Many years down the road when musicologists study what we listen to today, this compilation of earlier Cher recordings may very well be considered among Cher's finest work, if not THE best! From her classic, haunting, beautiful "The Way Of Love" to her own rendition of standards and cabaret-style songs, this collection is Cher stripped down to the bare bones without all of the glamour & glitz, flashy dancers and trashy fun we've all grown to love so well and associate with Cher. But, Cher is more than just flashy, trashy and fun. She is under-rated as a singer and this collection proves that. Cher is a fine singer who knows how to interpret a song with her own unique vocal style. For anyone who is a true Cher fan, you MUST have this in your collection. I love all of Cher's recordings - Beware, though, this one is nothing like her 80s recordings or her "Believe" CD, nor is it like her "Half Breed" days. It is better. This is a style all of its own - and I, for one, wish Cher would record more music like this. I have just about everything Cher has ever recorded and this is, by far, among my favorites. I actually give this one 10 stars!

As much as I love cher I could not listen to most of this album. This is basicly a reissue of her early 70's album "Bittersweet White Light" (a collection of standards), and a few more added in. In my opinion I just did not think her voice is suited for these songs, or maybe it was the arrangments the I did not like. I would only recomend this to hard core fans.

It makes some sense for Cher to record an album of standards. She hit on a few that worked back on her TV show, and there are hints of the right sound in some songs like "The Way of Love." But to really sing the standards, you either have to invest your life in them, like a Rosemary Clooney, or -- like Linda Ronstadt -- study like a monk and train like a triathlete. Cher did none of the above in putting most of these disasterous recordings together. Add the tricked-up arrangements and you've got the worst collection of standards I've ever heard. I love Cher, but this is the least successful combination of singer and genre since "Merman sings Disco." Nice cover photo.

Many people who reviewed this CD did not like it because they think Cher's voice isn't "suave enough" to perform this material. I disagree. These songs have just as much meaning, regardless of the voice quality of whoever sings them. I treasure this album because it was previously unavailable on CD--and if you truly appreciate Cher, you should appreciate all of her endeavours. Remember, she was still a relative newcomer to the music scene when she recorded this album. No, she doesn't quite sound like Barbra Streisand--but then, what do you expect? This is Cher. She has always operated to the beat of her own drum, and she has never asked for approval in anything she has ever done. Yet she continues to be a living legend after all these years. I somewhat resent the fact that MCA has been sitting on this record for over 25 years--and now that Cher has made a major comeback with "Believe", that's when they finally decide to bring this album out of the closet and capitalize on her current success. But I digress, if you love Cher and appreciate all aspects of her career, you will want to add this to your collection.

"Bittersweet White Light" has for many years been my favorite Cher classic set as it captures the timeless Diva at her soulful best in a great collection of all time classic standards! Opening with a great rhythmic "By Myself", it is clear that Cher knows her way with a great song and completely in her own way!! This original classic stylist continues with a haunting take on "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" that is bluesy and soulfully stirring and fades into a brilliant version of "Am I Blue?" that is passionate and powerfully sung. "How Long Has This Been Going On" becomes a soulful athem that beautifully flows into a riveting and soulfully sung up-tempo "The Man I Love" which is breathtaking and beautiful. A really memorable hightlight is a classic Medley inspired by Cher's great solo moments from "The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour" is a complete winner and never has Cher sounded better than on "Sonny Boy", "My Mammy", and "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody". Another standard that is given a great and soulful workout by Cher is "More Than You Know" and also the wildly rhythmic "Why Was I Born" which flows into a mesmerizing and hauntingly glorious version of Judy Garland's "The Man That Got Away" which would have thrilled Garland herself!!! Credit for this daring and inspired masterpiece must also go to the late and great Sonny Bono whose vision of Cher's greatness produced this wonderful and sadly overlooked classic which was brilliantly arranged by Michel Rubini whose masterful keyboard playing add greatly to the magnificence of the songs throughout. Bonus tracks include a great version of "What'll I Do?", a moving "Greatest Song I Ever Heard", a stunning "Don't Try To Close A Rose", and the masterfully sung "He'll Never Know" & "The Way Of Love" which closes this collection of beautifully sung Cher Classics!!! BRAVO CHER!!!!!!!!!