US #59
Moving swiftly on to her self-titled third album, which may as well serve as a warning to the overall lack of originality. Of the covers, she's aiming too high: competing with Dusty Springfield on an unnecessary You Don't Have To Say You Love Me was ridiculous, although I've always enjoyed the way she seems to slur "just be close at hand" in a rather rushed manner. Her version of Alfie (US #32, CAN #26) is the one that appears on the official soundtrack, but the Dionne Warwick reading has became the most well known. Cher would later re-record the song for the movie's 2004 remake, but when test audiences thanked her with laughter the idea was quickly scrapped. Will You Love Me Tomorrow makes me hope the answer was no. Cher never suited such drippyness (even on I Got You Babe she was sticking the knife in to her soul mate). Sunny (UK #32, NED #2) is a huge success, the steady charge of the enthusiastic musical elements and Cher's grimacing chorus really take hold. Until It's Time For You To Go breathes some of the same French air of the previous record, and has always been a personal highlight - the holler of the chorus worth every dollar of the album cost. Homeward Bound is another soft stream of folk-pop agonies. 12th of Never is good, coated with a serenade of lush instruments. I Want You maintains the form of all her Dylan ditties - far more chirpier than the notable Sophie B Hawkins version, which is more meditative. Sonny's I Feel Something In The Air (CAN #89, UK #43) considers unwanted pregnancy out of wedlock with a pretty chorus, which perhaps explains why it never went full term at radio. A what will the neighbours say? for the 60s as she ruefully considers what people will think of her for being such a slut.
Despite its abysmal chart placing, the album sold moderately well in the US. Another souvenir of the showbiz Cher tale, but sidestepping some of the covers its another more than decent LP under her Bob Mackie sleeve. The simplicity of many of the arrangements have meant time has been relatively kind.
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