Customer Reviews

Bittersweet: The Love Songs Collection

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Many years down the road when musicologists study what we listen to today, this compilation of earlier Cher recordings may very well be considered among Cher's finest work, if not THE best! From her classic, haunting, beautiful "The Way Of Love" to her own rendition of standards and cabaret-style songs, this collection is Cher stripped down to the bare bones without all of the glamour & glitz, flashy dancers and trashy fun we've all grown to love so well and associate with Cher. But, Cher is more than just flashy, trashy and fun. She is under-rated as a singer and this collection proves that. Cher is a fine singer who knows how to interpret a song with her own unique vocal style. For anyone who is a true Cher fan, you MUST have this in your collection. I love all of Cher's recordings - Beware, though, this one is nothing like her 80s recordings or her "Believe" CD, nor is it like her "Half Breed" days. It is better. This is a style all of its own - and I, for one, wish Cher would record more music like this. I have just about everything Cher has ever recorded and this is, by far, among my favorites. I actually give this one 10 stars!

Many people who reviewed this CD did not like it because they think Cher's voice isn't "suave enough" to perform this material. I disagree. These songs have just as much meaning, regardless of the voice quality of whoever sings them. I treasure this album because it was previously unavailable on CD--and if you truly appreciate Cher, you should appreciate all of her endeavours. Remember, she was still a relative newcomer to the music scene when she recorded this album. No, she doesn't quite sound like Barbra Streisand--but then, what do you expect? This is Cher. She has always operated to the beat of her own drum, and she has never asked for approval in anything she has ever done. Yet she continues to be a living legend after all these years. I somewhat resent the fact that MCA has been sitting on this record for over 25 years--and now that Cher has made a major comeback with "Believe", that's when they finally decide to bring this album out of the closet and capitalize on her current success. But I digress, if you love Cher and appreciate all aspects of her career, you will want to add this to your collection.

While working for Universal Music, I had the opportunity to be asked to add my CHER knowledge, photo archives, etc to many CHER collections/re-issues. I wrote the liner notes to "If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits," as well as the "I Paralyze" re-issue. But "Bittersweet: The Love Songs Collection" was a personal high because I brought the idea to MCA's attention. Most there had never even heard of the original "Bittersweet White Light" album from 1973.
I felt the need to keep the album in tact, and release the songs in the exact order they were on the LP, but also chose to add some of CHER's lesser known ballads from her MCA catalog. I also chose the title and artwork, with this photo of CHER always glowing with elegance and incredible beauty.
It is extremely rewarding for me to read the reviews here and how this CD has touched people...the ones that loved the original, (as I did), or never even knew of it. CHER: No One Can Compare.
Bittersweet: The Love Songs Collection

After three worn out albums, and many badly recorded cassettes, this album on CD is beautiful ear candy! Cher sings her head off, and her heart out. Her incredible and unique voice are raw and thrilling! It grows on you until nothing else will do. How Long Has This Been Going On?, is a favorite, but the album is really beautiful as a whole.Cool bonus tracks from other albums too. It's like wine, the first time you taste it, you're not sure. Then it becomes heady and exciting! Dig it!

Back in the early 70's Cher recorded an album of classic American standards by such writers as Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin, Al Jolson, and Oscar Hammerstein. Songs like,"The Man I Love", "The Man That Got Away", and "Am I Blue" are not the type of songs that Cher is associated with and famous for now, but at the peak of her television fame, she sang one of these songs every week in some glamorous gown. Sometimes the whole package of "CHER" over-shadowed the vocal qualities to a secondary position. This re-release offers today's listener a chance to HEAR the style of Cher's voice without the visual image, and to really appreciate Cher as a vocal ARTIST. The arrangements are typical of Sonny's tendency to over-produce, but Cher's powerhouse vocals are at their best. The songs have a bluesy quality while Cher's voice is filled with angst and the pain of loneliness. This isn't a top-ten pop queen, but a contemporary artist making a foray into classic torch songs with great success. Cher makes these songs hers while she is singing them. That's all you can ask of a cover tune.

Wow. What cd to treasure for years to come. Never doubt Cher. These Timeless Standards have never sounded better. Buy today and see for yourself. Cher is truly a Timeless Creature !!!!

The only song on this album I'd heard Cher do before was "The Way of Love". But I never heard her renditions of these old standards. She's not the world's greatest singer (and with most of these songs I've heard singers with much greater range perform them---Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand). But the way they're performed here are actually much more fun. I'm so used to hearing these songs done by people who really tug at your heartstrings. Many of these songs were done by Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, and Bette Midler. All are great performers & Cher doesn't break your heart the way they did when they performed these classics. But I don't thin that was Cher's goal doing these. They're enjoyable. Actually, "The Man I Love" is kind of touching the way she sings it---there actually seems to be more of a voice of desperation in her rendition of it than in Streisand's version. By far, my favorite song on the album. If you like Cher or these great songs, this is the album for yoU!

Bittersweet has got to be one of the Best of Cher's albums -- Feeling -- Touching

My original cassette was stolen and I have searched for years for a replacement. When it came out in CD, it was like finding an old friend. The songs are classics and Cher puts her special spin in singing them. All in all, this is one of my favorite CDs. Right on, Cher!

this is a great album to listen to when you want to relax or while cuddling with your significant other!