 |
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)
|
WSVNRadio Archives
Sonny & Cher related sites:
|
|
|
Sonny & Cher
"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.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Atco Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
|
|
