Cher Album: “3614 Jackson Highway”

3614 Jackson Highway is easily the best and most ambitious recorded work of Cher's career, and demonstrated early on the potential she had as a performer.

Atlantic's Executive Vice President Jerry Wexler sought to revitalize Cher's career by utilizing a formula similar to that employed on the classic Dusty In Memphis. Wexler selected the tunes for the album, including no less than three songs from Bob Dylan's alt-country Nashville Skyline album.

Over the course of ten days in late April 1969 and one session in mid-May, the tracks for 3614 Jackson Highway were recorded at the Muscle Shoals Sound studio whose address was to be the album's title.

"For What It's Worth" opens the album with a surging drum and tambourine beat, followed by percussive acoustic guitar punctuated by electric piano trills until the chorus, where Cher is joined by male and female backup vocalists and some slide guitar work. While soulful, the whole thing has a country-blues feel that certainly isn't present on the original Buffalo Springfield recording.

The Dylan songs include "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You", "I Threw It All Away", and "Lay Baby Lay". "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" opens with a horn section riff and the familiar blue jean sound of drum, strummed acoustic guitar, and electric piano. Cher leans nicely on the blue notes of the song, giving a bluesier feel than she could manage by sheer delivery alone.

"I Walk On Guilded Splinters" is an odd number by any standard, coming from Dr. John's very first album Gris-Gris, which was also released by the Atco label. While Dr. John's version is menacing and atmospheric, Cher's is powerful and gritty, prefacing the sound and delivery she would use on records like "Half Breed", "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" and "Dark Lady".

"Please Don't Tell Me" is a country-influenced track on which Cher turns in one of the best vocals of her career. It helps that the song's lyrics could be the life story of one of Cher's hard luck film heroine characters. Still, the arrangement and her excellent rendition remind us just of how closely this album fits the Dusty In Memphis mold.

Overall this is an album you can play from beginning to end and be well entertained. One can only imagine the direction Cher's singing career might have taken had this album been a huge success. Nonetheless, recordings were made for a followup Atco Cher solo album, and they are available on this Rhino Handmade disc. A few were released as non-charting singles, but many have never before been available.

In addition Rhino has included "Chastity's Song (Band of Thieves)" from the Chastity film project, which was supposed to establish Cher as an actress (even as 3614 Jackson Highway was supposed to have re-established her as a contemporary recording artist), and Cher's recording of Leon Russell's Superstar. Superstar was Cher's last Atco single, released in 1970.

Of the tracks recorded for the followup to 3614, the best performances are "Easy to Be Hard" (from the rock musical Hair), a souped-up gospel-infused "I Believe", and the anti-war song "Momma Look Sharp" from the Broadway musical 1776 (!) There is some of the same Muscle Shoals production work here as on 3614, including horns and funky beats, but there is a lot less focus, which probably is why the new album was never released.

Cher's brief Atco solo period was all but forgotten as she moved on to later fame as a solo recording artist and Academy Award-winning actress. Thankfully, you can now hear once again the best recording of this pop diva's career thanks to Rhino's Handmade program. Don't wait too long, though--these are limited editions, and once they're gone, who knows when they'll be back?

I just bought this collection after hearing very little about it before. Having been a real Cher fan for years, I was quite intrigued by this album - which basically came and went in 1969. As many people (and the liner notes) have mentioned, this was the label's attempt to give Cher a "Dusty in Memphis" classic set. But just as that album was underappreciated for years, so too has 3614 Jackson Highway.

Let me say that some of the recordings sound a bit raw compared to the polished Cher singing we are all used to today. But how refreshing these young and passionate performances are! There are many covers (For What it's Worth, Lay Baby Lay, Yours Until Tomorrow, etc.) but most of the tracks - especially I Threw it all Away, Please Don't Tell Me, You've Made me so very Happy - show a fire and simplicity missing from some of her later work.

If you love this era and Cher's voice, you must pick up a copy (you can find this as a used CD for a bit less than the high sticker price). While none of these recordings became hit singles, they definitely hold up well today and help show another facet to a truly amazing superstar.

It is indeed an interesting compilation including Jackson Highway and the late 60's lp that never saw the light of day.

To be honest Cher is uneven here, and is seen in transition from 60's Cher to the Cher of the 70's.

The production is a bit heavy,even though it's Muscle Shoales, and there are a few great songs including the country tinged "Please Don't tell me", and "Just enough to keep me hangin on".

The lost songs are mostly attempts to find a new career, and were almost lost in the atco vaults.

The Cher that was to emerge with "Gypsies Tramps and Thieves ", is not to be found here, but for fans there is enough good singing on Jackson, and enough curiosity in the non released material thatit is worth the money..

The liner notes are exceptional...and give a detailed overview of the lp and refound cuts..

Cher, as we all know, has been one of the most talented and successful female artists of our time and before that. We all know that Cher has made herself a star, when she and Sonny were a recording duo, as well as the stars of their television career. During that time, Cher had a solo career on the side. She has released the albums, ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO (1965), THE SONNY SIDE OF CHER (1966), CHER (1966), BACKSTAGE (1967), & WITH LOVE, CHER (1968). In 1969, Cher had released her fifth album entitled, 3614 JACKSON HIGHWAY. Now, this album really isn't what I had hoped for. Cher's music from the 60s was not all too great, but don't forget that Cher was still concentrating on her career with Sonny, so this album deserves more credit than people give it.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Not bad.

(JUST TO KEEP ME) HANGIN' ON

I usually love songs, where half of the title is enclosed in paranthesis, where the first half or the second half. This song turned out to be just great.

(SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY

Great song.

TONIGHT, I'LL BE STAYING HERE WITH YOU

Not bad, but good enough for the enjoyment.

I THREW IT ALL WAY

This is what most of do during or after a bad relationship. So, if you're in a bad relationship, or you have just got out of one, this is the song for you.

I WALK ON GUILDED SPLINTERS

Ouch! I'm never getting these splinters out of my feet. Just kidding. Great song.

LAY BABY LAY

Something every dating or married couple would like to do.

PLEASE DON'T TELL ME

Great song.

CRY LIKE A BABY

Men will not cry like babies when we lose our girlfriends, since we our smart enough to find more. Great song.

DO RIGHT WOMAN, DO RIGHT MAN

Not bad.

I gave this album a chance and I do not regret that I did because the album is pretty good, but it is not totally great. But if you would like to check this album out, then go right ahead.