The Very Best of Cher

2003 greatest hits album by Cher From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Very Best of Cher is the eighth compilation album by American singer-actress Cher, released on April 1, 2003. The album includes many of Cher's most popular songs, such as "If I Could Turn Back Time", "Believe", "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" and "Take Me Home". The original North American edition contains 21 tracks, while international reissues featured expanded track lists and alternate song selections.

ReleasedApril 1, 2003
Recorded1964–2001
Genre
Length75:22 (US)
Quick facts Greatest hits album by Cher, Released ...
The Very Best of Cher
Greatest hits album by
Cher
ReleasedApril 1, 2003
Recorded1964–2001
Genre
Length75:22 (US)
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerDavid McLees
Cher chronology
Living Proof
(2001)		 The Very Best of Cher
(2003)		 Live! The Farewell Tour
(2003)
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Released during Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, the compilation received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised its broad overview of the singer's career and its collection of hits spanning multiple decades. Commercially, the album became one of Cher's most successful compilations, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 and remaining on the chart for fifty-one weeks. By 2011, it had sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.

Album information

The Very Best of Cher was released by Warner Bros. Records, MCA, and Geffen Records. The original US edition features 21 tracks, while the various later editions typically feature more songs or different selections.[1]

The album originally coincided with the Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The album cover picture is also seen on the DVD The Farewell Tour and was originally planned to be the DVD cover of The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection as well, but was changed at the last minute.

Critical reception

More information Review scores, Source ...
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[3]
The GazetteStarStarStar[4]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarHalf star[5]
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AllMusic considered the album "closer than any previous collection" to offering "a fully rounded portrait" of Cher's career, praising the inclusion of major hits from different eras, although criticizing the "bewildering" sequencing that "hurts the general listenability of the record".[2] Billboard described the album as a "special—and well worth owning" for combining material from "several labels and key periods" of Cher's career, while praising her ability to remain "remarkably effective" at following musical trends "without ever shedding or compromising her own unique qualities".[6] The Gazette described the album as "loaded with kitsch and a surprising number of hook-laden hits".[4]

Commercial performance

The commercial success of The Very Best of Cher, combined with the Farewell Tour, consolidated one of the most profitable periods of Cher's career in 2003.[7] The compilation debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 albums chart and later reached number four on the issue date of May 17,[8][9] it spent a total of fifty-one weeks on the chart.[10] By November 2011, it had sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.[11] The compilation generated approximately US$31.2 million in album sales in 2003,[7] its commercial performance led to Warner Bros. chairman/CEO Tom Whalley's decision to sign the superstar to the U.S. division in a worldwide deal.[12]

Track listing

More information No., Title ...
International edition: disc 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Believe" (from Believe, 1998)
4:01
2."Strong Enough" (from Believe, 1998)
  • Mark Taylor
  • Barry
  • Mark Taylor
  • Rawling
3:43
3."If I Could Turn Back Time" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)Diane Warren
  • Warren
  • Guy Roche
4:03
4."I Found Someone" (from Cher, 1987)
Bolton3:46
5."Song for the Lonely" (from Living Proof, 2001)
  • Mark Taylor
  • Barry
  • Torch
  • Mark Taylor
  • Rawling
3:29
6."Walking in Memphis" (from It's a Man's World, 1995)Marc CohnChristopher Neil3:58
7."Just Like Jesse James" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)
Child4:07
8."One by One" (from It's a Man's World, 1995)Anthony GriffithsStephen Lipson5:06
9."Love and Understanding" (from Love Hurts, 1991)Warren
  • Roche
  • Warren
4:44
10."Save Up All Your Tears" (from Love Hurts, 1991)
  • Child
  • Warren
4:00
11."Più che puoi" (Eros Ramazzotti featuring Cher, from Stilelibero, 2001)
Rick Nowels4:11
12."Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)
Peter Asher4:16
13."Take Me Home" (from Take Me Home, 1979)
  • Michelle Aller
  • Bob Esty
Esty3:26
14."Rudy" (from I Paralyze, 1982)
David Wolfert3:54
15."Bad Love" (from Foxes soundtrack, 1980)
Moroder5:29
16."When the Money's Gone" (from Living Proof, 2001)
  • Roberts
  • Warren Rigg
3:44
17."All or Nothing" (from Believe, 1998)
  • Mark Taylor
  • Barry
  • Mark Taylor
  • Rawling
4:00
18."Alive Again" (from Living Proof, 2001)
  • Chicane
  • Mark Taylor
  • Nigel Butler
  • Hedges
4:19
19."A Different Kind of Love Song" (from Living Proof, 2001)
  • Åberg
  • Anders Hansson
3:51
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More information No., Title ...
International edition: disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (from Mermaids soundtrack, 1990)Rudy ClarkAsher2:53
2."Heart of Stone" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)
Asher4:20
3."Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix, from Believe, 1998)
  • Mark Taylor
  • Barry
Mark Taylor3:44
4."The Music's No Good Without You" (from Living Proof, 2001)
  • Cher
  • James Thomas
  • Mark Taylor
  • Barry
  • Thomas
  • Jeff Taylor
  • Mark Taylor
4:42
5."Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" (from Chér, 1971)Bob StoneSnuff Garrett2:38
6."Half-Breed" (from Half-Breed, 1973)
Garrett2:46
7."Dark Lady" (from Dark Lady, 1974)Johnny DurrillGarrett3:29
8."I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher) (from Look at Us, 1965)Sonny BonoBono3:09
9."The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher) (from In Case You're in Love, 1967)BonoBono3:29
10."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (original version, from The Sonny Side of Chér, 1966)BonoBono2:44
11."The Way of Love" (from Chér, 1971)
Garrett2:34
12."All I Really Want to Do" (from All I Really Want to Do, 1965)Bob DylanBono2:58
13."Train of Thought" (from Dark Lady, 1974)Alan O'DayGarrett2:34
14."A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done" (Sonny & Cher) (from All I Ever Need Is You, 1971)Bono
  • Bono
  • Garrett
3:14
15."We All Sleep Alone" (from Cher, 1987)
  • Bon Jovi
  • Sambora
  • Child
3:54
16."Love Hurts" (from Love Hurts, 1991)Boudleaux BryantZito4:19
17."Not Enough Love in the World" (from It's a Man's World', 1995)
Lipson4:23
18."Born With the Hunger" (from Not.com.mercial, 2000)Shirley Eikhard
  • Cher
  • Roberts
4:05
19."After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are) (duet with Peter Cetera, from Heart of Stone, 1989)
Asher4:07
20."All I Ever Need Is You" (Sonny & Cher) (from All I Ever Need Is You, 1971)
Garrett2:38
21."Baby Don't Go" (Sonny & Cher) (from Baby Don't Go, 1965)BonoBono3:05
22."Dead Ringer for Love" (Meat Loaf featuring Cher, from Dead Ringer, 1981)Jim Steinman
4:24
23."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (from Cher, 1987)Bono
  • Bon Jovi
  • Child
  • Sambora
3:51
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More information No., Title ...
French edition
No.TitleLength
1."Believe"4:00
2."The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"2:53
3."If I Could Turn Back Time"4:03
4."Heart of Stone"4:20
5."Love and Understanding"4:44
6."Just Like Jesse James"4:07
7."I Found Someone"3:46
8."One by One"5:06
9."Strong Enough"3:43
10."Più che puoi" (with Eros Ramazzotti)4:11
11."Walking in Memphis"3:58
12."Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)4:16
13."All I Really Want to Do"2:58
14."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"3:54
15."Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"2:38
16."The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher)3:29
17."I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)3:09
18."Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix)3:44
19."Save Up All Your Tears"4:00
20."A Different Kind of Love Song"3:51
21."The Music's No Good Without You"4:42
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More information No., Title ...
UK edition
No.TitleLength
1."Believe"4:00
2."If I Could Turn Back Time"4:03
3."Save Up All Your Tears"4:00
4."Walking in Memphis"3:58
5."The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"2:53
6."Love and Understanding"4:44
7."I Found Someone"3:46
8."Just Like Jesse James"4:07
9."One by One"5:06
10."Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)4:16
11."Strong Enough"3:43
12."All or Nothing"3:58
13."A Different Kind of Love Song"3:51
14."Heart of Stone"4:20
15."The Music's No Good Without You"4:42
16."Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix)3:44
17."Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"2:38
18."The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher)3:29
19."I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)3:09
20."All I Really Want to Do"2:58
21."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"2:44
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More information No., Title ...
US edition
No.TitleLength
1."Believe"3:59
2."If I Could Turn Back Time"4:00
3."Heart of Stone"4:11
4."Just Like Jesse James"4:07
5."Save Up All Your Tears"4:00
6."After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are) (duet with Peter Cetera)4:05
7."I Found Someone"3:44
8."One by One" (Junior Vasquez Vocal Edit)4:23
9."Strong Enough"3:43
10."All or Nothing"3:58
11."Song for the Lonely"3:22
12."Take Me Home"3:28
13."The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"2:52
14."All I Really Want to Do"2:58
15."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"2:44
16."Half-Breed"2:45
17."Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves"2:36
18."Dark Lady"3:28
19."The Beat Goes On"3:29
20."I Got You Babe"3:11
21."A Different Kind of Love Song" (Rodney Jerkins Main Mix (Faster))4:19
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More information No., Title ...
North American special edition bonus disc: Live! The Farewell Tour
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
4:35
2."Song for the Lonely"
6:47
3."All or Nothing"
  • Taylor
  • Barry
3:58
4."I Found Someone"
3:36
5."Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"Sonny Bono3:41
6."All I Really Want to Do"Bob Dylan2:01
7."Half-Breed"
1:34
8."Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves"Bob Stone1:31
9."Dark Lady"Johnny Durrill1:13
10."Take Me Home"
  • Michele Aller
  • Bob Esty
3:48
11."The Way of Love"
2:34
12."After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are)
3:54
13."Just Like Jesse James"
5:39
14."Heart of Stone"
4:09
15."The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"Rudy Clark2:30
16."Strong Enough"
  • Taylor
  • Barry
3:01
17."If I Could Turn Back Time"Warren6:17
18."Believe"
  • Barry
  • Matthew Gray
  • Brian Higgins
  • Stuart McLennen
  • Timothy Powell
  • Steven Torch
6:49
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Notes
  • "Believe" features writing contribution by Cher who remains uncredited.[13]

Personnel

"Believe" (1998)
Cher's best selling record was received with positive reviews.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
  • Producers: Sonny Bono,[14] Peter Asher, Michael Bolton, Desmond Child, Bob Esty, Snuff Garrett, Steve Lipson, Giorgio Moroder, Brian Rawling, Guy Roche, Bob Rock, Mark Taylor, Diane Warren, Richie Zito
  • Executive producer: Cher
  • Compilation producer: David MacLees
  • Remastering: Bill Inglot, Dan Hersch
  • Remixing: Junior Vasquez
  • Editorial supervision: Sheryl Farber
  • Annotation: Steve Woolard
  • Art direction: Jeri Heiden
  • Art direction: Hugh Brown
  • Design: Barrie Goshko
  • Photography: Sonny Bono
  • Photography: Norman Seeff
  • Photography: Harry Langdon
  • Photography: Kevyn Aucoin
  • Project assistant: Leigh Hall
  • Project assistant: April Milek
  • Project assistant: Randy Perry
  • Project assistant: Tim Scanlin
  • Liner notes: Kurt Loder

Charts

More information Chart (2003), Peak position ...
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Certifications and sales

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications and sales for The Very Best of Cher
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[46] Platinum 100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[47] Gold 10,000‡
South Africa (RISA)[31] Gold 25,000*
Sweden (GLF)[48] Platinum 60,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[50] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Release history

More information Region, Date ...
Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States April 1, 2003 Warner Bros. CD R2 73852
August 26, 2003 2CD R2 73956
Germany August 29, 2003 Warner Music 2CD 25646 0864 2
Canada September 1, 2003 Warner Bros. WTVD 60864
Australia September 2003 Warner Music 25646 0864 5
France September 22, 2003 CD 50466 8588 2
United Kingdom November 24, 2003 CD 50466 8586 2
Japan January 21, 2004 2CD WPCR-11751-2
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References

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