The Very Best of Cher

The Very Best of Cher
Greatest hits album by
Cher
ReleasedApril 1, 2003 (US)
Recorded1964–2001
Genre
Length1:15:22 (US)
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerDavid McLees
Cher chronology
Living Proof
(2001) 		The Very Best of Cher
(2003) 		Live! The Farewell Tour
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

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". It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 albums chart and later reached number four on the issue date of May 17.[3][4] As of November 2011, the album has sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.[5]

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.[6]

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.

Track listing

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)
3:51
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)BonoBono3:54
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
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
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)"3:54
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
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
Notes
  • "Believe" features writing contribution by Cher who remains uncredited.[7]

Personnel

"Believe" (1998)
Cher's best selling record was received with positive reviews.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
  • Producers: Sonny Bono,[8] 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

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Platinum 100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[40] Gold 10,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[41] Platinum 60,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[43] 2× Platinum 2,800,000[5]

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

Release history

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

References

  1. ^ The Very Best of Cher at AllMusic
  2. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 159. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b "Ask Billboard: Cher Information, Yes?". Billboard. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  6. ^ "All Music: The Very Best of Cher". AllMusic. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  7. ^ Strauss, Neil (March 11, 1999). "Cher Resurrected, Again, by a Hit; The Long, Hard but Serendipitous Road to 'Believe'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Production and credits
  9. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "Canadian 100 Albums chart: 18 September 2003". Jam! Canoe. 2003-09-18. Archived from the original on October 13, 2003. Retrieved 2012-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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  18. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2003. 39. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Cher – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  20. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 17, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "The very best of di Cher".
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  22. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  23. ^ "Palmarès des ventes d'albums au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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  29. ^ "Top Internet Album Sales". Billboard. 31 March 2003.
  30. ^ "Cher Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2003". ARIA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  32. ^ "Chart of the Year 2003". Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  33. ^ "Årslista Album - År 2003" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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  39. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Cher – The Very Best of". Music Canada.
  40. ^ "Danish album certifications – Cher – The Very Best of". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
  42. ^ "British album certifications – Cher – The Very Best of Cher". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Very Best of Cher in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  43. ^ "American album certifications – Cher – The Very Best of Cher". Recording Industry Association of America.