The Very Best of Cher is the eighth compilation album by American singer-actress Cher, released on April 1, 2003. The album includes many of Cher's most popular songs, such as "If I Could Turn Back Time", "Believe", "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" and "Take Me Home". The original North American edition contains 21 tracks, while international reissues featured expanded track lists and alternate song selections.
Released during Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, the compilation received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised its broad overview of the singer's career and its collection of hits spanning multiple decades. Commercially, the album became one of Cher's most successful compilations, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 and remaining on the chart for fifty-one weeks. By 2011, it had sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.
Album information The Very Best of Cher was released by Warner Bros. Records, MCA, and Geffen Records. The original US edition features 21 tracks, while the various later editions typically feature more songs or different selections.
The album originally coincided with the Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The album cover picture is also seen on the DVD The Farewell Tour and was originally planned to be the DVD cover of The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection as well, but was changed at the last minute.
Critical reception
AllMusic considered the album "closer than any previous collection" to offering "a fully rounded portrait" of Cher's career, praising the inclusion of major hits from different eras, although criticizing the "bewildering" sequencing that "hurts the general listenability of the record". Billboard described the album as a "special—and well worth owning" for combining material from "several labels and key periods" of Cher's career, while praising her ability to remain "remarkably effective" at following musical trends "without ever shedding or compromising her own unique qualities". The Gazette described the album as "loaded with kitsch and a surprising number of hook-laden hits".
Commercial performance The commercial success of The Very Best of Cher, combined with the Farewell Tour, consolidated one of the most profitable periods of Cher's career in 2003. The compilation debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 122,000 copies and later reached number four on the issue date of May 17. It spent a total of fifty-one weeks on the chart. By November 2011, it had sold 2.8 million copies in the United States. The compilation generated approximately US$31.2 million in album sales in 2003, its commercial performance led to Warner Bros. chairman/CEO Tom Whalley's decision to sign the superstar to the U.S. division in a worldwide deal.
Track listing
Notes "Believe" features writing contribution by Cher who remains uncredited.
Personnel
Producers: Sonny Bono,[ Production and credits] Peter Asher, Michael Bolton, Desmond Child, Bob Esty, Snuff Garrett, Steve Lipson, Giorgio Moroder, Brian Rawling, Guy Roche, Bob Rock, Mark Taylor, Diane Warren, Richie Zito Executive producer: Cher Compilation producer: David MacLees Remastering: Bill Inglot, Dan Hersch Remixing: Junior Vasquez Editorial supervision: Sheryl Farber Annotation: Steve Woolard Art direction: Jeri Heiden Art direction: Hugh Brown Design: Barrie Goshko Photography: Sonny Bono Photography: Norman Seeff Photography: Harry Langdon Photography: Kevyn Aucoin Project assistant: Leigh Hall Project assistant: April Milek Project assistant: Randy Perry Project assistant: Tim Scanlin Liner notes: Kurt Loder
Charts
Weekly charts +2003 weekly chart performance for The Very Best of CherChart (2003)PeakpositionCanadian Albums (Billboard)18European Albums (Top 100)45French Compilations (SNEP)25German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)31Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "The very best of di Cher".41Quebec Albums (ADISQ)45South African Albums (RISA)11US Billboard Top Internet Albums1
+2008 weekly chart performance for The Very Best of CherChart (2008)PeakpositionUS Billboard Catalog Albums50
Year-end charts +2003 year-end chart performance for The Very Best of CherChart (2003)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)89Danish Albums (Hitlisten)89Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)16UK Albums (OCC)127US Billboard 20028US Billboard Internet Albums8
+2004 year-end chart performance for The Very Best of CherChart (2004)PeakpositionUK Albums (OCC)184
Certifications and sales
Release history Region Date Label Format Catalog United States April 1, 2003 Warner Bros. CD R2 73852 August 26, 2003 2CD R2 73956 Germany August 29, 2003 Warner Music 2CD 25646 0864 2 Canada September 1, 2003 Warner Bros. WTVD 60864 Australia September 2003 Warner Music 25646 0864 5 France September 22, 2003 CD 50466 8588 2 United Kingdom November 24, 2003 CD 50466 8586 2 Japan January 21, 2004 2CD WPCR-11751-2
References