Cher

This 18-song collection is the only compilation of Cher's Liberty-Imperial work available as of early 1999, and it's good, though not ideal -- some fine album tracks are here, along with several of her singles ("You Better Sit Down Kids," "A Young Girl," "Sunny," "Bang Bang"), but not "All I Really Want to Do." What you do get are her cheerful Phil Spector-style folk-rock covers of other Dylan songs ("Don't Think Twice, It's Alright," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Blowin' In the Wind"), numbers associated with Jackie DeShannon ("Needles and Pins"), Ray Davies ("I Go to Sleep"), and Tom Jones ("It's Not Unusual"), among others. The compilation is diverting, and it shows off the singer's strength, as well as the skills of her then-husband and producer Sonny Bono -- the mastering is clean, and the mid-price cost is right. Released through Disky in Holland, the notes have an understandable European slant in their focus. (Dutch import) ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide