Cher In Concert

The Take Me Home Tour was the first solo concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. It premiered in June 1979 at the Sahara Reno Opera House Theatre in Reno, Nevada, featuring an elaborate production and cast assembled by Joe Layton. The tour, which concluded in August 1982, marked Cher's solo debut on the nightclub circuit.

Background

Running from June 1979 to August 1982, most performances of the Take Me Home Tour took place at the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Cher performed two shows nightly, at 9p.m. and 12:30a.m., seven days a week, earning $300,000 weekly. Although Cher took the show to other North American cities, as well as Europe, South Africa and Australia, the media often labeled it a Vegas residency, with shows in other cities marketed as Cher taking her "Vegas act" on the road.

This residency phase shaped both public perception and Cher's own view of her career. Despite its financial success, she found the experience unfulfilling, describing a Vegas residency as an " elephant's graveyard" for fading stars. She later commented, "I was making a fortune ... but I was dying inside. Everyone kept saying, 'Cher, there are people who would give anything to have standing room only at Caesars Palace. It would be the pinnacle of their careers.' And I kept thinking, 'Yes, I should be satisfied' ... But I wasn't."

'' The Press of Atlantic City'' called the show "the biggest cabaret act ever seen on any stage". The tour spawned two television specials: '' Standing Room Only: Cher in Concert'' (1981) and '' Cher... A Celebration at Caesars'' (1983), with the latter earning her a CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Variety Program. A concert from Monte Carlo was also taped and aired as the premiere episode of '' The Monte Carlo Show'' in September 1980.

Cher described the show as "a bit Sonny & Cher-ish", blending cabaret, disco and rock and roll. With twelve costume changes, she never wore any outfit for more than eight minutes. Inspired by her television shows ''Cher'', '' Cher... Special'' and '' Cher... and Other Fantasies'', the concert featured three backing singers, six dancers and elaborate props, including a mechanical bull named El Toro and a giant high-heeled shoe.

The concert also included three drag performers impersonating Bette Midler, Cher and Diana Ross. During Cher's costume changes, Kenny Sacha (as Midler) performed " In the Mood", and J.C. Gaynor (as Ross) performed " I'm Coming Out". Audiences were often unaware they were impersonators until the end of the show, when Cher introduced them out of drag. She recalled, "We got Diana and Bette to record their voices in the intro but I didn't think it would fool them. I was never afraid to take risks like that." After their performances, Cher regularly joined them for a rendition of "Friends". Russell Elliott opened the show as Cher. '' Maclean's'' journalist Elio Iannacci recognized Cher as "one of the first to bring drag to the masses".

During 1980, Cher balanced her solo performances with her role as the lead vocalist of the rock band Black Rose, managing both commitments until the band parted ways after releasing their self-titled album.

Set list

June 1979 to February 1981

#" Ain't Nobody's Business"
#" Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
#"Fire"
#" Easy To Be Hard"
#" The Way of Love"
#" Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (performed by J.C. Gaynor and Cher)
#" Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (performed by Kenny Sacha)
#"Friends" (performed by Sacha, Gaynor, and Cher)
#" Jailhouse Rock" / " Dream Lover" / " Great Balls Of Fire"
#" Rockin' Robin"
#"Johnny B. Goode"
#" Dedicated to the One I Love"
#" Hand Jive" / " Honky Tonk Women" / " Old Time Rock and Roll"
#" Take It to the Limit"
#" Take Me Home"
#" Takin' It to the Streets"
#" Ain't Got No Money"

May 1981 to August 1982

#" Could I Be Dreaming"
#"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
#"You Make My Dreams"
#" Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
#"Those Shoes"
#" Out Here On My Own"
#"Take It to the Limit"
#" I'm Coming Out" (performed by J.C. Gaynor)
#" In the Mood" (performed by Kenny Sacha)
#"Friends" (performed by Sacha, Gaynor and Cher)
#" Lookin' for Love" (contains elements of " Devil Went Down to Georgia")
#" When Will I Be Loved"
#" More Than You Know"
#" Fame"

Notes

* "Git Down (Guitar Groupie)" was performed at O'Keefe Centre on July 23, 1979.
* "My Song (Too Far Gone)" was performed at O'Keefe Centre from July 23 to 29, 1979.
* " Still The One" and "My Song (Too Far Gone)" were performed at the Universal Amphitheatre from July 31 to August 2, 1979.
* " Whip It" and " Turning Japanese" were performed on select dates in 1981.

Tour dates

1979

The 1979 leg of Cher's Take Me Home Tour had dates.

1980

The tour's 1980 leg had dates.

1981

The tour's 1981 leg had dates.

1982

The tour's 1982 leg had dates.

Cancelled shows

Broadcasts and recordings

*'' The Monte Carlo Show: Cher'' (20th Century Fox Television; aired September 14, 1980)
*'' Standing Room Only: Cher in Concert'' (HBO; aired February 8, 1981)
*''Cher... A Celebration at Caesars'' (Paramount / Showtime; aired April 21, 1983)

Personnel

* Lead vocals: Cher
* Background vocals: Michelle Aller
* Background vocals: Warren Ham
* Background vocals: Petsye Powell
* Produced and Staged: Joe Layton
* Musical Director: Gary Scott
* Dancer: Wayne Bascomb
* Dancer: Damita Jo Freeman
* Dancer: Warren Lucas
* Dancer: Mykal Perea
* Dancer: Randy Wander

Impersonators

* Kenny Sacha as Bette Midler
* Russel Elliot as Cher (in the interlude)
* J.C. Gaynor as Diana Ross

Costumes

*Costumes Designed: Bob Mackie
*Wardrobe: Alan Trugman
*Wardrobe: Debbie Paull
*Wigs: Renata

Band

*Saxophone: Warren Ham
*Drums: Gary Ferguson
*Guitarist: Ron "Rocket" Ritchotte
*Ken Rarick
*Bob Parr

Notes

References

Citations

Literary sources

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{{Cher

Cher concert tours
Cher concert residencies
1979 concert tours
1980 concert tours
1981 concert tours