Stars (Cher album)
Stars is the 12th studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on April 19, 1975 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was one in a string of commercial flops for Cher in the 1970s and failed to chart within the top 100. The album is by-and-large a covers album.
Stars | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 19, 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1974–1975 | |||
Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Blues rock | |||
Length | 40:11 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | Jimmy Webb | |||
Cher chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Stars | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Billboard | (favorable)[2] |
Although it didn’t chart well, Stars has been critically acclaimed as the best album musically that Cher ever made.
Album information
Stars was released April 19, 1975. It was the first record for Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Jimmy Webb. The album was also her very first without Sonny's influence as it followed Cher's divorce with Sonny and the dissolution of her relationship with David Geffen. Another novelty was the lack of the acute accent ( ´ ) on the e in Cher's name, which was always present on past albums. Despite good reviews and some promotional efforts, sales were below expectations.[2][3]
Only one (non-charting) single was released from the album, "Geronimo's Cadillac" (with the song "These Days" on the B-side). In an attempt to boost sales, Cher appeared on The Carol Burnett Show and The Flip Wilson Show, performing "Love Hurts", "Just This One Time" and "Geronimo's Cadillac".[3]
In early 1975, Cher began recording with Phil Spector. These sessions beget the songs "A Woman's Story", and a cover of The Ronettes' "Baby, I Love You". However, due to Spector's expensive use of studio time, the album was eventually shelved. These songs were released as singles but were unsuccessful, and are now considered rarities. Cher then turned to Webb to record this album.
The album has never been released on CD or iTunes. According to Billboard, Cher owned this album's master rights and Warner had no right to reissue.[4]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Love Enough" | Tim Moore | 3:05 |
2. | "Bell Bottom Blues" | 4:04 | |
3. | "These Days" | Jackson Browne | 4:07 |
4. | "Mr. Soul" | Neil Young | 3:03 |
5. | "Just This One Time" | Jimmy Webb | 4:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Geronimo's Cadillac" |
| 2:58 |
2. | "The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall" | Jimmy Cliff | 3:17 |
3. | "Love Hurts" | Boudleaux Bryant | 4:46 |
4. | "Rock and Roll Doctor" |
| 3:05 |
5. | "Stars" | Janis Ian | 5:11 |
Personnel
- Cher – lead vocals
- Art Munson, David Cohen – guitar
- Dennis Budimir, Fred Tackett, Jesse Ed Davis – guitar solos
- Jeff Baxter, Red Rhodes - pedal steel guitar
- Colin Cameron - bass guitar
- Jimmy Webb, Joe Sample, Larry Knechtel - keyboards
- Gary Mallaber, Hal Blaine, Harvey Mason, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner - drums
- Fred Tackett, Pat Murphy - percussion
- Robert Greenidge - steel drums
- Cher Bono, Clydie King, Edna Wright, Herb Pedersen, Sherlie Matthews, Susan Webb - backing vocals
- Gerald Garrett - bass backing vocals
- Art Depew, Lew McCreary, Vincent DeRosa, William Peterson - brass
- Abe Most, Buddy Collette, Don Ashworth, John Rotella - woodwind ensemble
- Skip Mosher - woodwind solos
- Fred Tackett - horn arrangements
- Van Dyke Parks - steel drum arrangements
- "Maestro" Sid Sharp - concertmaster
- Technical
- Jimmy Webb – production, arrangement, conducting
- John Haeny – recording and mixing
- Gary Webb – arrangement assistance
- Bill King – photography cover
- Norman Seeff – photography back
Charts
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart | 100 |
US Billboard 200[5] | 153 |
References
- "Cher-Stars : Allmusic Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". www.allmusic.com. 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- "Billboard Review - Cher's Stars (1975)". www.billboard.com. April 19, 1975. Archived from the original on October 21, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- Dr. Billy Ingram (2012). "Cher's Lost Records". www.tvparty.com. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- "Ask Billboard: Sharing Cher On CD". Billboard. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- "Billboard 200". Billboard magazine. May 31, 1975. Retrieved December 11, 2016.