Customer Reviews

Singles +

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Cher moved on with her own musical career independent of Sonny, this collection covers the songs they had both collectively and independently until 1974 at which point Sonny was no longer in the picture and Cher's musical career was fading as well, at least temporarily. Dubbed "The Singles +", this piece does chronicle their single releases more completely than any piece heretofore, and goes beyond just the U.S. 45's to include songs charting in six European countries as well. So, from the standpoint of completeness, this entry into the myriad of Sonny and Cher CD collections leads the pack. All the big and well-known sides are here along with rarities such as the pre-"Babe"-era tunes "Love Is Strange" and "The Letter" as by Caesar and Cleo. As the songs are presented chronologically, the listener is aware of how the sound of Sonny and Cher developed with Cher maturing and growing while Sonny had nowhere to go musically.

Though not sonically revelatory, with the exception of a noisy disc dub for track number three on disc one, sound quality is respectable overall. Most tunes are the stereo versions, the mono exceptions being tracks 1-5,11,15,18 on disc one and tracks 1,2,5,8,10 on disc two. The liner notes booklet does provide a condensed history of the duo that goes beyond the coverage of the tracks included. Beyond the track listings provided, of interest are the picture sleeve illustrations and comprehensive U.S. and European chart position data for each song.

On balance, this is the best, most complete collection of Sonny and Cher's material. For the avid fan or casual listener, a worthwhile CD investment.

Singles + is a comprehensive review of Sonny & Cher's output from the beginning of their marriage/professional partnership until their divorce in 1974. Collectors of singles and chart hits like myself love compilations like these because *every* song that hit Billboard's Hot 100 by either Sonny & Cher or Cher as a solo artist through 1974 is included here. Granted, one must look elswhere to find Cher's solo outings after 1974, but I suppose the point of the set is to represent recordings during their years as a married couple. Arbitrary cutoff point, perhaps, but, oh well.

One point I'd like to clarify from Ward Lamb's otherwise excellent review below. He mentions a less than perfect sonic rating for this set. I'm not familiar with these ratings or standards, but to the extent one infers that the sound quality of this collection is substandard, never fear, the songs sound great. Perhaps not audiophile quality, but any casual listener will be more than satisfied.

I belive this is the first Sonny & Cher collection to combine the "I Got You Babe" era and the "Sonny & Cher" Tv show era. Mixed in are Cher's many solo singles as well. Pretty much everything you'd want is here. The songs are in chronological order so you can hear how Cher's voice matured and Sonny's...well Sonny sounds like Sonny throughout! The booklet inside contains photos of the duos single sleeves as well as a bio of the two. The biggest complaint I would give it is this, first of all it is NOT all inclusive as it does not contain the very last Sonny & Cher single, "You're Not Right For Me" from 1977. And the other big flaw, is that for whatever reason they cut off the last "I love you!" from "Classified 1A". The song had been a very rare track until recently where it has turned up on several collections, including "The Way Of Love ~ The Cher Anthology" and Cher's new internet only release "Not Commercial". If you're looking for all the Sonny & Cher songs you remember, here you go. You get the hits, "I Got You Babe", you get the solo hits "Laugh At Me", "Gypsy's Tramps & Thieves",and you get the just plain weird tracks "Sing C'Est La Vie", "Plastic Man". Altogether you get a great set. So until someone decides to put out a Sonny & Cher or even just a Cher boxed set, this is a great place to start.

Now it may seem like a strange thing to give 5 stars to a cd compilation that doesn't have the best sonic rating. But...This compilation is the very 1st to take you through almost all the Sonny and Cher singles that were made as duet or solo recordings during the 60's and 70's. Plus, most of the order is chronological, and the great Euro picture sleeves are amazing for the Sonny and Cher fan. Hearing the years and songs parade by is a terrific indulgence. Particularly wonderful is the Imperial label Cher solo contrasted with the Sonny and Cher atco label duets. It is a lovingly produced collection with international chart positions included in the back of the 16 page booklet. You have to be crazy if you are a fan and don't get this compilation. It is a respectful labor of love from Holland( of all places!). It appears a USA version of this is on the horizon, but it would serve you well to get this 1st effort. Finally, a long list of Sonny and Cher hits and less than hits in order for your listening pleasure!A nice price on this 2 cd set!

I purchased this thing just for *Love Is Strange* and *The Letter* alone! I think their version of Love Is Strange is better than the original. I'm sure I'd be pelted by a million eggs from Cher's fans, but I honestly prefer her 60's singing voice to her warbling current voice. It's as if at some point in the early 70's, some idiot voice coach told her she should add that warbling infliction upon her voice....which to me, makes her sound as though she's not to be taken seriously. Her 60's voice was strong, yet smooth.
Whatever your view of Sonny Bono, he always did a great job arranging/producing/writing Cher's music (which is what he always intended to do until the shy and insecure Cher dragged him into the studio with her--if you don't think Sonny knew he had a pretty bad singing voice, you're sadly mistaken). *Bittersweet White Light* although sometimes a little over-dramatic (which Sonny tended to do---I think he was just so enthralled with Cher's singing he got carried away) is a fantastic album. This particular package is pretty extensive and full of most of their 60's hits and then some. With the exception of *Plastic Man* and *Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies---If I were Cher I'd of told Sonny where to stick that song), this is a very listenable and enjoyable collection. I'm still mesmerized by Sonny & Cher's harmonizing. I think they sounded fabulous together.

This collection contains all Cher's hits (with and without Sonny) from 1964 to 1974, not just from America but from six European countries. We therefore get Sing c'est la vie, which was number one in Belgium but didn't chart at all in any of the other listed countries (and maybe wasn't released anywhere else). However, in most cases, the European hits were also hits in America.

Apart from the excellent booklet, this collection combines the music of two different record labels, so you would otherwise have to buy two separate CD's, one for the sixties (I got you babe) era and one for the seventies (Gypsies tramps and thieves) era, and they many not be full-length. The two CD's that make up this set are both full-length, so there is plenty of room for the less obvious but still interesting tracks, ensuring that there is always something to keep coming back to.

This is a very comprehensive collection of the music which made Sonny and Cher stars in the first place, and contains everything that most people will ever want from the period covered. Diehard Cher fans will not be totally satisfied, but even they recognise the quality of this compilation (see their reviews).

This is THE Cher compilation to buy.

A wonderful collection with songs you will not find in other sets. With available technology that that can make recordings from the 1920's and 30's sound clear and fresh, this was a real disappointment. That said, I would still buy the CD. Just don't pay the full retail price!

For this to be a true collection would date back to the late 50's when Sonny used the names of "RONNIE SOMMERS,DON CHRISTY & SONNY CHRISTY.In the 60's,where's Cher's,BONNIE JO MASON singing"RINGO,I LOVE YOU" & Caesar & Cleo.Sonny & Cher still have a vault at Atco & probably at Imperial of unreleased songs & all the covers from their tv show hey~day.The market explodes of Beatles & Elvis P.Someone should box pre Sonny~ Cher through their memorable David Letterman 1987 appearance,singing "I GOT YOU BABE" to Cher's memorial" NATURE BOY"How haunting is Sonny's song" CLASSIFIED 1A?Sounds prophetic.Enjoy cd til & if a boxed set comes along. Rick, Maryland

What a classic. Fantastic songs it brought back a lot of memories when I was younger. I would definately recommend it.