For someone whose style changes as often as Cher's does, her style always seems just as sincere and just as much Cher as the previous change. Her personality is set in stone and shines through -- shines brighter than whatever she is dressed in or however many times she has her cheekbones drilled into. How many music artists, even if they lasted in the industry as long as Cher has, would sound just as recognizable on a 1999 synthetically vocalized song called "Believe" as on her 1974 grimly comedic folk song "Dark Lady"? She was more wholesome and organic in the early '70s, but the music is entertaining and hip in its own way. Those who like Cher's '90s material will probably like Cher back then, even though the music is completely different. Released the year following Half Breed, Dark Lady is very similar, like an extension of that album, though more upbeat. "Train of Thought" is raw and fast-moving rock (hence "train") and gave her another American hit. "Miss Subway of 1952" is reminiscent of the acts Cher performed on Sonny and Cher, the kind of song Bette Midler likes to sneak into her albums: clever and fun, sort of breaks the mood and yet seems perfectly placed. "Make the Man Love Me" is not as blatantly comedic, but its prayer to God, as if he was a genie with a deck of cards, comes close. "Rescue Me" is a good cover choice; Cher may not have transformed the song the way she did "Walking in Memphis," but transformation did not used to be the point of covering songs. The point was hearing someone else's voice and it is always fun to hear Cher's renditions of the classics. The sweet and sentimental "What'll I Do" (theme song from The Great Gatsby) softens the mood, and then "Apples Don't Fall Far From the Tree" -- written by Bob Stone, who penned "Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves" -- brings the album to a very fine, very spirited finish. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Dark Lady is the eleventh studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on May 1974 by MCA. Cher again collaborates with Snuff Garrett as a record producer, and with Al Capps for the arrangiaments. Dark Lady was the third and final studio album for MCA. It was also the last record promoted on her successful "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" show. After its release, the album faced positive reviews from critics, but unlike her previous record produced by Garrett, had a more moderate success.
Followed up the success of Half-Breed, Cher for her final record under MCA, chose again Snuff Garrett and Al Capps. During that same year, she also divorced with her first husband Sonny Bono, dividend the Sonny & Cher couple, ending their musical professional ties and television show for a while.[1] Due to the success of all the previous album produced by Garrett, Dark Lady followed the same narrative ballad style.[2] She attracted many young fans during this period of her career for her style of glamour pop,[2] and the album shows also what Cher could do back in the mid-70s, at the height of her popularity.[2]Dark Lady was also the last studio album released, together with the MCA Greatest Hits, with the letter E accented of the word Chér in the album cover. The next albums released by Warner Bros remove completely the stress.
The opening track of the album is a song written by Alan O'Day "Train of Thought" that had a moderate success in the charts. Three songs of the album were written by Johnny Durrill, and the last song "Apples Don't Fall Far From The Tree" was written by Bob Stone, that previous write her first 70's success "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". The album contains also two covers, The Great Gatsby theme song "What'll I Do" and the Fontella Bass 1965 hit song "Rescue Me". She does also a tribute to Bette Midler on the retro "Miss Subway of 1952".[2]
Half-Breed received mixed reviews from music critics. Peter Fawthrop of Allmusic gave three stars and compared this album with the previous Half-Breed saying that is "more upbeat". He also said that "She was more wholesome and organic in the early '70s," and about the covers in the album "is always fun to hear Cher's renditions of the classics." Also Rolling Stone gave a positive review, saying about the album that "This could finally be the LP that will establish Cher as a major album artist" and "she has put together a recognizable voice with fine songs, a set that flows throughout and superb production." About Cher said that "She is a personality as well as a singer, so display in rock, pop and on stepdowns."
In August 1999, the original album was combined with Half-Breed and issued on one CD. Called Half Breed/Dark Lady, this release included all the tracks from both original albums. The original Dark Lady album in its entirety remains unreleased on compact disc.
Chart performance
Dark Lady debuted on the Billboard 200 at number one hundred ninety one in early June.[3] The highest position that reached was at number #69. The album also enter in the Canadian Albums Chart and debuted at number ninety-eight in late June,[4] and reached the highest position #33 in July.[5] In Europe the album charts only in the Norway album chart, but like her previous albums didn't enter in the UK album chart.
Singles
"Dark Lady", the album's first single release, reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100, in the Canadian Singles Chart and in the Sverigetopplistan charts. "Dark Lady" was her third number one in US and it reached also #3 in the Adult Contemporary chart. With this song Cher re-enter in the UK single charts at #36, where she was absent since 1971 with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". After "Dark Lady" the album spawned two more top 50 singles in the US chart. The second single released was "Train of Thought" that reached #9 in the Adult Contemporary chart. Shortly after was released "I Saw a Man and He Danced with His Wife" and the last song was "Rescue Me", released only in US as a promo, it don't enter in the charts.
Mego Sonny & Cher Toys (1976) ·Uninhibited (1987/88) ·Forever Fit (1991) ·Totally Uninhibited: The Life and Wild Times of Cher (1991) ·Aquasentials Skin Care (1992) ·Sanctuary Catalogue (1994/95) ·9: The Last Resort (1996) ·The First Time (1998) ·Barbie Cher Dolls (2000/07) ·Catalogue: Property From the Collection of Cher (2006)
