Cher (as Black Rose) - Black Rose (1980)
Tracklist front / back album covers
1. "Never Should've Started" 4:14
2. "Julie" 3:21
3. "Take It From the Boys" 4:59
4. "We All Fly Home" 3:56
5. "88 Degrees" 5:57
6. "You Know It" 3:20
7. "Young and Pretty"
Allee WillisRichard "T Bear" 4:03
8. "Fast Company" 3:47
Cher Band Members / Musicians
Cher - lead vocals
Les Dudek - guitars, vocals
Ron "Rocket" Ritchotte - guitars, background vocals
Phil Brown - additional guitar on "88 Degrees"
Mike Finnigan - keyboards, background vocals
James Newton Howard - record producer, synthesizer, keyboards
Michael Boddicker - synthesizer, keyboards
Steve Porcaro - synthesizer, keyboards
David Paich - keyboards, background vocals
Trey Thompson - bass
Gary Ferguson - drums
Max Gronenthal - background vocals
Warren Ham - background vocals
John Townsend - background vocals
Anne Streer - production coordinator
Mick Mizausky - engineer
Tom Knox - engineer
Dana Latham - engineer
Bob Schaper - engineer
Skip Sailor - engineer assistance
Gene Meros - engineer assistance
Terry Christian - engineer assistance
Bill Schnee - mixing
Mike Reese - mastering
Kosh - art direction, design
Aaron Rapoport - photography
Black Rose is the lone album by the rock band Black Rose, whose lead singer was American singer-actress Cher. The album was released on August 21, 1980 by Casablanca Records, her final project on the label. Unlike Cher's previous solo records (such as Take Me Home) the album was a commercial failure. It failed to chart and has sold only 400,000 copies worldwide.
Cher (as Black Rose) – Black Rose (1980): A Hard Rock Experiment
Introduction
Released in 1980, Black Rose is one of Cher’s most experimental and adventurous albums, recorded under the pseudonym Black Rose. Departing from her disco and pop-oriented sound, this album embraces hard rock and heavy rock influences, showcasing Cher’s vocal versatility and willingness to explore new genres.
Though commercially modest, Black Rose remains a cult favorite among fans for its edgy guitar-driven sound, theatrical vocals, and late 70s/early 80s rock energy. The album demonstrates Cher’s ability to reinvent herself beyond mainstream pop and disco.
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Cher in 1980: Venturing into Rock
By 1980, Cher had firmly established herself as a pop and disco icon, but she was eager to experiment with harder, edgier musical styles. Collaborating with prominent rock musicians and producers, Cher adopted the Black Rose persona to distance this project from her mainstream image.
Black Rose allowed Cher to explore guitar-heavy arrangements, rock storytelling, and theatrical performances, marking a rare foray into hard rock in her career.
About Black Rose (1980)
Album Overview
Produced by John Farrar and featuring top rock session musicians, Black Rose combines hard rock riffs, melodic hooks, and dramatic vocals. The album features songs with aggressive guitar, punchy rhythms, and a more rebellious tone, contrasting sharply with Cher’s disco releases of the late 1970s.
Key tracks include:
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“Holdin’ Out for Love” – Energetic rock anthem with powerful vocals
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“Bad Love” – Guitar-driven track with raw emotional energy
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“You Know It” – Upbeat rock/pop hybrid
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“See the Man” – Narrative rock ballad showcasing Cher’s expressive delivery
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“Black Rose” – Title track, combining hard rock edge with theatrical storytelling
The album highlights Cher’s contralto voice in a more aggressive, rock-oriented context, making it a standout in her discography.
Tracklist
Black Rose (1980) – Official Tracklist
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Holdin’ Out for Love
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Bad Love
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You Know It
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See the Man
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Black Rose
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Lights of Love
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Don’t Leave Me This Way
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If I Could Love You More
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Can’t Stop Me from Loving You
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Somebody’s Waiting
The tracklist reflects a blend of hard rock, melodic pop, and ballads, showcasing Cher’s versatility.
Musical Style and Themes
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Genres: Hard rock, rock-pop, melodic rock
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Themes: Love, empowerment, rebellion, passion
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Production Style: Guitar-driven arrangements, rock rhythms, vocal-forward mix
Cher’s powerful contralto adapts to the rock instrumentation, giving the album grit and intensity uncommon in her mainstream work.
Fun Facts & Trivia
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The album was released under the pseudonym Black Rose, distancing Cher from her pop/disco persona.
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Despite its ambitious rock approach, the album did not achieve commercial success, partly due to minimal promotion.
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Cher co-wrote some tracks, showing her hands-on involvement in the project.
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The album remains a collector’s favorite, often cited by fans as one of her most underrated works.
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Cher later incorporated some rock elements from Black Rose into her 1980s and 1990s live performances.
Commercial Performance and Grossing
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Billboard 200: Did not chart significantly
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Singles: None reached the charts
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Sales: Estimated under 100,000 copies worldwide
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Despite poor commercial performance, the album is valued for its experimental nature and cult appeal
Black Rose stands as a unique experiment in Cher’s career, demonstrating her willingness to take risks and defy expectations.
Why Black Rose Still Matters
Rock Experimentation
The album represents Cher’s rare foray into hard rock, showcasing her ability to adapt to new genres.
Vocal Versatility
Cher’s voice is both powerful and expressive, capable of handling aggressive rock and melodic ballads alike.
Cult Appeal
While obscure, Black Rose is celebrated by fans for its boldness, experimentation, and uniqueness in her discography.
Final Thoughts
Black Rose (1980) is one of Cher’s most daring and experimental albums. Featuring hard rock riffs, theatrical vocals, and edgy arrangements, it stands apart from her pop and disco hits. Though not commercially successful, it remains a must-listen for fans interested in Cher’s versatility and adventurous spirit.
Meta Description
Explore Cher’s Black Rose (1980), her hard rock experiment under the Black Rose persona. Full tracklist, fun facts, and why it’s a cult favorite in her discography.
Keywords
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