Half-Breed (album)
Half-Breed | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1973 | |||
Recorded | 1973 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:09 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Producer | Snuff Garrett | |||
Cher chronology | ||||
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Singles from Half-Breed | ||||
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Half-Breed is the tenth studio album by American singer-actress
Production and release
The second album released by Cher in 1973 was Half-Breed. After the failure of the previous
The
David Paich contributed on "David's Song" and for the arrangements in the album. The last song of the album, "Chastity Sun", was re-written by Cher.[3][4] Originally entitled "Ruby Jean & Billy Lee", it was a song by soft rock band Seals and Crofts released in their 1973 album Diamond Girl. The re-written version by Cher was a dedication to her first child, Chaz Bono.[4]
In August 1993, the original album was combined with Dark Lady and issued on one CD. Called Half Breed/Dark Lady, this release included all the tracks from both original albums. In contrast, several budget CDs have also been released titled Half Breed (note the lack of hyphen) by various labels. These albums use different covers, and contain only two tracks from the original album alongside selected tracks from other Cher albums, including Cher, Foxy Lady, and Dark Lady. The original Half-Breed album in its entirety remains unreleased on compact disc.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | (not rated) link |
Rolling Stone | (unfavorable) link |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Half-Breed has received mixed reviews from music critics. Rolling Stone reviewer Paul Gambaccini gave the album a negative review for the production work of Snuff Garrett, and commented that "Cher's amazingly powerful voice is not being used effectively, and it is frustrating to hear it squandered on rubbish." Peter Fawthrop of AllMusic later gave the album three-and-a-half stars and pointed out that the title track is "the only song here which would turn up on a greatest-hits collection", and that "there are plenty of other melodic, hippie-era tunes which are tailor-made for nights around the campfire." About the album style, he wrote: "Melancholy and bittersweet from start to finish, there are enough charms to keep it lighthearted".
Commercial performance
Half-Breed debuted on the
The album also charted in the Canadian album chart and reached No. 21. In Europe, it charted only on the Norway album chart. Like a number of her previous albums, it did not enter the UK Albums Chart.
Singles
Like her previous successful albums Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves and Foxy Lady, only two singles were released. "
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | " How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" | 3:21 | |
6. | "Carousel Man" | Johnny Durrill | 3:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "David's Song" | James Seals | 4:14 |
Personnel
- Cher – lead vocals
- Snuff Garrett – record producer
- Al Capps – arrangement assistance
- David Paich – arrangement assistance
- Lennie Roberts – sound engineer
- Richard Grant – album art concept
- Gene Trindl – cover photo
- J. Engstead – liner photos
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Certifications and sales
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References
- ^ "Half Breed by Cher : Reviews and Ratings - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Cher – Half Breed". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ a b c d "Half-Breed Review". CherScholar.com. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ a b c "Half Breed". Justplaincher.net. Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone cher album guide.
- ^ "Billboard LP's". Books.google.com. 22 September 1973. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Cher - Half-Breed Canadian chart positions". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ Billboard charts - Cher Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- ^ "American album certifications – Cher – Half-Breed". Recording Industry Association of America.