Cher Album: “Heart of Stone”

This cd is probably Cher at her most boisterous and has a real emotional energy. I particularly think that the songs, "After All", and "Just Like Jesse James", are classic examples of Cher at her rock and ballad peak. The background vocals are over-powering and some of the material shallow( Emotional Fire), but Cher has an energy to rise above the mundane. She sold more of this cd than any other, so perhaps this is her most popular.I feel "Its' A Mans' World", has Cher singing even better, and buried by extraneous sound less.

Cher has been one of the best successful female solo artists ever, right behind my favorite, Madonna. Ever since her success with Sonny and ever since the start of her success of her solo career, Cher has been known to shock the people with her unbelievable style. During the duration of her time with Sonny, Cher had also a solo career on the side. Her solo albums include, ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO (1965), THE SONNY SIDE OF CHER (1966), CHER (1966), BACKSTAGE (1967), WITH LOVE CHER (1968), 3614 JACKSON HIGHWAY (1969), GYPSYS, TRAMPS & THIEVES (1971), FOXY LADY (1972), HALF-BREED (1973), BITTERSWEET WHITE LIGHT (1974), DARK LADY (1974), GREATEST HITS (1974), STARS (1975), I'D RATHER BELIEVE IN YOU (1976), CHERISHED (1977), PRISONER (1979), TAKE ME HOME (1979), I PARALYZE (1982), & CHER (1987) (her second album with this title). But in 1989, Cher released the album that was chosen to be the favorite amongst many of her fans: HEART OF STONE. This album was Cher's first most successful commercially released album, the second being BELIEVE, where it reached triple platinum status.

IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME

The second single from the album. One of Cher's best and none of you can deny that. This is a love song that's as original as they come. Cher tells her ex-boyfriend that "if she could turn back time" she would never have said all the rotten things she said to him and that they would still be together. The music video featured Cher in her most revealing outfit ever. The video was shot on a Navy Battleship with Cher performing the song in front of a bunch of sailors. Cher had a completely stocking-like material made see-through outfit with a thin black leather strap to cover her chest and her privates. The only thing the strap did not cover was her rear, which was tattooed. This outfit caused MTV and VH1 to air the video after midnight.

JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES

The third single from the album. Cher did something we never thought she would do: she made a country-western song. This happens to be one of my favorite Cher songs of all time. In this song, she talks about how her boyfriend acts like he's a bigshot by breaking the hearts of every woman he's ever dated, including Cher. She tells him that if he's going for breaking her heart, then it's gonna take a lot to break it because Cher is a fighter and she promises that her boyfriend is gonna go down the way ole Jesse James did.

YOU WOULDN'T KNOW LOVE

I couldn't believe how much of a great tune this one is. This is a song that all die-hard Cher fans will most likely adore, just as I do.

HEART OF STONE

The fourth & final single from the album. An amazing song all together. You cannot tell me that this is not a great song. Its acoustic guitar is out of this world.

STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU

I bet almost every ex-boyrfriend or ex-girlfriend has said this statement, more than a few times. This is a song for everyone who has been dumped by their girlfriends or boyfriends.

LOVE ON A ROOFTOP

I wonder what Love On A Rooftop feels like. I guess we'll all find out, won't we? This is one hell of a song.

EMOTIONAL FIRE

Great song. I always make sure I play this one before turning the album off.

ALL BECAUSE OF YOU

Great.

DOES ANYBODY REALLY FALL IN LOVE ANYMORE?

Great song. And to answer Cher's question. Yes, anyone who is anyone falls in love.

STARTING OVER

Amazing. Not many couples ever get the chance to start over. Since I am a fan of the hit show, "Friends", I was able to see Ross (played by David Schwimmer) & Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston) get their chance to Start Over.

KISS TO KISS

Great song. You have to listen to this song before you go to the next. I mean it. You'll all love this song.

AFTER ALL (duet with PETER CETERA)

The first single from the album. This incredible duet was made the love theme to the 1989 film CHANCES ARE, starring Robert Downey, Jr. Everyone knows that this is a classic and classics never die. Remember when I said that we FRIENDS fans hope that in the season finale ROSS and RACHEL will get back together? Well, if they do, I hope they tie the knot and if they do tie the night, this song is the perfect wedding song for them. The lyrics are a more than perfect fit. The chorus goes like this: AFTER ALL THE STOPS AND STARTS, WE KEEP COMING BACK TO THESE TWO HEARTS. TWO ANGELS WHO'VE BEEN RESCUED FROM THE FALL. AND AFTER ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ME AND YOU. I GUESS IT'S MEANT TO BE FOREVER YOU AND ME AFTER ALL.

This album is just unbelievably amazing. This is my first favorite Cher album, the second being I PARALYZE, the third being, IT'S A MAN'S WORLD. If you are all Cher fans, then HEART OF STONE is the album for you to enjoy.

For those who were introduced to Cher through her latest albums, "Believe" and "Living Proof", "Heart of Stone" is probably the best of her "middle period" recordings. You hear her rock soul on this set, and yet you get diversity from a sort of country parody ("Just Like Jesse James"), a kind of gospel rock number ("Heart of Stone"), something tender (The duet with Peter Cetera: "After All"), to the adult contemporary "If I Could Turn Back Time".

Along the way, you'll incidentally hear song writer Diane Warren at her very best. She writes quite well for Cher in this album, with songs that lend themselves to Cher's dramatic and rather sardonic delivery.

All in all, if you're a new Cher fan, I think you'll be pleased with this, and if you're an old Cher fan, you should already have it.

Opinion:- Cher's best album along with "Living Proof". Fact:- Cher is brilliant, this album is timeless and you know it! I love this album, and anyone who doesn't like this must seriously have no eye for music. This studio album is great, but after seeing her live also, I must admit she's excellent either way! On this album, "Heart Of Stone", Cher belts out guitar-driven, rock classics, like "If I Could Turn Back Time", one of my personal favourite Cher songs, the title track (Bucks Fizz cover) and "Just Like Jesse James". Also included is the US smash, "After All", the duet with Peter Catera. "Heart Of Stone" has went 3x Platinum in the US, and hit #10. The singles were also hits. "...Turn Back Time" achieved #3, "...Jesse James" achieved #8, the title track, "Heart Of Stone", achieved #20 and "After All" achieved #6. Not bad for the world's best ever diva, eh???

This is where to go if you're looking the best Geffen era Cher album. Containing four hit singles, including arguably the best and most underrated song (and video) of her career, "Heart Of Stone". Intelligent, timeless lyrics and a wonderful, heartfelt vocal performance. The video adds a politcal stance to the lyrics. I would have to believe that although this song wasn't a massive hit single (#20 on Billboard's pop chart), Cher herself would agree that this song is one of her finest musical moments. Unfortunately, much of the rest of the album is bogged down by faux arena rock filler falling somewhere between Bon Jovi and Michael Bolton, both of whom collaborate on the album. Don't let the other reviews fool you, this one's definitely a product of it's time. The obvious highlight is Diane Warren's "If I Could Turn Back Time", a deserved smash single (even though it was supported by one of the worst, most embarrasing videos of the era). "Just Like Jesse James" is passable mock western. Not quite up to par with Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" (it's obvious influence) but light years better than Poison's dopey "Every Rose Has It's Thorn". The other hit single, "After All" with Peter Cetera, was tacked on at the end the album to boost sales. It had already been released as a single the prior year off of the "Chances Are" soundtrack. In retrospect, this album might have benefited from more Peter Asher produced tracks and better material, but it still rates as Cher best Geffen album. Sidenote: The superior remix of "Heart Of Stone" with the gospel choir backing her up is available on several of her hits collections, the original version here has studio vocalists backing her up.