I'd Rather Believe in You

I'd Rather Believe in You
Studio album by
Cher
ReleasedSeptember 1976
RecordedJanuary–July 9, 1976
StudioLarrabee North (North Hollywood, California)
GenrePop
Length33:09
LabelWarner Bros.
Producer
Cher chronology
Stars
(1975) 		I'd Rather Believe in You
(1976) 		Cherished
(1977)
Singles from I'd Rather Believe in You
  1. "Long Distance Love Affair"
    Released: 1976

I'd Rather Believe in You is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released in September 1976[1] by Warner Bros. Records. This album was a commercial failure[2] and failed to chart.

Album information

Because Stars was such an abysmal financial failure, Cher was put back with narrative pop songs on her next album. Initially, Cher discussed with Mo Ostin, president of Warner Bros. Records, the choice of producer for the album, proposing that Gregg Allman take on the role, while the executive preferred producer Steve Barri. After some resistance, the singer agreed to enter the studio with Barri but continued advocating for a collaboration with Allman. Subsequently, Allman took part in the initial sessions, entering the studio with four musicians from Macon, Georgia, where they recorded four demo singles.[3]

Cher recorded the album while she was pregnant with Elijah Blue Allman, her second child. She wrote a dedication to him on the back-sleeve of the album: And a special thanks to Elijah for waiting until the day after I finished my album. Cher.

In 1976, Cher recorded two other songs: "A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knockin' Everyday)," a duet with Harry Nilsson, and "Pirate" (from her album Cherished which was released a year later), the latter of which starts off the album on some editions.

The album garnered no attention, and as such did not chart. Producer Michael Omartian attributed this to "a lack of promotion." The album has never been released on CD, and the only CD versions in circulation are bootlegs. According to Billboard, Cher owned this album's master rights and Warner had no right to reissue.[4]

On 30 July 2021, it was announced that a restored and remastered version of the album would be available exclusively on Cher’s official YouTube channel on 6 August 2021.[5]

On September 20, 2024, the title track was released as part of Cher's Forever Fan greatest hits album.

Singles

Only one single was released, "Long Distance Love Affair" (b/w "Borrowed Time"). It was performed twice on her TV show, but charted nowhere. "I'd Rather Believe In You" was planned as the second single from the album, but it was cancelled after the first single failed. A different version of the song, in which the lyrics are directed toward God instead of a lover, was recorded by the contemporary Christian singing group The Imperials for their 1980 album Priority, which was also produced by Omartian. In a review of the single, Billboard wrote that Cher "gets back into the groove that brought her that last string of hits" and she is "at her best". The magazine described the song as "a minor-key story ballad with pounding bottom beat" and added that "vocalizing and production are impeccable and tasteful all the way down the line".[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]

Billboard wrote that the album is "highly entertaining and of course commercial". The magazine added that, although there are "a few torchy melodramas", the record is "mostly a fun, uptempo album that should please Cher's many fans even if it won't win over any non-believers".[8]

Record World wrote that Cher appears throughout the album in her "typically resonant voice", and that tracks such as "Long Distance Love Affair", "Early Morning Strangers", "Silver Wings & Golden Rings" and "Flashback" feature "that immediately recognizable Cher imprint, known to record, radio and television fans".[9]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Long Distance Love Affair"
  • Michael Price
  • Dan Walsh
2:45
2."I'd Rather Believe in You"
3:45
3."I Know (You Don't Love Me)"Barbara George2:54
4."Silver Wings & Golden Rings"
  • Gloria Sklerov
  • Molly Ann Leikin
3:20
5."Flashback"
3:53
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's a Cryin' Shame"
2:49
2."Early Morning Strangers"
3:43
3."Knock on Wood"
3:30
4."Spring"John Tipton4:23
5."Borrowed Time"
  • John M. Hill
  • William Soden
  • Joe Weber
  • Spencer Michlin
2:57

Personnel

Technical

References

  1. ^ "Billboard® • Newspaper (p. 67 [PDF])" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "I'd Rather Believe in You Review". TvParty.com. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  3. ^ Uhelszki, Jaan (August 28, 1976). "The Coast" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 33, no. 1522. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  4. ^ "Ask Billboard: Sharing Cher On CD". Billboard. July 25, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  5. ^ "Cher - I'd Rather Believe in You | Restored & Remastered | Out August 6". YouTube. July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Top single picks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 88, no. 38. September 18, 1976. p. 64. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  7. ^ I'd Rather Believe in You at AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  8. ^ "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 88, no. 39. September 25, 1976. p. 74. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  9. ^ "Album Picks" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 33, no. 1526. September 25, 1976. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
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