BLACK ROSE - BLACK ROSE (1980, CASABLANCA)
Cher - vocals
Les Dudek - guitars, backing vocals
Gary Ferguson - drums
Michael Finnigan - keyboards, backing vocals
Warren Ham - backing vocals
Ron 'Rocket' Ritchotte - guitars, backing vocals
Trey Thompson - bass

Background
The name of Cher should be familiar to all and sundry. An Oscar winning actress and multi-platinum recording artist she has achieved world wide success with hits such as 'I Found Someone' and 'If I Could Turn Back Time'. Towards the tail end of the 1990's she has even made the painful (to these ears anyway) transition from AOR goddess, to pop diva(!). I've always considered that she has a great rock voice, so it's therefore disappointing to see her squander her talent, in her relentless pursuit of chart success (as has Michael Bolton). But then I'm not a record company executive so what would I know? Back in 1980 however, she was probably better known for being one-half of 60's pop duo Sonny and Cher. She was also used to attracting headlines on the strength of her 'complicated' personal life rather than on any artistic merit. Black Rose was a project spawned out of Cher's dalliance with then main-squeeze, guitarist Les Dudek. As time has elapsed it has become a forgotten album no doubt because of Cher's subsequent massive commercial success in the late 1980's. The album received a lukewarm reception from the press on it's original release - some music critics even doubting her conviction as rock singer. Witness this quote from 'People' magazine. 'Cher's quivering over-mannered vocals on this lp need all the help they can get and more than she deserves'. If you do come across this in the bargain bins, don't be dissuaded - one should never judge an album by it's (tacky) cover. After all, any record which features the above talents, together with David Paich and Steve Porcaro of Toto, can't be that bad.

The Songs
Things get off to a promising start with Messrs Paich and Porcaro weaving their magic on 'Never Should've Started'. 'Julie' is a gutsy rocker characterized by Cher's raucous vocals, Les Dudek's and Ron Ritchotte's chunky guitar, and embellished by some great keyboard pyrotechnics. 'Take It From The Boys' is even better, featuring some frenzied fretwork from Les Dudek and a chorus to die for - why this never graced the upper reaches of the Billboard chart is beyond me. The opening cut on side 2 '88 degrees' has some soulful vocals, raw bluesy guitar and a stripped down quality to it - an interesting approach sadly not revisited on her later albums. The band then move up several gears for the hard rockin' 'You Know It' , only to come to a grinding halt on the limp-wristed 'Young And Pretty' - definitely the album's low point. Fortunately this is but a temporary oversight and they pick up the thread again with 'Fast Company' highlighted by it's fluid guitar work and lush harmonies.

In Summary
Unfortunately the band's short-lived career ended ignominiously with Cher having a very public spat with Elton John over his refusal to include them as support on his tour, and they disbanded shortly afterwards. Overall a good album worthy of investigation - if only to hear Cher perform AOR with a tougher edge than her later bombastic (and slightly clinical) releases.

Produced By: James Newton Howard

Track Listing:
01 Never Should've Started
02 Julie
03 Take It From The Boys
04 We All Fly Home
05 88 Degrees
06 You Know It
07 Young And Pretty
08 Fast Company

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