Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves (album)
Encyclopedia
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves is the seventh studio album by American
singer-actress Cher
, released on September 1971 by Kapp Records
. For the realization of this album, Cher left her husband Sonny Bono
to produce the album, and for the first time she collabored with Snuff Garrett
and with Al Capps for the arrangements.
The album was released initially with the title Cher in 1971, but was subsequently retitled after the success of the single of the same name
. After its release, Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves faced positive reviews from critics, and RIAA certified it Gold on July 2, 1972. The album was her first and most successful album of the seventies.
Two singles were released from the album, "The Way of Love" and "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves".
-MCA Records
in 1971. Kapp and MCA were the labels with which Cher had more success in the seventies and she remains with them until 1974. Johnny Musso of Kapp Records thought that Garrett and Cher would work well together and decided to team them up. This time Garret was introduced to redesign the Cher sound for her first comeback.
Cher, was initially released in September, and later re-released under the name of "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" due to the success of the first single. Its success followed the debut of "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
" on CBS
, which premiered in August 1971, as a summer series. This was also due to the change of look of Cher. Cher dropped her hippie
attire and began being dressed by fashion designer Bob Mackie
.
", a cover song originally by Kathy Kirby
. Others covers are "Fire and Rain
" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
". The rest of the album included adult-contemporary and narrative ballads, a genre diffused at the time.
During the recording session, three other songs were recorded, "Classified 1-A", "Don't Put It On Me" and "Gentle Foe". The first two were added in the UK version of the album, and later released as a single is the US. In 2000, "Classified 1-A" appeared as a bonus track on the album not.com.mercial
. "Gentle Foe" was used in 1971 as a soundtrack for the documentary Once Upon a Wheel
, but remain unreleased.
and in the same year, the original album and Cher's next studio album Foxy Lady were reissued on one CD called Cher/Foxy Lady which featured all tracks from both.
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
", the album's first single release, reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100
and number four on the UK Singles Chart
.
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was her first number one in US and the first that enter as a solo artist in the Adult Contemporary chart
and reached number one also in Canada
and in Japan
. The song was performed live in "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", featuring Cher dresses as a gipsy.
The second and last single was the opening track "The Way of Love
". It peaked at #7 in US, #2 in the Adult Contemporary chart and #5 in Canada. The song's melody sounds very similar to the melody of the 1970 hit "It's Impossible" by Perry Como
. Both tracks were performed in Cher's tour.
said that "Cher does possess one of the distinctive voices in popular music today" and about the album, "Here she gets some lush orchestral frameworks within which to tell her story".
Cher debuted on the Billboard 200
at number one hundred ninety-four in late September. During 1972 sales reached 500,000 copies in North America, and it was certified gold
. The album became one of her greatest successes and was nominated for a Grammy Award
for "Best Pop Album". It remained in the American charts for nearly a year. It was also certificated platinum in July 1992 recognizing one million shipment.
The album also charted in the Canadian album chart and reached number fourteen. In Europe it charted only in the Norway album chart, but didn't enter in the UK Albums Chart
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-actress Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, released on September 1971 by Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
. For the realization of this album, Cher left her husband Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
to produce the album, and for the first time she collabored with Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett is a retired American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s. His nickname is a play on Garrett's Snuff, a brand of snuff....
and with Al Capps for the arrangements.
The album was released initially with the title Cher in 1971, but was subsequently retitled after the success of the single of the same name
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" is the first single released by Cher for the album of the same name, her seventh solo album. It was her first chart-topper as a solo artist in the United States.-Song information:...
. After its release, Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves faced positive reviews from critics, and RIAA certified it Gold on July 2, 1972. The album was her first and most successful album of the seventies.
Two singles were released from the album, "The Way of Love" and "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves".
Background
After the failures of the previous albums, Cher signed a contract with KappKapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
-MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 1971. Kapp and MCA were the labels with which Cher had more success in the seventies and she remains with them until 1974. Johnny Musso of Kapp Records thought that Garrett and Cher would work well together and decided to team them up. This time Garret was introduced to redesign the Cher sound for her first comeback.
Cher, was initially released in September, and later re-released under the name of "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" due to the success of the first single. Its success followed the debut of "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is an American variety show based on the married couple of American pop-singer Cher and her husband, Sonny Bono. The show ran on CBS in the United States, when it premiered in August 1971...
" on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, which premiered in August 1971, as a summer series. This was also due to the change of look of Cher. Cher dropped her hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
attire and began being dressed by fashion designer Bob Mackie
Bob Mackie
Robert Gordon Mackie is an American fashion designer, best known for his costuming for entertainment icons such as Judy Garland, Cher, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, and Mitzi Gaynor...
.
Composition and recording
The opening track of the album is "The Way of LoveThe Way of Love
"The Way Of Love" is a song written by Jacques Dieval and Al Stillman .- First versions :Originally written by Jack Diéval with French lyrics by Michel Rivgauche the song was introduced as 'J'ai le mal de toi'...
", a cover song originally by Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby was an English singer who was reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's "Secret Love" and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, where she came in second place...
. Others covers are "Fire and Rain
Fire and Rain
"Fire and Rain" is a folk/rock song written and performed by James Taylor. As a song on his second album, Sweet Baby James, the song engendered widespread attention for him. The album was released in February 1970, with the song being released as a single that month. "Fire and Rain" quickly rose to...
" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
". The rest of the album included adult-contemporary and narrative ballads, a genre diffused at the time.
During the recording session, three other songs were recorded, "Classified 1-A", "Don't Put It On Me" and "Gentle Foe". The first two were added in the UK version of the album, and later released as a single is the US. In 2000, "Classified 1-A" appeared as a bonus track on the album not.com.mercial
Not.com.mercial
- Notes :* In an interview conducted with Cher by Lawrence Ferber, she said that "We did the whole thing in 2 days with the guys from the Letterman band – we were just making demos." The personnel from the David Letterman band in 2000 is as follows:...
. "Gentle Foe" was used in 1971 as a soundtrack for the documentary Once Upon a Wheel
Once Upon a Wheel
Once Upon a Wheel is a 1971 ABC television documentary on the history of auto racing. It was hosted by Paul Newman and was directed and produced by David Winters....
, but remain unreleased.
Release
The album was released in 1971. In August 1999 the US version of the album was re-released under the name Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves for Universal RecordsUniversal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and in the same year, the original album and Cher's next studio album Foxy Lady were reissued on one CD called Cher/Foxy Lady which featured all tracks from both.
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" is the first single released by Cher for the album of the same name, her seventh solo album. It was her first chart-topper as a solo artist in the United States.-Song information:...
", the album's first single release, reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number four on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was her first number one in US and the first that enter as a solo artist in the Adult Contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
and reached number one also in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The song was performed live in "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", featuring Cher dresses as a gipsy.
The second and last single was the opening track "The Way of Love
The Way of Love
"The Way Of Love" is a song written by Jacques Dieval and Al Stillman .- First versions :Originally written by Jack Diéval with French lyrics by Michel Rivgauche the song was introduced as 'J'ai le mal de toi'...
". It peaked at #7 in US, #2 in the Adult Contemporary chart and #5 in Canada. The song's melody sounds very similar to the melody of the 1970 hit "It's Impossible" by Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
. Both tracks were performed in Cher's tour.
Reception
Cher received positive reviews from music critics. Joe Viglione of Allmusic described the album's songs as "middle-of-the road pop", and called Cher a "good album with some great moments". He write also that "Cher never minded androgynous or neutral gender identity in her songs" and musically "her solo material could soar to heights not possible in a partnership — "The Way of Love" being one example". Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
said that "Cher does possess one of the distinctive voices in popular music today" and about the album, "Here she gets some lush orchestral frameworks within which to tell her story".
Cher debuted on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number one hundred ninety-four in late September. During 1972 sales reached 500,000 copies in North America, and it was certified gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The album became one of her greatest successes and was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for "Best Pop Album". It remained in the American charts for nearly a year. It was also certificated platinum in July 1992 recognizing one million shipment.
The album also charted in the Canadian album chart and reached number fourteen. In Europe it charted only in the Norway album chart, but didn't enter in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Track listing
Credits
- Cher - lead vocals
- Snuff Garrett - record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Al Capps - arrangement assistance
- Lennie Roberts - sound engineer
- Richard AvedonRichard AvedonRichard Avedon was an American photographer. An obituary published in The New York Times said that "his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century."-Photography career:Avedon was born in New York City to a Jewish Russian...
- photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
Chart positions
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
14 |
| Norway Album Chart | 21 |
| United States Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
16 |