Search - Cher :: Black Rose

Cher can really do it all

Jeremy | Canada | 06/19/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Without Cher, I would probably hate every second of this record - with the exception of guitarist (and Cher's then-boyfriend) Les Dudek's song, "You Know it". The remaining tracks were written by outside writers, something very rare for rock bands at the time (but not rare for Cher). It's a grab-bag of moderate rock tunes that I could take or leave; the magic happens when Cher sings them."Never Should've Started" kicks the record off to a good start, demonstrating promise in the songwriting. Right away, it is clear that Cher is in rocker mode - she adds a nice rasp to her voice now and then and sing-screams many lines to suit the style, doing so exceptionally well. "Julie" is weaker but still likable, and Cher means business - beware the occasional profanity on this record, beginning with this track. The next few songs are filler and have yet to excite me to any degree. "You Know It", as I mentioned before, is a strong track and Cher and Les wrap their harmonies around one another beautifully. It's got a shuffle-type tempo and could easily have been a Fleetwood Mac song. "Young and Pretty", in my opinion, is the highlight of the record - not that it's an outstanding song, but Cher sings it with superb emotion and conviction. At first it bothered me that most of the song was sung in a low vocal register, but it grew on me and only added to the dramatic flare of the track. The record closes with "Fast Company", with a nice guitar riff, but the song itself is nothing to write home about.It's easy to see why Cher was so musically satisfied with her Black Rose experience - she is very, very good at singing the style (what CAN'T she sing? Folk, Pop, Hard Rock, AOR, Southern Rock, Dance, A/C, wow!) and brings nearly all of the quality to this album. A nod to Les Dudek for his talents - it's too bad we couldn't have heard more from him."

Cher's 1980 Rock Classic!

gassy goon | 10/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cher really does rock hard on this GREAT 1980 release recorded under the band name BLACK ROSE. Every track is good or great & clearly shows that Cher had wanted to sing in a rock band because she shows another facet of her talents here. Many fine songs like 88 DEGREES about a rock singer trying to make it in LA, YOUNG & PRETTY - a great rock ballad with super production, and the energetic rocker duet YOU KNOW IT with guitarist Les Dudek, plus the rocking opener NEVER SHOULD'VE STARTED which sets this pace for this fine album.



I had always wanted this album on CD, and while this is basically just a different front cover with the music [ and no credits at all , so packaging is nothing ], this budget import is a godsend! It's the music that matters here, and this is some of the best music Cher has made in her career. It illustrates her love of rock music , and it came 7 years before her rock phase with the Geffen label which resulted in her many latter day hits. These songs here are just as good, if not better. Somehow they seem more honestly Cher too.

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CHER'S "BLACK ROSE" IS A WINNER

Frank Rendo | Long Island, NY | 02/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think the re-release of this August 21, 1980 album still stands up today. True talent like Cher's never diminishes over time. Originally released simply as "BLACK ROSE" without fanfare that Cher was the lead singer of this new rock group, they really should have gone further. I think Casablanca Records was going through a transition at the time and really dropped the ball on this one. It simply wasn't promoted. (Cher made up for it in the late 80s thru the 90s with her own rock success.) The band really rocks...tremendously talented musicians made up this band with Toto players also on hand for seasoning (David Paich, & Steve Porcaro) and production lead by James Newton Howard. The songs are really good and memorable. The overall production values are excellent. Be happy it's been made available on CD. A must-have for Cher fans!"