Black Rose (Black Rose album)

Album information

The band, before signing a contract with Casablanca Records, was an independent rock band that played in small clubs around Los Angeles and tried to make it without trading on Cher's celebrity. Besides Cher, the other band members were Les Dudek, Gary Ferguson, Michael Finnigan, Warren Ham, Rocket Ritchotte and Trey Thompson.

Black Rose, the last of Cher's albums released by the Casablanca Records, was produced by James Newton Howard. Her name never appeared on the album cover and Cher's face was only seen in a band photo on the back cover.

The album is Cher's first album with a rock sound, that would characterize her future Geffen-era albums. The album was a flop and Cher fans were unaware of the project. After the failure of the album, the band broke up the following year.

In Germany, Spectrum Records re-released the Black Rose album, completely intact, for the first time on a CD. It was packaged with a photo of Cher singing in concert and marketed as a Cher album, instead of as a Black Rose album.

In August 2020, a remastered version was released on Rock Candy Records for the album's 40th anniversary. It was remastered by Jon Astley.

Unreleased songs and second untitled album

There were rumors about a subsequent album, recorded during 1980 and 1981, which would have contained some songs sung live in their mini-tour, "The Black Rose Show", such as "Ain’t Got No Money" (a Frankie Miller song, also covered by Bob Seger) and "Dirty Old Man", but the project was cancelled. A version of "Ain't Got No Money" was confirmed to be recorded in the studio in early 1980, but was scrapped and remains unreleased.

"Don't Trust That Woman", a song written by Cher and Les Dudek, was also considered for the second album. Dudek recorded the song for his 1981 album "Gypsy Ride", and a song with the same lyrics was later recorded by Elton John.

In 2024 an unreleased early take of "Young And Pretty" surfaced on YouTube.

Promotion

The album was promoted on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and the band performed "Never Should've Started" and "Julie" but both lip-synched. The album was also promoted at the Midnight Special with four performances: "Never Should've Started", "Julie", "You Know It" and the Frankie Miller cover "Ain't Got No Money" all the songs were sung live. Videos of the performance have been available on YouTube since March 2009. The album was also promoted on The Merv Griffin Show.

The Black Rose Show

To support the album and to lift sales in 1980, the Black Rose band and Cher did a mini tour called The Black Rose Show performed only in North America. The setlist for the show contained: "Never Should've Started", "Julie", "You Know It", "Ain't Got No Money", a little band introduction, and "Dirty Old Man". For six East Coast concert dates, Black Rose was the opening act for Hall & Oates. The costumes for the show were designed by Bob Mackie. The band performed in Pennsylvania, Central Park, Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel Township and elsewhere.

Set list

1. "Intro"
2. "Never Should Have Started"
3. "Julie"
4. "Take it from the Boys"
5. "88 Degrees"
6. "Déjà Vu (Da Voodoo's In You)"
7. "Fast Company"
8. "Ain't Got No Money"

Source:

Shows

Critical reception

The reviews were mixed, many critics questioning Cher's credibility and drawing comparisons to other New Wave rock groups, particularly Blondie. Billboard magazine said that "[...] it shapes a New Wave style that fits the midtempo rock mode with which the main group members are associated" and about Cher "especially well done though Cher's vocals are emotional and full of life on the entire disk". People magazine said that "Cher's quivering, over-mannered vocals on this LP need all the help they can get, and she gets more than she deserves" and "This album could be vastly improved, rerecorded by the Group with No Singer".

Track listing

Personnel

• Cher - lead vocals
• Les Dudek - guitars, vocals
• Ron "Rocket" Ritchotte - guitars, background vocals
• Phil Brown - additional guitar on "88 Degrees"
• Mike Finnigan - keyboards, background vocals
• James Newton Howard - record producer, synthesizer, keyboards
• Michael Boddicker - synthesizer, keyboards
• Steve Porcaro - synthesizer, keyboards
• David Paich - keyboards, background vocals
• Trey Thompson - bass
• Gary Ferguson - drums
• Max Gronenthal - background vocals
• Warren Ham - background vocals
• John Townsend - background vocals
• Anne Streer - production coordinator
• Mick Mizausky - engineer
• Tom Knox - engineer
• Dana Latham - engineer
• Bob Schaper - engineer
• Skip Sailor - engineer assistance
• Gene Meros - engineer assistance
• Terry Christian - engineer assistance
• Bill Schnee - mixing
• Mike Reese - mastering
• Kosh - art direction, design
• Aaron Rapoport - photography

Charts

References

References

1. "Cher 80's bio". Project80s.com.
2. "Info about Black Rose". TvParty.com.
3. "Black Rose". Angelfire.com.
4. "See the back-cover here". Geocities.com.
5. {{YouTube. omdLRZE5Zh4. Cher with Black Rose band performing Never Should've Started
6. {{YouTube. EB4aSGF66Qs. Cher with Black Rose band performing Julie
7. "Black Rose Setlist at Dr. Pepper Summer Music Festival 1980".
8. "Hall & Oates Live Concert History".
9. "allmusic ((( Black Rose > Overview )))". [[Rovi Corporation]].
10. "BLACK ROSE". justplaincher.net.
11. (September 27, 1980). "''Record World'' Albums 151–200". [[Record World]].