The Sonny Side of Chér

Think of The Sonny Side of Chér, Cher's second solo adventure from 1966, as a musical roller coaster, where the highs might make you scream with joy, but the lows? Well, they'll just have you screaming. Sonny Bono was calling all the shots here, and bless his heart, he tried to mix the magic folk-rock dust with... some pretty odd choices.

We kick things off with a bang, or at least a hopeful clap, thanks to covers of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly." Cher's finding her groove here, showing a glimmer of that confident diva we know and love. Then, there's "Time" by Michael Merchant—Cher's take is sincere and has that twinkle of genuine emotion we crave.

But, oh boy, does it go sideways fast. Sonny's bright idea to mash up the folk-rock vibe from the previous LP with lounge-lizard pop tunes like "Our Day Will Come" and "Milord" is the definition of a head-scratcher. These tracks stick out like a sore thumb at a nail salon. Cher sounds like she's phoning it in from a bad dream, lacking the fire and commitment that made her debut sparkle.

And can we talk about the arrangements? Or better yet, can we not? "Ol' Man River" is drowning in its own overblown production, and no lifeboat in sight. It's like a big, messy sundae with all the wrong toppings.

Then there's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)." The novelty track that's both the album's savior and its most theatrical number. It's kitsch, it's camp, and Cher's probably half-asleep while nailing it. But hey, at least it's got some pizzazz.

So, The Sonny Side of Chér is a bit like rummaging through a mixed bag at a yard sale. You might find a few gems, but you'll also unearth some serious junk. It's a curious piece for the die-hard fans and those intrigued by Cher's humble beginnings, but don't go expecting a masterpiece. This one's more about the growing pains than the glory.