Given a five-decade career that's been one long series of critical write-offs and subsequent comeback triumphs, it's tempting to argue that the natural elements are actually earth, wind, fire, water--and Cher. Anchored by her 1998 international mega-success "Believe" (the song that made Cher the oldest woman to score a chart topper) and its equally club-savvy contemporary collaborations with producers Mark Taylor and Brian Rawlings, "Song for the Lonely" and "A Different Kind of Love Song," this 21-track anthology is indeed the first to contain all her No. 1 hits, stretching back to her epochal 1965 duet with Sonny Bono on the faux-Dylan "I Got You Babe." [ read more ] >>

If the fans who grooved to Believe still clamor for more, there's little doubt that Living Proof will quickly achieve the same chromatic status as Cher's new hair color. The multitalented entertainer is placing a safe bet on the fortitude of her latest incarnation as disco diva to support a second album of dance club tracks. Other pop femme fatales of late are experimenting with subtleties in rhythm and nuance, but subtlety is not one of Cher's selling points. She's been quoted as comparing "Song for the Lonely" to U2's sound; indeed, through Cher's discofied ears, there are brief moments where the track riffs on U2's euphoric "Beautiful Day" and the two songs share a hopeful sentiment. "Love So High" and "Body to Body, Heart to Heart" throw the prerequisite Latin guitar and percussion into the mix, and the buzzing back beats on her cover of "Love One Another" (last heard on Dutch singer Amber's self-titled release) make it one of the CD's tightest songs. Cher's vocals--a taste we've had more than 35 years to acquire--are strong, and her production team enhances her limited range with studio tricks. [ read more ] >>

2001 album produced by the likes of Metro (the team behind Believe), Chicane, Stargate and Rick Knowles (who has written for Ronan Keating, N Sync and Texas). No US release until 2002. 12 tracks in all including the first single, 'The Music's No Good Without You'. [ more 'Living Proof' ] >>