The Very Best of Cher

The Very Best of Cher is the eighth compilation album by American singer-actress Cher, released on April 1, 2003. The album includes many of Cher's most popular songs, such as "If I Could Turn Back Time", "Believe", "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" and "Take Me Home". It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 albums chart and later reached number four on the issue date of May 17.^[3][4] As of November 2011, the album has sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.^[5]

The Very Best of Cher
Greatest hits album by Cher
Released	April 1, 2003 (US)
Recorded	1964–2001
Genre	Pop rock dance-pop disco house
Length	1:15:22 (US)
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	David McLees
Cher chronology
Living Proof (2001) The Very Best of Cher (2003) Live! The Farewell Tour (2003)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[2]

Album information

The Very Best of Cher was released by Warner Bros. Records, MCA, and Geffen Records. The original US edition features 21 tracks, while the various later editions typically feature more songs or different selections.^[6]

The album originally coincided with the Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The album cover picture is also seen on the DVD The Farewell Tour and was originally planned to be the DVD cover of The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection as well, but was changed at the last minute.

Track listing

International edition: disc 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Believe" (from Believe, 1998)	Paul Barry Matthew Gray Brian Higgins Stuart McLennen Timothy Powell Steven Torch	Mark Taylor Brian Rawling	4:01
2.	"Strong Enough" (from Believe, 1998)	Mark Taylor Barry	Mark Taylor Rawling	3:43
3.	"If I Could Turn Back Time" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)	Diane Warren	Warren Guy Roche	4:03
4.	"I Found Someone" (from Cher, 1987)	Michael Bolton Mark Mangold	Bolton	3:46
5.	"Song for the Lonely" (from Living Proof, 2001)	Mark Taylor Barry Torch	Mark Taylor Rawling	3:29
6.	"Walking in Memphis" (from It's a Man's World, 1995)	Marc Cohn	Christopher Neil	3:58
7.	"Just Like Jesse James" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)	Desmond Child Warren	Child	4:07
8.	"One by One" (from It's a Man's World, 1995)	Anthony Griffiths	Stephen Lipson	5:06
9.	"Love and Understanding" (from Love Hurts, 1991)	Warren	Roche Warren	4:44
10.	"Save Up All Your Tears" (from Love Hurts, 1991)	Child Warren	Richie Zito Bob Rock	4:00
11.	"Più che puoi" (Eros Ramazzotti featuring Cher, from Stilelibero, 2001)	Antonio Galbiati Eros Ramazzotti Adelio Cogliati Cher	Rick Nowels	4:11
12.	"Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)	John Barlow Jarvis Naomi Judd Paul Overstreet	Peter Asher	4:16
13.	"Take Me Home" (from Take Me Home, 1979)	Michelle Aller Bob Esty	Esty	3:26
14.	"Rudy" (from I Paralyze, 1982)	Jacques Morali Henri Belolo Dennis Frederiksen Howie Epstein Jimmy Hunter Mark Maierhoffer	David Wolfert	3:54
15.	"Bad Love" (from Foxes soundtrack, 1980)	Cher Giorgio Moroder	Moroder	5:29
16.	"When the Money's Gone" (from Living Proof, 2001)	Bruce Roberts Donna Weiss	Roberts Warren Rigg	3:44
17.	"All or Nothing" (from Believe, 1998)	Mark Taylor Barry	Mark Taylor Rawling	4:00
18.	"Alive Again" (from Living Proof, 2001)	Chicane Ray Hedges Tracy Ackerman	Chicane Mark Taylor Nigel Butler Hedges	4:19
19.	"A Different Kind of Love Song" (from Living Proof, 2001)	Johan Åberg Michelle Lewis Sigurd Røsnes	Åberg Anders Hansson	3:51

International edition: disc 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (from Mermaids soundtrack, 1990)	Rudy Clark	Asher	2:53
2.	"Heart of Stone" (from Heart of Stone, 1989)	Andy Hill Peter Sinfield	Asher	4:20
3.	"Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix, from Believe, 1998)	Mark Taylor Barry	Mark Taylor	3:44
4.	"The Music's No Good Without You" (from Living Proof, 2001)	Cher James Thomas Mark Taylor Barry	Thomas Jeff Taylor Mark Taylor	4:42
5.	"Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" (from Chér, 1971)	Bob Stone	Snuff Garrett	2:38
6.	"Half-Breed" (from Half-Breed, 1973)	Al Capps Mary Dean	Garrett	2:46
7.	"Dark Lady" (from Dark Lady, 1974)	Johnny Durrill	Garrett	3:29
8.	"I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher) (from Look at Us, 1965)	Sonny Bono	Bono	3:09
9.	"The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher) (from In Case You're in Love, 1967)	Bono	Bono	3:29
10.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (original version, from The Sonny Side of Chér, 1966)	Bono	Bono	3:54
11.	"The Way of Love" (from Chér, 1971)	Al Stillman Jacques Dieval	Garrett	2:34
12.	"All I Really Want to Do" (from All I Really Want to Do, 1965)	Bob Dylan	Bono	2:58
13.	"Train of Thought" (from Dark Lady, 1974)	Alan O'Day	Garrett	2:34
14.	"A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done" (Sonny & Cher) (from All I Ever Need Is You, 1971)	Bono	Bono Garrett	3:14
15.	"We All Sleep Alone" (from Cher, 1987)	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Child	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	3:54
16.	"Love Hurts" (from Love Hurts, 1991)	Boudleaux Bryant	Zito	4:19
17.	"Not Enough Love in the World" (from It's a Man's World', 1995)	Don Henley Danny Kortchmar Benmont Tench	Lipson	4:23
18.	"Born With the Hunger" (from Not.com.mercial, 2000)	Shirley Eikhard	Cher Roberts	4:05
19.	"After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are) (duet with Peter Cetera, from Heart of Stone, 1989)	Dean Pitchford Tom Snow	Asher	4:07
20.	"All I Ever Need Is You" (Sonny & Cher) (from All I Ever Need Is You, 1971)	Jimmy Holiday Eddie Reeves	Garrett	2:38
21.	"Baby Don't Go" (Sonny & Cher) (from Baby Don't Go, 1965)	Bono	Bono	3:05
22.	"Dead Ringer for Love" (Meat Loaf featuring Cher, from Dead Ringer, 1981)	Jim Steinman	Steve Popovich Sam Lederman Stan Snyder Meat Loaf Stephan Galfas Steinman Jimmy Iovine	4:24
23.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (from Cher, 1987)	Bono	Bon Jovi Child Sambora	3:51

French edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Believe"	4:00
2.	"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"	2:53
3.	"If I Could Turn Back Time"	4:03
4.	"Heart of Stone"	4:20
5.	"Love and Understanding"	4:44
6.	"Just Like Jesse James"	4:07
7.	"I Found Someone"	3:46
8.	"One by One"	5:06
9.	"Strong Enough"	3:43
10.	"Più che puoi" (with Eros Ramazzotti)	4:11
11.	"Walking in Memphis"	3:58
12.	"Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)	4:16
13.	"All I Really Want to Do"	2:58
14.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"	3:54
15.	"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"	2:38
16.	"The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher)	3:29
17.	"I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)	3:09
18.	"Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix)	3:44
19.	"Save Up All Your Tears"	4:00
20.	"A Different Kind of Love Song"	3:51
21.	"The Music's No Good Without You"	4:42

UK edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Believe"	4:00
2.	"If I Could Turn Back Time"	4:03
3.	"Save Up All Your Tears"	4:00
4.	"Walking in Memphis"	3:58
5.	"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"	2:53
6.	"Love and Understanding"	4:44
7.	"I Found Someone"	3:46
8.	"Just Like Jesse James"	4:07
9.	"One by One"	5:06
10.	"Love Can Build a Bridge" (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)	4:16
11.	"Strong Enough"	3:43
12.	"All or Nothing"	3:58
13.	"A Different Kind of Love Song"	3:51
14.	"Heart of Stone"	4:20
15.	"The Music's No Good Without You"	4:42
16.	"Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Mix)	3:44
17.	"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"	2:38
18.	"The Beat Goes On" (Sonny & Cher)	3:29
19.	"I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher)	3:09
20.	"All I Really Want to Do"	2:58
21.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"	3:54

US edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Believe"	3:59
2.	"If I Could Turn Back Time"	4:00
3.	"Heart of Stone"	4:11
4.	"Just Like Jesse James"	4:07
5.	"Save Up All Your Tears"	4:00
6.	"After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are) (duet with Peter Cetera)	4:05
7.	"I Found Someone"	3:44
8.	"One by One" (Junior Vasquez Vocal Edit)	4:23
9.	"Strong Enough"	3:43
10.	"All or Nothing"	3:58
11.	"Song for the Lonely"	3:22
12.	"Take Me Home"	3:28
13.	"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"	2:52
14.	"All I Really Want to Do"	2:58
15.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"	2:44
16.	"Half-Breed"	2:45
17.	"Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves"	2:36
18.	"Dark Lady"	3:28
19.	"The Beat Goes On"	3:29
20.	"I Got You Babe"	3:11
21.	"A Different Kind of Love Song" (Rodney Jerkins Main Mix (Faster))	4:19

North American special edition bonus disc: Live! The Farewell Tour

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"	Adam Clayton The Edge Bono Larry Mullen Jr.	4:35
2.	"Song for the Lonely"	Mark Taylor Paul Barry Steven Torch	6:47
3.	"All or Nothing"	Taylor Barry	3:58
4.	"I Found Someone"	Michael Bolton Mark Mangold	3:36
5.	"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"	Sonny Bono	3:41
6.	"All I Really Want to Do"	Bob Dylan	2:01
7.	"Half-Breed"	Al Capps Mary Dean	1:34
8.	"Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves"	Bob Stone	1:31
9.	"Dark Lady"	Johnny Durrill	1:13
10.	"Take Me Home"	Michele Aller Bob Esty	3:48
11.	"The Way of Love"	Al Stillman Jacques Dieval	2:34
12.	"After All" (Love Theme from Chances Are)	Dean Pitchford Tom Snow	3:54
13.	"Just Like Jesse James"	Desmond Child Diane Warren	5:39
14.	"Heart of Stone"	Andy Hill Peter Sinfield	4:09
15.	"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"	Rudy Clark	2:30
16.	"Strong Enough"	Taylor Barry	3:01
17.	"If I Could Turn Back Time"	Warren	6:17
18.	"Believe"	Barry Matthew Gray Brian Higgins Stuart McLennen Timothy Powell Steven Torch	6:49

Notes

• "Believe" features writing contribution by Cher who remains uncredited.^[7]

Personnel

 

"Believe" (1998)

Cher's best selling record was received with positive reviews.

---

Problems playing this file? See media help.

• Producers: Sonny Bono,^[8] Peter Asher, Michael Bolton, Desmond Child, Bob Esty, Snuff Garrett, Steve Lipson, Giorgio Moroder, Brian Rawling, Guy Roche, Bob Rock, Mark Taylor, Diane Warren, Richie Zito
• Executive producer: Cher
• Compilation producer: David MacLees
• Remastering: Bill Inglot, Dan Hersch
• Remixing: Junior Vasquez
• Editorial supervision: Sheryl Farber
• Annotation: Steve Woolard
• Art direction: Jeri Heiden
• Art direction: Hugh Brown
• Design: Barrie Goshko
• Photography: Sonny Bono
• Photography: Norman Seeff
• Photography: Harry Langdon
• Photography: Kevyn Aucoin
• Project assistant: Leigh Hall
• Project assistant: April Milek
• Project assistant: Randy Perry
• Project assistant: Tim Scanlin
• Liner notes: Kurt Loder

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)^[9] 12 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[10] 17 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[11] 29 Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[12] 18 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[13] 10 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[14] 60 European Albums (Top 100)^[15] 45 French Compilations (SNEP)^[16] 25 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[17] 31 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[18] 31 Italian Albums (FIMI)^[19] 67 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)^[20] 41 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[21] 27 Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[22] 38 Quebec Albums (ADISQ)^[23] 45 Scottish Albums (OCC)^[24] 9 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[25] 2 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[26] 10 UK Albums (OCC)^[27] 17 US Billboard 200^[28] 4 US Billboard Top Internet Albums^[29] 1 Chart (2008) Peak position US Billboard Catalog Albums^[30] 50

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)^[31] 89 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[32] 89 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[33] 16 UK Albums (OCC)^[34] 127 US Billboard 200^[35] 28 US Billboard Internet Albums^[36] 8 Chart (2004) Peak position UK Albums (OCC)^[37] 184

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[38]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)^[39]	Platinum	100,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[40]	Gold	10,000^‡
Sweden (GLF)^[41]	Platinum	60,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[42]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[43]	2× Platinum	2,800,000^[5]
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	April 1, 2003	Warner Bros.	CD	R2 73852
	August 26, 2003		2CD	R2 73956
Germany	August 29, 2003	Warner Music	2CD	25646 0864 2
Canada	September 1, 2003	Warner Bros.		WTVD 60864
Australia	September 2003	Warner Music		25646 0864 5
France	September 22, 2003		CD	50466 8588 2
United Kingdom	November 24, 2003		CD	50466 8586 2
Japan	January 21, 2004		2CD	WPCR-11751-2

References

1. The Very Best of Cher at AllMusic
2. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 159. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
3. "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
4. "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
5. "Ask Billboard: Cher Information, Yes?". Billboard. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
6. "All Music: The Very Best of Cher". AllMusic. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
7. Strauss, Neil (March 11, 1999). "Cher Resurrected, Again, by a Hit; The Long, Hard but Serendipitous Road to 'Believe'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
8. Production and credits
9. "Australiancharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
10. "Austriancharts.at – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
11. "Ultratop.be – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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25. "Swedishcharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Cher – The Very Best of %5B2003%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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29. "Top Internet Album Sales". Billboard. 31 March 2003.
30. "Cher Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
31. . ARIA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
32. . Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
33. (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
34. "The Official UK Albums Chart 2003" (PDF). OCC. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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36. "2003 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums, page 166" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
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41. (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
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43. "American album certifications – Cher – The Very Best of Cher". Recording Industry Association of America.