failed hits)

  1. The Letter with Sonny
  2. Sing C’est La Vie with Sonny
  3. I Feel Something in the Air
  4. Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies)
  5. She’s No Better Than Me
  6. Have I Stayed Too Long with Sonny
  7. Living For You with Sonny
  8. It’s the Little Things with Sonny
  9. You and Me with Sonny
  10. A Beautiful Story with Sonny
  11. Plastic Man with Sonny
  12. Circus with Sonny
  13. You Gotta Have a Thing of Your Own with Sonny
  14. You’re a Friend of Mine with Sonny
  15. I Would Marry You Today with Sonny
  16. Get It Together with Sonny
  17. Hold You Tighter with Sonny
  18. Don’t Put It On Me
  19. Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer with Sonny

And yes, “It’s the Little Things” should have been a hit in a just world.

Singles Allegedly Written for Cher (not penned by Sonny)

  1. Chastity’s Song (Band of Thieves) by Elyse J. Weinberg for the movie Chastity
  2. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves by Bob Stone
  3. Half Breed by Al Capps and Mary Dean
  4. David’s Song by David Paich
  5. Dark Lady by Johnny Durrill
  6. Hell on Wheels by Bob Esty and Michele Aller,  as well as most of the Prisoner album.
  7. If I Could Turn Back Time by Diane Warren
  8. You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me by Diane Warren

I imagine there are many more. And some she never recorded that were written for her like “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.”