Cher Album: “Sunny”

This CD is great for people who are new to Cher. But for longtime fans, it's a big disappointment. The cover is that of the Imperial 60s' release with the song, "Catch the Wind," Cher's version of which I've been looking for on CD for years. It's not here! Some of the titles on the new release are on the original LP; some are not. But the words, "Original Recording Remastered" together with the LP cover are very deceptive. The bonus songs are great too, but I'd say buy this only if you don't have all the songs.

This reissue of Cher's first self-titled LP is missing three tracks from the original album: "Until It's Time For You To Go," "The Cruel War," and "Catch The Wind." There are also 11 bonus tracks from Cher's Imperial years, but most of them are from Cher's first two albums: "All I Really Want To Do" and "The Sonny Side Of Cher." Of course, that's not to say that all of the bonus tracks are from those two albums, just most of them. As good as these incomplete reissues were -- before all of Cher's original recordings made it back into print -- nothing can beat the original releases.

From a historical perspective, Cher's early Imperial recordings encompassed the best material she could possibly interpret. Look at the songs -- and the songwriters -- represented: "Sunny" (Bobby Hebb), "The Twelfth Of Never," "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," "I Feel Something In the Air" (SONNY BONO!!!!), "Homeward Bound" (Paul Simon), "I Want You" (BOB DYLAN!!!!), and "Alfie" (Hal David and Burt Bacharach). You could never convince me that the powers that be -- in this case Sonny Bono and Harold Battiste -- didn't have their pulse on the best musical output of the time. And Cher's vocals are what ties this outstanding program together.

"Cher", her first self titled lp is a reissue cd that is truly faithful to the 1966 "Cher" lp self-titled lp. Only this french reissue is on hand to document this lp( there is a version without all these bonus tracks). The 60's Cher is here in her evolving vocalist personna, covering "Alfie" and "Sunny" as only she could do, modern and emotional..earthy too.True , we are sprinkled with other terrific cuts from the 60's era, but not to detriment. It simply gives the listener more of a sampling of the Cher of the 60's. The Sonny Bono folk-rock produced Cher.

There is another version floating around without these bonus tracks too. The writer that found this deceptive packaging should seek that one out, in it's virgin state.

But..., for those that want more..this is the best deal.

WOW these great tracks on 1 CD! Buy it while you can. Cher's younger voice certainly powers it's way through all these great tracks. BUY IT!