''Cher'' is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 10, 1987 by

Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint. Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and h ...

. The album has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA and Gold in Australia by

ARIA In music, an aria ( Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompa ...

and the UK by BPI.

Background

Five years after the release of Cher's last album, ''

I Paralyze ''I Paralyze'' is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on May 28, 1982 by Columbia Records, her only album for the label. The album was a commercial failure and failed to chart. The album was promoted by the r ...

'', and her decision to focus on a film career, Cher signed with

(which would later absorb one of her former labels,

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...

) and was rushed to the studio to record what would become her comeback album. The self-titled album, ''Cher'', was released in the fall of 1987 and was produced by

Michael Bolton Michael Bolotin
, The Jewish Historical Society of New Haven, 1998. (born February 26, 1953), known professio ...

, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child. Among the notable guest artists,

Bonnie Tyler Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; born 8 June 1951), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, is a Welsh singer who is known for her distinctive husky voice. Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album '' The World Starts Tonight'' a ...

and

Darlene Love Darlene Wright (born July 26, 1941), known professionally as Darlene Love, is an American singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and she also recorded as a solo artist. She began singing as a child with her ...

were backing vocalists on "Perfection". After a series of pop and disco records, Cher moved to a radio-friendly rock sound, which helped her get back onto the charts. The album includes a new version of her 1966 hit " Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)",

Michael Bolton Michael Bolotin
, The Jewish Historical Society of New Haven, 1998. (born February 26, 1953), known professio ...

's "

I Found Someone "I Found Someone" is the name of a chart single originally written and composed for Laura Branigan by Michael Bolton and Touch keyboardist Mark Mangold. The song was a bigger hit for Cher in 1987, reaching the Top 10. Background Though best ...

"—which Bolton and Mark Mangold had originally written for

Laura Branigan Laura Ann Branigan (July 3, 1952 – August 26, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her signature song, the platinum-certified 1982 single "Gloria", stayed on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for 36 weeks, then a record for a ...

, released on her 1985 album '' Hold Me''—several songs written by Desmond Child, and two by Diane Warren, who would go on to write many more songs for the singer. This was also her third album to be named ''Cher'' or ''Chér'', as '' Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves'' was initially released under the name ''Chér'' before it was retitled following the success of the single of the same name, while a studio album in 1966 was also entitled '' Chér''.

Reception

The album reached No. 26 in the UK and peaked at No. 32 on the US '' Billboard'' album charts. The first single released from the album and its only UK top 10 hit was "

", which reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 10 in the US. The second single, " We All Sleep Alone", peaked at No. 14 on ''Billboard''s Hot 100 chart and just missed breaking the Adult Contemporary top 10 in the US, stalling at No. 11. It was less successful in the UK, however, peaking at No. 47. The album's third single was " Skin Deep". The fourth and final single was " Main Man", released in the US and Australia in October 1988. " Bang Bang", was released as a promotional single in Europe.

Promotion

On November 13, 1987, Cher appeared on '' Late Night with David Letterman'', where she performed "I Found Someone" and "

I Got You Babe "I Got You Babe" is a song performed by Sonny & Cher and written by Sonny Bono. It was the first single taken from their debut studio album '' Look at Us''. In August 1965, their single spent three weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 1 ...

", the latter with ex-husband

Sonny Bono Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (; February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and politician who came to fame in partnership with his second wife Cher as the popular singing duo Sonny & Cher. A member of the Republica ...

. Later released on VHS, the ''Late Night'' performance would be her last with Bono before his death. On November 21, Cher appeared as the musical guest on ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...

'', performing "I Found Someone" and "We All Sleep Alone". The album was also promoted on UK television.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

. *

Peter Asher Peter Asher, (born 22 June 1944) is an English guitarist, singer, manager and record producer. He came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the pop music vocal duo Peter and Gordon before going on to a successful career as a manager and r ...

– producer (7), percussion (7) * Phillip Ashley – keyboards (1, 10) *

Michael Bolton Michael Bolotin
, The Jewish Historical Society of New Haven, 1998. (born February 26, 1953), known professio ...

– producer (1, 10), background vocals (3) * Jon Bon Jovi – producer (2, 3), background vocals (2, 3) *

Jeff Bova Jeff Bova (born Jeffrey Bova in 1953) is an American musician. He has been active in the music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to recordings by significant mainstream artists like Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Eric Clapton, ...

– keyboards (1, 10) * Jimmy Bralower – drums (6, 9) * David Bryan – keyboards (2, 3), synthesizer (2) * Rosemary Butler – background vocals (7) * Thom Cadley – assistant engineer * Elaine Caswell – background vocals (4-6, 9) * Cher – primary artist, vocals * Desmond Child – producer (2-6, 9), background vocals (2-4, 9) * Michael Christopher – engineer (1, 10) * George Cowan – assistant engineer * Bridget Daly – assistant engineer * Patty d'Arcy – background vocals (1, 10) * Jim Dineen – assistant engineer *

Debra Dobkin Debra Dobkin is an American vocalist, percussionist, music producer, and painter. Biography Early history Music and the fine arts have always played important roles in Dobkin's life. She was selected at age 6 for children's scholarship classe ...

– background vocals (8) * Michael Fisher – percussion (7) * Chris Floberg – assistant engineer * Greg Fulginiti – original mastering *

Albhy Galuten Albhy Galuten (born Alan Bruce Galuten; December 27, 1947) is an American technology executive and futurist, Grammy Award-winning record producer, composer, musician, orchestrator and conductor. He has numerous inventions and has produced 18 ...

– drums, additional production (10) * Seth Glassman – bass guitar (4) *

Mark Goldenberg Mark Goldenberg (born April 10, 1952) is an American guitarist and songwriter, noted for his session work and composition of successful songs for Linda Ronstadt, the Pointer Sisters, and others. Biography Early career Raised in Chicago, Illin ...

– guitar * Diana Grasselli – background vocals (3, 6) * Jimmy Haslip – bass guitar (8) * Jay Healy – assistant engineer * Chris Isca – assistant engineer * Rob Jacobs – additional engineering (2, 3) * Doug Katsaros – keyboards (1) * Chuck Kentis – keyboards, synthesizer (4-6, 9), additional keyboards (2, 3) * Daren Klein – engineer (8) *

Larry Klein Larry Klein (born March 17, 1956) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is based in Los Angeles. He began his career as a bassist, playing with jazz artists Willie Bobo, Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae, Joe Henderson, Bobb ...

– bass guitar (7) *

Holly Knight ''Ilex'' (), or holly, is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. ''Ilex'' has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genus. The species are evergreen o ...

– background vocals (2), additional keyboards (3) *

Craig Krampf Craig Krampf (born October 22, 1954) is an American drummer, percussionist, arranger, record producer and songwriter. The majority of his notable credits are as a studio drummer. Since the 1970s, he has played on albums by other artists ranging f ...

– drums and drum programming (8) * Matthew "Boomer" La Monica – assistant engineer * Chris Laidlaw – assistant engineer * Michael Landau – guitar (7) *

Will Lee William Lee (born William Lubovsky; August 6, 1908 – December 7, 1982) was an American actor who appeared in numerous television and film roles, but was best known for playing Mr. Hooper, the original store proprietor of the eponymous Hoope ...

– bass guitar (1, 10) *

Tony Levin Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer, specializing in electric bass, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (since 1 ...

– bass guitar (9) * Jolie Jones Levine – assistant producer (8) * Jon Lind – producer (8) * Ken Lomas – assistant engineer *

– featured vocals (6) * Steve Lukather – guitar (1) * Bob Mackie – clothing/wardrobe, wardrobe * Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards and synthesizer (5, 6, 9) * Bob Mann – guitar solo (7) *

Jerry Marotta Jerome David Marotta (born February 6, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American drummer who resides in Woodstock, New York. He is the younger brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a drummer and composer. Career Marotta was a member of the bands ...

– drums (4-6, 9) *

Arnold McCuller Arnold McCuller (born August 26, 1950) is an American vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He was active as a solo artist and session musician, but is perhaps best known for his work as a touring back- ...

– background vocals (7) *

John McCurry John McCurry (born June 24, 1957) is an American musician and composer, a guitarist, songwriter and singer based in New York City. He has worked with many well-known musical artists, including Chicago, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Al ...

– guitar (1, 4-6, 10) * Dave Meniketti – background vocals (3) * Louis Merlino – background vocals (2, 4-6, 9) * Mark Morgan – synthesizer, Hammond organ (8) * Nancy Nash – background vocals (2) * Gene Parciasepe - additional engineering (6, 9) * Chris Parker – drums (1) * Mark Partis – additional engineering (10) * Bill Payne – keyboards (7) * Sir Arthur Payson – engineer (2-6, 9) * Frank Pekoc – assistant engineer * Csaba Petocz – engineer (8) * John Putnam – guitar (4, 9) * Gabrielle Raumberger – art direction, design, hand tinting * Sharon Rice – assistant engineer *

Vicki Sue Robinson Vicki Sue Robinson (May 31, 1954 – April 27, 2000) was an American theatre and film actress, and singer, closely associated with the disco era of late 1970s pop music; she is most famous for her 1976 hit, " Turn the Beat Around". Early life Bo ...

– background vocals (10) *

Bob Rock Robert Jens Rock (born April 19, 1954) is a Canadian record producer, sound engineer and musician, best known for producing rock bands and music artists such as Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, The Tragically Hip, the Cult, ...

– mixing (2, 3) * Matthew Rolston – photography * Richie Sambora – producer (2, 3), guitar (2, 3), background vocals (2) * Brian Scheuble – assistant engineer * Michael Schmidt – clothing and wardrobe, wardrobe * Bernie Shanahan – background vocals (2, 3, 9) * Ira Siegel – guitar (10) * John Siegler – bass guitar (5) * Gary Solomon – assistant engineer * Ken Steiger – assistant engineer * Alec John Such – bass guitar (2, 3) * Bette Sussman – piano (4) * David Thoener – mixing (1, 4-6, 8-10) * Michael Thompson – guitar (8) *

Tico Torres Hector Juan Samuel "Tico" Torres (born October 7, 1953) is an American musician, artist, and entrepreneur, best known as the drummer, percussionist, and a songwriter for American rock band Bon Jovi. In 2018, Torres was inducted into the Rock ...

– drums (2, 3) * Ted Trewhella – assistant engineer *

Joe Lynn Turner Joe Lynn Turner (born Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito, August 2, 1951) is an American singer known for his work in the hard rock bands Rainbow, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Deep Purple. During his career, Turner fronted and played guitar with pop rock ...

– background vocals (2-4, 6, 9) * Red Turner – clothing and wardrobe *

– featured vocals (6) * Myriam Naomi Valle – background vocals (3-6, 9) * John Van Tongeren – synthesizer (8), bass guitar (8) * Jim Vanzino – assistant engineer *

Carlos Vega Carlos Vega (December 7, 1956 – April 7, 1998) was a Cuban-born Los Angeles-based session drummer best known for his performances with James Taylor. As a part of the L.A. studio scene from the late 1970s through the 1990s, Vega contributed to ...

– drums (7) * Bob Vogt – assistant engineer *

Waddy Wachtel Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24, 1947) is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work. Wachtel has worked as session musician for other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Kim Carnes, Randy ...

– guitar (7) * Diane Warren – background vocals (6) * Julia Waters – background vocals (8) * Maxine Willard Waters – background vocals (8) * Maurice White – vamp vocals (8) * Melanie Williams – coordination * Frank Wolf – engineer and mixing (7) * Gary Wright – assistant engineer *

Shelly Yakus Sheldon Gershon "Shelly" Yakus (born November 1945) is an American music engineer and mixer. Formerly chief engineer and vice president of A&M Records, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Yakus is referenced ...

– additional engineering (3)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1987 albums Cher albums Albums produced by Desmond Child Albums produced by Peter Asher Albums produced by Richie Sambora Geffen Records albums Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios