CHER – Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves – (Kapp) – 1971

what Frank is listening to #193 – CHER – Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves – (Kapp) – 1971

Back in #130 when commenting on a "Sonny & Cher" album I said the following:

I have a dirty little secret … I love Sonny & Cher.

Well that's not that much of a dirty secret but I also like Cher's solo stuff up to a point and that is more of a secret. That's where the secrets end despite the fact that I have many albums by Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland.

Sonny & Cher were stamped on my young boy mind in the 70s as my mother would religiously watch the "Sonny & Cher Show" ( as well as The Benny Hill Show and Number 96) and so did I. These things, maybe unsurprisingly, had a bearing on me as an adult so the rose coloured glasses are firmly on my head when revisiting my childhood.

So with Sonny & Cher on TV and in the charts was there anything wrong with a young pre-pubescent boy at a private Catholic boys school getting into Cher. Notice there is no "?" …that's because that is a rhetorical question and I don't require responses. Suffice it to say that despite the fact that Cher has become a gay icon diva, to me her voice recalls the hard-ons she gave me when I was a kid … and since.

I stick by that….

In relation to background

wikipedia: Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946, at 7:25 a.m. Her father, John Paul Sarkisian, was Armenian American and worked as a truck driver. Her mother, Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch in Sharp County, Arkansas on June 9, 1927), an aspiring actress and occasional model, is of Cherokee, English and French descent. Cher's half sister is actress Georganne LaPiere. Cher's parents divorced and she was raised primarily by her mother, who at one time was married to Gilbert LaPiere, a banker who adopted Cher. Due to financial problems, Cher's mother temporarily placed her in foster care. Later, her mother provided money for acting lessons to help further her career. Due to severe, undiagnosed dyslexia, she left Fresno High School at age 16. In those years, Cher had a brief relationship with actor Warren Beatty.

allmusic: Cher has had three careers that place her indelibly in the public consciousness, and two have been in association with her then-husband, composer/producer/singer Salvatore "Sonny" Bono (February 16, 1935-January 8, 1998). She charted major hit records in the 1960s and 1970s, working in idioms ranging from early-'60s girl group-style ballads to Jackie DeShannon folk-influenced pop, to adult contemporary pop in the manner of later Dusty Springfield. She also embarked on an acting career, initially in the late 1960s in association with her work as part of Sonny & Cher but later on her own, which led to a series of increasingly polished and compelling performances in Silkwood, Mask and Moonstruck, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Oddly,and not typically, Sonny was not involved on this album, well not in any big way.It's a pity as Sonny had a quirky sense of humour that came through in his song writing and production though the LP was produced ably by the legendary Snuff Garrett.

This album is mainstream MOR and is Cher's stab at the solo artist "big time" after a number of poorly selling albums. I also saw her first solo film recently, "Chastity", whose soundtrack formed her last release. If someone could tell me what the film was about that would be good.

Luckily for Cher the magnificent "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" was a hit and pushed the album over into the top 20. The record did set the pattern, more or less, for all of Cher's subsequent releases.

As much as I love Cher her deep contralto vocal range (according to the experts …as if I know what "deep contralto" is, it sounds like some sort of sensate focusing sex therapy position) doesn't necessarily allow here to be an interpretive singer. Much like Tom Jones she only has the pitch and it's full steam ahead. Like Tom Jones though she mines that magnificently and has been doing that for many years. But, if you are looking for subtleties and vocal shades to emphasise the lyric you wont get it here. But if you are looking for a couple of great tunes and a number of good ones all done with conviction then this is the album for you. And it's perfect for parties. Cher on your turntable could drown out any annoying nattering dinner guests. Haven't tried that yet though.

Discussions regarding her vocal abilities are probably redundant anyway as, despite some recent hits, Cher is now a personality and icon rather than a singer . And there is nothing wrong with that. Why can't musicians transcend their music and become something else?

Tracks (best in italics)

The Way of Love – Dieval, Stillman- OK, power ballads are naff when you think about it, But aren't we all a suckers for them? They are the vocalists equivalent of a guitar virtuosos wank. Cher nails this. Originally recorded by the largely (and unfairly) forgotten Irish English singer Kathy Kirby in 1965 (#88 US).
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves – Stone- This song is stunning. Perhaps the best MOR hit of the decade. Incredibly catchy with strange tempo changes and a faux cabaret gypsy backing. The three nouns in the title are perfectly complimentary.
He'll Never Know – Lloyd, Sklerov – Sentimental power ballad with spiritual transcendental love overtones as evidenced by the a angelic chorus in the background. Very popular in the early 70s ….Elvis did a truckload of these.
Fire and Rain – Taylor – James Taylor's folk singer–songwriter rustic shuffle given the Vegas treatment …. if you ever are going to see fire and rain it would be in Vegas.
When You Find Out Where You're Goin' Let Me Know – Laurie- filler
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother-Russell, Scott – a #32 hit in 1970 for the Hollies. A credible version of this oft covered song.
I Hate to Sleep Alone -Clinger- filler
I'm in the Middle -Gale – filler
Touch and Go-Fuller – Cher is sultry sexy mood as opposed to aggressive sexy mood. I prefer aggressive sexy but this is pleasant enough.
One Honest Man- Greco- filler