Finally It's Here....But Could Have Been Better
ibekeen | USA | 06/28/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Finally, the last Cher album for Imperial records makes its CD debut! Most of the songs have never been officially released on compact disc. The disc is in Stereo and sounds great with very little use of "no noise" tweaking.
However, don't be fooled by "Golden Greats". The track listing on this compact disc is different than the original US album. Missing are (1) Needles and Pins, (2) Dream Baby, (3) Elusive Butterfly, and (4) Take Me For a Little While. The last song would have repeated since it is already on "Backstage". Added to replace the four missing tracks are (1) I Feel Something In the Air, (2) The Bells of Rhymney, (3) Until It's Time For You To Go, and (4) Mama, When My Dollies Have Babies.
What BGO should have done was add the two B-side only tracks from her Imperial catalog: (1) She's No Better Than Me and (2) I'm Gonna Love You. Then, their Cher reissue campaign would have been complete!
Why Oh Why do the record companies never contact us fans?"
Cher Backstage completes Imperial Library
Ward J. Lamb | slate hill, new york United States | 06/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This last Imperial(liberty) recording of Cher's last efforts for her first solo label is welcome indeed. It also shows Cher in the sparse arrangements of Harold Battiste ,famed New Orleans musician arranger and all around great musician- man. Cher is way upfront and clear- with an array of songs that were well chosen for her voice.There is a open and free quality to her voice,and Cher is comfortable in various music styles.This reissue is remastered and Cher is presented in the best light possible for these recordings.
Some of these arrangements are great. "Masters of war" a Dylan classic gets a vital and eerie Cher reading,and the Battiste arrangement sets the mood.Cher may challenge the new listener with the Swahili song,(Click song number 1 Marien Makeba). Dr. Johns' "I wasn't ready " has a nice easy rolling mature Cher reading.She is romantic and warm,and earthy,and loose.
Her reading of Bacharach/David "A house is not a home" may be it's most heart felt and emotionally affective reading.The arrangement is better than the Bono arrangement on "Alfie".It does not detract from the lovely vocal. Cher has a way of conveying pathos with conviction and tonal color.
As a Cher fan and collector this cd is a welcome addition to the Cher's library,and has the sonic fidelity I was hoping for.
The 2nd part of the cd is hardly impossible to find, but welcome. It reminds us of some of Cher's greatest folk folk gems.The best of the lot is "Where do you go" a pathos ridden teen anthem,"Bang Bang, (my baby shot me down) which is the original hit and the definitive version of arguably Sonny's greatest writing. Cher here is the moody internal Cher that her first legion of young fans loved. This collection may introduce a whole mass of younger fans to collect the BGO series of the first wave of Cher lps.Thanks BGO !
I love these songs,and this two for one collection is very pleasurable."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
