Cher - Love Hurts

Good album, but a tad formulaic

I like this album, Cher's third Geffen release. "Love Hurts" follows the hard rock formula that made Cher's two previous albums so successful, but the formula seems slightly stale to me on this recording. In and of itself, it is a good album. Compared to the previous two albums, I think it is the weakest and least distinctive of the lot.

Why? The production is a little heavy-handed. Also, the album has a mix of several terrific songs mixed with weaker material. Cher re-works "Love Hurts," which she originally recorded in 1975 for her landmark album, "Stars." The earlier rendition is superior to this one, though the performance on this album is good. The program's better songs include "Save Up All Your Tears," "Love and Understanding," and "When Lovers Become Strangers."

It fascinates me that Cher recorded the song "Fires of Eden." Judy Collins recorded it a year earlier, in 1990, and I wonder if that's how Cher learned of the song.

So, all in all, a good Cher album. I think she realized she needed some musical re-inventing of herself after this album came out and she took the time to do it right. July 29, 2007

Another great mix

As always, Cher finds songs that empower women. This album has some great songs, with a great cover of Love Hurts. I always find reality in Cher's music and this album did not disappoint. She has always, for me, represented a stronge woman and this album bolsters that image. July 27, 2007

Chart Review

"Love Hurts" #1 for 6 weeks in the UK 6-29-1991 51 weeks on CIN 75 position chart (the official UK chart)
#48 USA 7-6-1991 34 weeks on Billboard 200 album chart.

"Love Hurts" includes the following charting singles (in a few of the larger recording markets)
I do not have European single or album chart positions, except for "Shoop Shoop Song (it's in his kiss)" which reached #1 on 7-6-1991.

1 -"Shoop Shoop Song (it's in his kiss)"
#1 for 5 weeks UK 4-13-1991 15 weeks on CIN 75 position chart
#1 7-6-1991 European Music and Media Hot 100
#3 for 7 wks May 1991 Germany 27 wks on Media Control 100 position chart.
#35 1991 Canada The Record -airplay based Contemporary Hit Radio top 40 chart.
#33 11-24-1990 USA 16 wks on Billboard Hot 100 (also)
#7 11-17-1990 21 weeks on Billboard Adult Contemporary 50 position chart.
#50 1997 Billboard Maxi-Single sales chart (remixed version)
"Shoop" was not on the US vesion of "Love Hurts", it was on the movie soundtract to "Mermaids",staring Cher, -US #65 1-12-1991 24 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart and UK #6 6-1-1991 and 15 wks on the chart.

2 -Love And Understanding
#10 UK 7-13-1991 8 wks on chart (7 wks in the Top 40)
#20 Germany July 1991 21 wks on chart.
#8 Canada 1991
#17 for 3 weeks USA 6-15-1991 15 wks on chart (also)
#3 6-22-1991 22 wks on Adult Contemporary chart.

3-Save Up All Your Tears
#37 UK 10-12-1991 5 weeks on the chart.
#56 Germany Nov 1991 15 wks on chart.
#37 USA 10-19-1991 20 wks on chart (also)
#16 10-26-1991 19 weeks on Adult Contemporary chart.

4 -Love Hurts
#43 UK 12-7-1991 5 weeks on the chart.

5 -Could've Been You
#31 UK 4-18-1992 4 wks on chart.
#75 Germany May 1992 7 wks on chart.

6 -When Lovers Become Stangers
#15 USA 5-16-1992 13 weeks on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

And from "Cher's Greatest Hits 1965-1992", a non-US released album -UK #1 for 7 weeks 11-21-1992 33 weeks on the chart.
7 -Oh No Not My Baby
#33 UK 11-14-1992 4 wks on chart.
#52 Germany Jan 1993 11 weeks on the chart.

8 -Many Rivers To Cross
#37 for 2 weeks UK 1-16-1993 3 wks on chart
From "Live From The Mirage" concert that was televised around the World. In the US it aired on CBS on 2-4-1991 and received a 12.8 AC Nielsen rating.

9 -Whenever You're Near
#72 UK 3-6-1993 1 wk on chart

and 10 -I Got You Babe with Beavis and Butthead
#35 UK 1-15-1994 3 weeks on the chart.
#108 US 12-4-1993 1 week on Billboard's 25 position Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.

RE-ENTRIES:
Dead Ringer For Love by Meatloaf with uncredited vocals by Cher (they also did a music video)
#53 6-22-1991 2 wks on chart.
First charted 11-28-1981 #5 and 17 weeks on chart.

I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher
#66 5-22-1993 1 week on chart
First charted 8-14-1965 #1 for 2 weeks and 12 weeks on the chart.
March 22, 2006

Love Hurts

Cher's first album of the 1990's followed on in simular format to the late 80's album "Heart of Stone". Although this time there are a few more ballads about relationships/love. "Save up all your tears" is one of the best on the album, it is quite an up-beat soft rock song that could have had more success. It has a very catchy/singalong chorus that doesnt bore after time. "Love Hurts" obviously a cover is done very well, it suits cher voice and works well as a soft rock power ballad". In my opinion i like it better than the original and i don't care what the critics say!! "Love & Understanding" has a kind of mixed vibe, it takes a while to see whether this is going to be either a ballad or more up-beat soft rock, but somehow doesn't really do either and stays between the two. "Fires of Eden" is a typical ballad from cher although not one of the best. "I'll never stop loving you" after however makes up for it and is a better ballad. Here in the uk "Shoop shoop" song was No.1 for 5 weeks in total, a little fun old style track which is great but doesn't quite fit with the rest of the album, it was a track from the cher film "mermaids" and after its success it was put on this album in the uk. "One small step" is an odd little track, which I still don't particulary like and has a guest male vocal, although i do not recognise him, would have been better without him and the weird backing track. "World without heros" sound like it could have been on the "it's a man's world" album, quite distinctive. Another favourite is "Could've been you" which is up-beat and catchy."When love calls your name" is very simular to "I'll never stop loving you" and so is "When lovers become strangers". "who are you gonna believe" is the last track and a good one to end on, after quite a few ballads it ends on a power rock track that has simular appeal to "save up all your tears". Over all a solid album, maybe too many ballads, a signal perhaps that it was at last time to change direction after 3 albums with geffen. September 5, 2005

"Love Hurts" by Cher

-Love Hurts (1991)-

Cher is definately one of the best singers around today and certainly one of the greatest survivors in the music industry. In 1998, she released "Believe" and that was it - she was popular again. This song made her famous all over again. The album "Believe" was also a great effort, and one of Cher's best, but this also remains one of Cher's best album's. The album hit #1 in the UK and includes the singles "Love Hurts", "Save Up All Your Tears", "Love And Understanding", "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)" and "Could've Been You". "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)" and "Love And Understanding" both hit the Top 10 in the UK, however the other singles faired poorly on the Charts - none of the other three even hit the Top 20! All of the songs on this album had the ability to become singles, but only five got the chance...

1. Save Up All Your Tears (10/10)
2. Love Hurts (10/10)
3. Love And Understanding (10/10)
4. Fires Of Eden (10/10)
5. I'll Never Stop Loving You (10/10)
6. One Small Step (10/10)
7. A World Without Heroes (10/10)
8. Could've Been You (10/10)
9. When Love Calls Your Name (10/10)
10. When Lovers Become Strangers (10/10)
11. Who You Gonna Believe (10/10)
12. It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song) (10/10)
Overall: 120/120

This is one of the very few album's I have where I'd give every song 10/10. All of the songs on this album are outstanding, and as I said above, they all had the opportunity to be released as singles. My favourite song on the album is "When Love Calls Your Name". "Save Up All Your Tears" is one of Cher's best singles. The single only hit #37 in the UK but remains one of my favourites. "Love Hurts" only hit #43 and although I like loads of songs on the album more than this one, it's still excellent and I still gave it 10/10. "Love And Understanding" hit #10 in the UK, and is a great song about needing more love and understanding in the world. "Could Have Been You" was another single from this album - it hit #31 in the UK, whereas "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)" from the film MERMAIDS, was the lucky #1. The album tracks must not be missed either, especially "When Love Calls Your Name" as this song has a strong message and Cher's vocals are great!

My top five:
5. Who You Gonna Believe
4. It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)
3. Save Up All Your Tears
2. Could've Been You
1. When Love Calls Your Name June 10, 2005

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