From the Vault...

08/25/2002
#800

info
Sonny & Cher
"The Best Of Sonny And Cher: The Beat Goes On"


© Atco Records

Year of Release: 1991
Rating:

track listing
  • Baby Don't Go
  • Just You
  • Sing C'est La Vie
  • I Got You Babe
  • Why Don't They
    Let Us Fall In Love
  • Laugh At Me
  • But You're Mine
  • The Revolution Kind
  • What Now My Love
  • Have I Stayed Too Long
  • Leave Me Be
  • Little Man
  • Living For You
  • Love Don't Come
  • The Beat Goes On
  • Beautiful Story
  • It's The Little Things
  • My Best Friend's Girl
    Is Out Of Sight
  • Good Combination
  • I Got You Babe
    (Good Times
    Soundtrack
    Version)

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    "The Best Of Sonny And Cher: The Beat Goes On"



    It was very sad when Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident, and as Cher mentioned at the funeral, Sonny Bono is what made Sonny & Cher, likewise Cher's career. From the beginning stages, Cher was shy, and felt comfortable with Sonny singing alongside her, even though Sonny Bono intended on Cher being a solo artist. Bono's career as a songwriter was phenomenal; he worked with Phil Spector, wrote or co-wrote many songs (only 4 of the 21 songs contained on this Best Of were NOT written by Bono). "Needles And Pins" (most popular by The Searchers), was also penned by Sonny Bono.


    In looking at the songtitles on The Best Of Sonny And Cher: The Beat Goes On, quite naturally only 3 songs are easily recognized (to me, actually): "Baby Don't Go," (a song I discovered on one of those many various artists compilations) "I Got You Babe" (their only #1 hit as a duo), and "The Beat Goes On" (a song I remember watching them perform on their TV show, when it was currently on the air).


    Many of the songs contained here have the Phil Spector-type atmosphere. Songs such as "Just You," "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love" (not written by Bono), we can hear what Bono was observing while he worked with Spector, in Bono's own version of his own "wall of sound."


    Comedical as in a lounge act with an Italian-music sound (well, almost) "Sing C'est La Vie" is more of a novelty tune, which in the later years we would see the comedy side in full force on their television series.


    There are three songs as Sonny sings alone: "Laugh At Me," The Revolution Kind," and "My Best Friend's Girl Is Out Of Sight." We can admit that Sonny was never the greatest singer, yet he stayed with his day job as a powerful songwriter; and he had Cher supply her vocals to his many other other songs that became more successful.


    Bono's writing does come in fine shape in "The Beat Goes On," and that particular sound and style is found in such songs as "But You're Mine", the standard "What Now My Love" (not written by Bono). Likewise "Little Man," where this song falls in the category of "Ooh! I Remember That One!"


    We could also hear the future of Cher and her sound of music that would blossom in the 1970s: "Have I Stayed Too Long", and "Leave Me Be." (not written by Bono). Likewise, those songs and the following could easily fit their television show: "Living For You," and "Beautiful Story." "It's The Little Things" and "Good Combination" (not written by Bono), are songs like "I Got You Babe," where both Sonny & Cher alternating their voices on the main verses of the song.


    "Love Don't Come" can be considered a lost album track, likewise a much different version of "I Got You Babe" from the soundtrack of Good Times, which starred Sonny & Cher; this version only features Cher's vocals. The last track, "Hello" features Sonny & Cher just chatting by the piano; and it sounds like a comedy section taken right out of their TV show. It was the B-side to one of their hits, "But You're Mine." At the very end, a spoken commercial is heard for going back to school.


    The songwriting of Sonny Bono is what made Sonny & Cher most famous. Not only was his songwriting as brillant, he made Cher stand out as the main performer, with her booming voice, likewise incredible looks. Her voice certainly stands out on many songs, with just enough background vocals by Sonny Bono. Yet there are those songs where we easily hear both the husband and wife who would later become a household name on television with their unique style of comedy and performing songs to be enjoyed by all. As Sonny Bono once said, he thought that Sonny & Cher would last forever and ever, yet they divorced, and both would have success on their own -- Cher in the media (music and acting), and Sonny in politics (Mayor of Palm Springs, and a seat on the U.S. House of Representatives). Yet tragedy occurred when Sonny died in a skiing accident in 1998. Leaving behind a great legacy of his songwriting, many fans today, after 30 years when it first emerged, are still singing "I Got You Babe," Sonny & Cher's signature song.


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    Previous Review: #799
    Jimmy Page & Robert Plant--Walking Into Clarksdale
    Next Review: #801
    Rick Wakeman & Tony Fernandez--Zodiaque