So when Robrt Pela and I were finishing our Quagmire of Comps project, we talked about our dream Cher comp. I have probably made about ten mix-tape Cher comps in my lifetime (not including new YouTube and steaming mixes). I mean the olde timey cassette tapes. This was back in the day when there was not a single comprehensive, across-the-many-labels compilation to be purchased. My last cassette mix was made in my late 20s and even had a fold-out of liner notes written by me in a moment of prenatal-Cher-scholaring.
By now, we’ve had a few good comps out there and it’s no longer a matter of wanting to see all her hits represented in one place. I’ve also done my share of sharing what I thought were the best songs (see the links above). So lately I’ve been creating thematic comps, like Love Songs, Philosophical Songs, Girl Power Songs.
As Robrt and I were talking about the Ultimate Comp I was thinking about songs that define Cher in some way, like personally. Which is very tricky. Somewhat newb interviewers since “Believe” have had a tendency to try to ask Cher what certain songs mean to her personally and she invariably responds like the person has just landed with that question from Mars. This line of questioning inevitably tanks. This is not an artist trying to reveal biography in her music (at least when taken as a whole). Her roots are too vaudevillian, too show-biz, variety-show for that.
But…fans like a little peak into the psyche of their stars from time to time, even from artists who don’t traffic in such disclosure. So it took me about ten minutes to come up with this ultimate bio mix. Then I was reminded of Biograph, Bob Dylan’s 53-song Box Set comp from 1985. In my mind, that was the first box set I ever saw on the shelves and I immediately pined for the Cher! Box! Set! And as you might recall, about a zillion box sets did get released, so many that they had to devote a special bin for those things. But that box set of Cher’s best/rare/popular songs never did come through (although we did get a cool wooden box up-sale with lyrics on tarot cards for the Love Hurts album in 1991).
Although my biographical framework is a risky premise for a compilation list because album (and TV show) producers like Sonny and Snuff Garrett controlled her song selection for decades, there is much we can learn from the songs Sonny wrote for Cher, (some based loosely on their biography), songs they both selected for her to sing, songs she’s revisited over and over again through the years and songs Cher actually wrote, (what few there are). I didn’t include all of the songs Cher wrote in my bio mix, but you can see good summaries of those online:
A lot of my cassette mixes were called “This Is Cher” in a kind of a Whitmanian Leaves of Grass repurposing. That title has always felt jazzy and back-door to me, a bit snooty so it works in both in a post-modern, wink-wink kind of way and yet still pretty earnestly (which is Gen X perfection in tone right there). But there have already been a few “This Is Cher” comps on the market and so I’ve appended “(For Reals)” to mine with the idea that this song list is a bit more of a personal peek into Cher’s inner life.
And lastly, I’ve broken the list of songs down by decade segments to wishfully indicate separate vinyl chapters, like those old, coveted multi-album box sets with their vinyl-cover-sized liner-note booklets. Oooh! That was nice!
The mix can be found on YouTube, the only streaming platform that includes Cher’s TV performances and her self-re-released Warner Bros albums from the mid 1970s.
1960s
- Baby Don’t Go
Right before Sonny & Cher, as Caesar & Cleo, launched their recording act, Cher’s mother, disturbed by Sonny’s advanced age, physically extricated the underage Cher from Sonny’s apartment. They were basically just roommates at that point but this separation allegedly marks the point where Sonny began to miss Cher and began to see her as a girlfriend. This song and Sonny’s choice to sing Bob Lind’s “Cheryl’s Going Home” (not in my mix) possibly reflect this time of separation. - I Got You Babe
Sonny always spoke of this song as mythologically personal, referencing their time trying to break into show business. He casts himself as “young” like Cher which served him well until it didn’t seem so plausible anymore. Cher still calls it “my song.” When Sonny introduces the song on their first live album and in various television performances, he counsels her to, “Sing your song.” - Hello
Extremally personal, this is Sonny’s attempt to pull back the veil and show “the people” who Sonny & Cher really were, just everyday people. But in doing so, he has to draw Cher out of her shell and she seems highly uncomfortable with their improvisational conversation. - Sunny
The is 100% re-textualizing as Sonny with an innocent but truthfully reverent delivery. - Just You
You have to switch their roles here but Sonny has written a song about their relationship and gallantly given Cher the prettier part. We now know from various sources (including both Sonny and Cher) that Sonny didn’t find Cher very attractive or smart and she found him very attractive and very smart; and although it’s hard to believe, Sonny was the one making eyes at girls more his type (big-breasted blondes) and Cher was, in reality, the jealous partner. Very telling this one. - You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Cher sang this song with both Sonny and Gregg Allman, like two husband bookends. She must have revisited the song officially on vinyl for a reason. - Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love
The romance of Sonny & Cher was hindered by a big naysayer, Cher’s mother, understandably upset by the fact that her underage daughter was living with a man 11 years older. This song puts an innocent spin on that story but there’s a little grain of truth in there, at least from the perspective of an innocent teenage girl in the throes of a massive love obsession. - But You’re Mine
See “Just You” and “I Got You Babe” above. All the same things. I don’t love this song, tbh, and I keep wanting to take it off this mix. - Little Man
Sonny wasn’t very tall and talking about this was a schtick in their act for 12 years. - It’s the Little Things
See “Just You” above. All the same things. - Don’t Talk to Strangers
Sonny’s portrayal of Cher as innocent doe. - Trust Me
This one is interesting in light of the fact that Sonny asked Cher to trust him in all aspects of their business and personal life. Cher didn’t put up any resistance to this idea and unfortunately Sonny was cheating her in both regards. Both ironic and true. - Just a Name
See “I Got You Babe” and also a reference to their propensity for unique names, their own and their children’s. Sonny on TV claimed that Cher picked out the name for their child Chastity but all of Sonny’s own children’s names (before and after Cher) begin with ‘ch’ and three of the four are also unusual names. They say Cher was allegedly as unenthused about making this movie as her self-character seems to be. Closeups on their wedding rings. - Ma Piano (Per Non Svegliarmi)
Someone recently posted a video on Tic Tok showing how Cher still remembers some of the lyrics to this song. Kind of interesting, that.
1970s (Part 1)
- Danny Boy
Cher says in the introduction to the song on her first live album that this song is her favorite song. She gives it a pretty emotional delivery (for her anyway). - Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Although this fictional song become Cher’s second signature song, there’s a bit of the gypsy, tramp and thief in her, too, which is why the femme-fetale trope keeps recurring in her movies, television skits and music. - United We Stand
By the end of the 1960s, Sonny & Cher did in fact have their backs against the wall and they stood by each other, despite an almost-bankruptcy, infidelities and retaliatory infidelities and a career nadir. - Vamp (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour)
Cher pulled off the ultimate portrayal of history’s vampish heroines and villains on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. It felt a bit natural. - My Funny Valentine (Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour)
Although if we look to “Just You” and “It’s the Little Things” as an example, we could very well transpose the parts again, but by now Cher has redefined what it means to be beautiful in America, especially for brunettes and raven-haired ladies. Sonny can’t be anything but the also-ran from now on, a role that didn’t sit with him as well backstage as it did on-stage. - You’ve Got a Friend/Where You Lead (The Very First Glen Campbell TV Special)
I don’t know why I included this one except that it indicates something personal in their relationship in the way they sing it, like Cher’s way of singing nasally like Sonny when they get to “Where You Lead” because where Sonny led, Cher would follow. - Living in a House Divided
And then the shit hits the fan. The year this record was made they imploded behind the scenes. Snuff Garrett might not have chosen the song for that reason, but its drama mapped perfectly to the situation. Except that nobody out in the Nielsen audience knew. It was a big secret for a year and a half. No one wanted to see it coming, even as Cher was already singing break-up songs. - David’s Song
Unknown to her fans, this was a song for Cher’s new love, David Paich. The song was also written by him (which is kind of weird and indicates he was trying to hint at her continued dependency on Sonny, if not professionally, a bit emotionally as well). - Chastity Sun
Cher’s re-wrote the lyrics to the Seals and Crofts song for Chastity and her version describes some sweet feelings of new-motherhood. - The Greatest Show on Earth
Truth be told, Sonny & Cher were putting on a master-class of acting every week on their variety show. Barely speaking offstage, they seemed perfectly fine on the air. - Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer Papa Used to Write All Her Songs (Parts 1 and 2)
Sonny’s mean-spirited kiss-off song about Cher’s leaving him. The fact that he got Cher to sing these lyrics still blows my mind. If that doesn’t prove to you love is blind (and deaf), what could? - Didn’t We (Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour)
Cher’s heartfelt farewell song to Sonny in return. - Rock and Roll Doctor
Cher wants to sing rock and roll already….like since the psychedelic era! - Love Hurts
Cher will return again to this one. It’s a rare soul-baring moment. - Stars
Fame can be challenging. Cher sings about it here in a remarkably intellectual Janis Ian cover.
1970s (Part 2)
- Love Song (Cher)
Cher’s relationship to Elton John has been interesting and semi-personal since the mid-1970s. She records his songs, he sings like her sometimes and writes songs about her. They also wrote a song together and have appeared together on Divas Live and Joan Rivers. - All Is Fair in Love (Cher)
Cher’s first torch-song choice after starting her new solo show. Possibly a reality-check message to America. - Resurrection Shuffle (with Tina Turner) (Cher)
The whole reinvention thing. - Keep the Customer Satisfied (Cher)
Cher solo is getting more criticism now that she’s a single lady. It’s hard to keep everyone satisfied on and off the stage. - Two of Us/We Can Work It Out (The Sonny & Cher Show)
Sweetness in how Sonny & Cher can pick it up years later. Professionalism? Affection? They keep revisiting this medley on their variety show episodes so they must like it. “Two of Us” also harkens back to their early relationship and Cher’s description of how creative they were together at home. - I Love Makin’ Love to You
Cher described sex with Gregg Allman as “hot.” - Island
But Cher’s intense fame and Allman’s pharmaceutical habits made their relationship rocky. Cher picked this song thinking maybe a bona fide island would help. - You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Cher revisits the song with Allman. Totally different style and tone. Interesting evolution of relating. - A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cher…Special)
Cher delves into her childhood in this 1978 special and this Disney song describes a facet of her somewhat dreamy childhood self. - Guitar Groupie
Cher loves guitars, btw. Gene Simmons can be heard singing a line in the song. - It’s Too Late to Love Me Now
At the end of her second marriage, some heartbreak. - My Song (Too Far Gone)
More specific, Cher-co-authored heartbreak. - Ain’t Nobody’s Business (Cher and Other Fantasies)
This song comes up and up again. “If I want to put my tits on my back…” - Shoppin’
Originally this album was written to give audiences a behind-the-scenes, reality-album version of Cher. The label wanted her to dance; she wanted to rock. This album happened as a tug-of-war. Cher loves to shop. Some nice Luther Vandross bopping to Cher’s shopping. - Mirror Image
Cher compares CHER to Cher. And laments the tabloids. - Outrageous
See “Aint Nobody’s Business” above. Also contains a nod to Bob Mackie. “God, my mother told me I was outrageous and she was right.” - Hell on Wheels
Cher was all up into the late-1970s roller-skating craze that had even me flying around Coachlite skating rink as often as I could. She had famous, exclusive skating parties at which costume malfunctions happened to her.
1980 – 1990s
- Young and Pretty (Black Rose)
Getting old in Hollywood for women. The pressure of staying pretty. - Take it to the Limit (Celebration at Caesars)
Cher also calls this one of her favorite songs. - Out Here On My Own (Celebration at Caesars)
Although Cher had launched a solo-TV show without Sonny, she credited this tour/concert as being the point where she really felt alone out there for the first time as a solo performer. - More Than You Know (Celebration at Caesars)
This song comes up again and again and again on TV variety shows, TV specials and concerts. That could indicate she really feels this one. - Heart of Stone
Getting jaded in life. Cher follows politics and it can get depressing. - After All
Cher really fought to record this song as a demo so I feel it had some resonance for her. She always includes it in her live shows and never cuts it out after the first leg like she tends to do with the show’s other ballad, “The Way of Love.” - I Got You Babe (with Beevis & Butthead)
“We need a chick that used to be married to a dork and so now she’s all wild and stuff.” To be honest, Cher admitted she was kinda wild before Sonny. The fact that she left home at 16 and already had a sexcapade with Warren Beatty under her belt….kinda wild already one could argue. Cher is also distancing herself here from an earlier incarnation. At the end there’s a reference to Cher’s tendency to date younger men. - Tougher Than The Rest (Heart of Stone Tour)
Cher is one tough cookie… - Many Rivers to Cross (Heart of Stone Tour)
…but also vulnerable too, moving through the world with some humility (and pride). - A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Pediatric AIDS Benefit)
See same song above. The child is strong in this one! - Nature Boy (Sonny’s Death Special)
Cher’s chosen homage to Sonny after his death. Some people were upset about Cher’s tributes and lamentations when Sonny died due to some previous slurs (see Beevis & Butthead above) but honestly their relationship was very, very complicated and probably not easily understood by everybody.
Fin de siècle
- Sisters of Mercy
Cher wrote this song based on her mother’s stories of Cher’s time at a Catholic home as a baby and how the church tried to remove Cher’s mother’s custody due to their poverty.. It also ties into Cher’s own experiences with nuns at Catholic school. - When the Money’s Gone
Cher has a big entourage and staff. This would make anyone wonder about their role as Sugar Mama. - Human (Stuck on You)
Humility. Yeah. - You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me (Burlesque)
Not ready to retire.
