Through a series of successful singles in the mid-sixties Sonny and Cher sang their message that it is okay to be different and that love does not need societal approval to be real. Adding to their popularity, Sonny and Cher not only sang about such themes they lived them. Their circumstances were such that a teenage Cher had fallen in love with a shaggy haired not particularly attractive older man (i.e. Sonny) who dressed oddly and was generally treated with disdain by conservative society. Their hit songs commonly focused on their situation and how they would prevail regardless of how society would treat them. This sentiment combined with the considerable writing talents of Sonny tapped into the imagination and feelings of the record buying public between 1965 and 1967 and gave the singing duo a plethora of hit releases.


The Tracks

The 21 tracks on the collection include all of Sonny and Cher’s biggest hits of the sixties, three fascinating solo performances recorded by Sonny, notable B-sides and some not so successful single releases. All tracks are studio recordings. A particular plus is that the collection is complemented by extensive well-written liner notes that for the most part making an interesting read about mid-sixties pop culture.

I Got You Babe

“I Got You Babe” is without doubt Sonny and Cher’s most well known hit. In 1965 the song reached the top spot in both the US and UK charts. The message of the number is that true love conquers all and to hell with what the rest of the world thinks about your relationship. With lines like “Don’t let them say your hair is too long/ I don’t care, with you I can’t go wrong”, it is not surprising that it caught the attention of record buyers at the time of its single release.

In addition to the hit take, this CD also contains a slow acoustic version of the song recorded in 1967 for the movie soundtrack “Good Times”. It is a beautiful vocal performance by both artists and is complemented by a music box style intro and excellent guitar work.

Laugh at me

In 1965 Sonny Bono had a top 10 US and UK solo hit with a Bob Dylan style performance of a song titled “Laugh at me”. Legend has it that just prior to the recording Sonny got into an ugly altercation at a restaurant with some local thugs because they did not approve of his shaggy vest coat. As a result he was reportedly banned from eating at the restaurant. So the story goes, Sonny was so upset that he wrote “Laugh at me” and recorded it on the same day as the incident.

The end result is an impassioned performance full of anger and sadness at the treatment that society dishes out to those who are harmless but dare to be different. It is impossible not to be moved by the performance. Typical lines include- “Laugh at me and I’ll cry for you and I’ll pray for you” “Why get their kicks from making fun” and “Why do they try to make me run”. The number concludes with the hope that someday those who dare to be different will walk pass others in mainstream society and say “Hi” rather than be mistreated by them and just think “why”.

The Revolution Kind

“The Revolution Kind” is another magnificent Sonny solo. This time Sonny is pleading for the world to understand that just because he speaks his mind does not mean he is necessarily seeking a revolution or thinks that the US is bad. He goes on to say that loving your country is not necessarily inconsistent with speaking your mind and further that such speech is an implicit right in the “land of the free”. Like in “Laugh at Me”, Sonny gives a touching performance. The number also includes an emotional and most fitting testimonial to those who have left their families and gone to war for their country. In retrospect, it is not surprising that Sonny ultimately became a United States Congressman.

My Best Friend’s Girls out of Sight

Though frivolous in terms of subject matter, Sonny’s solo rendition of the medium tempo “My Best Friend’s Girls out of Sight” is also not bad. The lyrics are quite clever and the song is characterized by interesting tempo changes. It is a fun performance and Sonny’s vocalizing is particularly well suited to the material.

The Top 20 Hits

In addition to “I Got You Babe”, this collection includes all of Sonny and Cher’s top twenty 60’s hits in a digitally re-mastered format. For those not up on Sonny and Cher’s discography the numbers in question are “The Beat Goes On” (1967: US #6), “Baby Don’t Go” (1965: US #8; UK # 11), “But Your Mine” (1965: US #15; UK #17), “What Now My Love” (1966: US #14; UK #13), “Little Man” (1966: UK #4), “Just You” (1965: US #20) and “Why Don’t They Let us Fall in Love” (1965: US #2). As discussed previously, most of these numbers concern faith in the concept that true love will prevail over all obstacles that a disapproving uptight society can throw at it. The performances are also characterized by a folk style delivery and there is an interesting European musical infusion in some of the post 1966 numbers (e.g. “Little Man” and “What Now My Love”).

Picking the best songs from Sonny and Cher’s most impressive list of hits is a matter of personal taste. My own favorites are the ballad “Just for You” and their rendition of Becaud’s semi-standard “What Now My Love”. In both numbers Sonny and Cher’s give performances that are brimming with feeling and use their contrasting yet strangely complimenting voices to great effect. “Just for You” is in essence a statement of the duo’s (at the time) love for each as well as a recognition of their individual failings. The haunting chorus, comprising the words “I live for you, I die for you”, is magnificent.

In comparison “What Now My Love” is a dramatic account of the feelings that are experienced when a life partner has died. Typical lines include: “Now that you have left me, how can I live through another day”, “I walk the night ..stripped of my heart, stripped of my soul” and “No one will care no one will cry if should live or I should die”.

Other tracks

Many may consider the rest of the tracks on this collection nothing more than fillers. Indeed there are some oddities in the set including a talking only track titled “Hello” and a bizarre, though admittedly catchy, tune called “Sing C’est La Vie” (where the chorus comprises Sonny talking in a fake French accent). There is also a track, “Good Combination” where the sound is a dead ringer for that usually produced by the Brady Bunch Kids.

The above being said, there are also some well-crafted songs on this collection, outside of the hits and the Sonny solos, that are worth specific mention. “Love Don’t Come” for example is a European style folk number that contains some magnificent guitar playing and a masterful vocal performance by Sonny. The chorus is without words and comprises of Cher simply humming in a manner that is both haunting and captivating. The lyrics are particularly intelligent and there is even a mention of Socrates. The track is by any account an excellent performance and it is a shame that it was not released as a single A-side for it easily could have been a hit for the duo.

“Beautiful Story” (1967: US #53) is also an interesting number. There is a hint of experimentation in the performance of this strange ballad that is reminiscent of some of the Beatles work during this period. By comparison, another strong number “The Little Things” is standard Sonny and Cher fare being a ballad of undying love despite the shortcomings of the other person. Notwithstanding a credible performance by both artists, the single release of the song only made #50 on the US charts (1967). I suspect this lack of commercial success was probably due to Sonny and Cher milking the same well too many times.

Buying Recommendation

This CD changed my perspective and gave me new-found respect for not only the work of Sonny and Cher, but also for the musical credentials of Sonny Bono. Notably Sonny appears on the writing credits in almost all of the tracks on this CD. It is impossible not to respect a guy who turns being scorned by society into an artistic and commercial success. Many of the lyrics are so brutally honest about his failings (including his appearance) that I suspect few would be brave enough to not only write about it but also commercially release it.

There is enough strong material on this CD to merit a purchase by 60’s music enthusiasts. Certainly if you only buy one Sonny and Cher CD this is the one to get. Though some may think I am being a little generous I feel comfortable giving this CD a 4 star rating. I acknowledge there is an element of sentimentality in this rating as I would like think that Sonny was right when he advocated that true love conquers all and that society has much to gain by welcoming those who are different. For those who choose to ridicule or disregard such sentiments maybe Sonny had it right when he sang “Laugh at me and I’ll cry for you”.

If you liked this, what else would I recommend?

Cher: The Farewell Tour (Review Link)


Recommended: Yes