Cher entered the 1970s with the release of the album Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves (1971), released under the label Kapp Records later absorbed by the MCA Records. The record proved to be critically and commercially successful peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); her first solo album to do so. Next year she followed it with her less successful eighth studio album Foxy Lady. In 1973 she released two records: Bittersweet White Light (which was the last album produced by Sonny Bono) and Half-Breed her second gold album in the United States. Dark Lady was released as her 11th studio album in 1974 and was less successful on the music charts. After the separation with Sonny she signed a new $2.5 million recording contract and business deal with Warner Bros. Records.[10] From 1975 to 1977 she released a string of critic and commercial failures: Stars, I'd Rather Believe in You, Cherished and Two the Hard Way (the latter with her then husband Gregg Allman) which is considered the lowest point of her career.[11] In 1979 she signed with Casablanca Records and released her 15th album: Take Me Home, which was certified gold in the United States. Prisoner (1979) was less successful than its predecessor. In the beginning of the 1980s, Cher formed a band called the "Black Rose" and released their first and only album Black Rose. In 1982 Columbia Records released the album I Paralyze; with decreasing album sales and a lack of successful singles, Cher decided to focus on her acting career.
In 1987 Cher signed with Geffen Records and released her first album in five years: Cher proved to be successful on the music charts and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Her nineteenth studio album Heart of Stone (1989) peaked at number one in Australia and entered the top 10 in several other territories; it achieved multi-platinum status and became her best-selling album at that time. In 1991 Cher released her twentieth studio album Love Hurts; it became her first number-one in the United Kingdom and also topped the album charts of several European countries. However, it was less successful in North America. Her fifth official compilation album and last effort with Geffen, Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 was released outside North America and became her second consecutive number-one album in the United Kingdom and reached the top 10 in many countries around the globe. In 1995 she signed with Warner Bros. which became her main record company. The first release with Warner was her 21st studio album It's a Man's World (1995) which was less successful than its predecessors. Her 22nd studio album Believe released at the end of 1998 was heralded as her comeback album and became her best-selling studio album ever, having sold over 10 million units worldwide.[12] 1999's compilation The Greatest Hits released outside the United States became an international chart-topper.
Cher entered the 2000s with the release of the independent album Not Commercial exclusively through her official website. In 2001/02 Cher released her 24th studio album Living Proof which entered the Billboard 200 at number nine and was certified gold. After leaving Warner UK, Cher signed a worldwide deal with the US division of Warner Bros. Records in September 2003.[13]The Very Best of Cher released on the same year was a chart success and was certified two times platinum in the United States. Her third soundtrack album, from the musical film Burlesque was released in 2010 and was certified gold by the RIAA. Cher's studio album, Closer to the Truth, was released in September 2013 and it became her highest-charting solo album when it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Cher's latest studio album, Dancing Queen was released on September 28, 2018, and also debuted at number three with first-week sales of 153,000 album-equivalent units, becoming Cher's highest debut sales for an album in the United States, as well as earning her the biggest debut sales for a pop album by a female in the United States in 2018.[14] On July 14, 2023, Cher released the deluxe edition of her album It's a Man's World (1995).[15][16] Cher released her first Christmas album Christmas on October 20, 2023.[17][18] On November 3, 2023, Cher released the 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of her album Believe (1998).[19][20]
Albumsedit
Studio albumsedit
List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
A^ Note that the album Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves was originally released under the title Chér.[105] This is the reason why the Gold certification issued by RIAA in 1972 appears under Chér.
B^ Note that the Platinum-award received for Cher (1987), is the first Platinum-award for Cher, which is released through Geffen Records,[106] and not through Kapp records as the Platinum for Cher (1987) appears in RIAA's database. This is an anomaly by RIAA which should not confuse readers.
C^ Note that some of Australia's earlier certifications cannot be found in ARIA's database as it covers the years 1997–present; therefore, an editor has contacted the ARIA team via e-mail to obtain all available certifications for Cher issued throughout the years.
D^Not Commercial was released exclusively through the Internet via Cher.com and ArtistDirect.
E^Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 was released for the markets outside North America and Canada.
F^If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits was released for the American market, and it was only available as an import to certain European countries.
G^The Greatest Hits was released outside the United States.
H^Icon charted on Billboard's Top Album Sales and Catalog Album Sales charts reaching #91 and #18, respectively.
I^Icon has reached #8 on the Official Charts Company's Official Budget Albums Top 50 chart due to it being released at a non-full price in the UK.
J^Mermaids and Burlesque soundtracks' chart positions are from UK's Official Compilations Top 100 chart.
K^Live! The Farewell Tour was released in limited edition form, with only 200,000 copies available.
L^Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage concert was originally released in 1992 and re-released on DVD in 2005 containing bonus songs which were not included on the VHS version.
M^Greatest Hits: The Video Collection was only released in UK and Brazil to promote Cher's compilation Greatest Hits: 1965–1992.
N^Black Rose was recorded with the self-titled band. In 1999 it was re-released by a German label "Spectrum" with Cher's name on the cover.
^"Cher's former mansion in Miami Beach sells for $17 million". Los Angeles Times. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^Quinn, Dave (May 18, 2017). "Cher on Aging and Her Iconic Career: 'I Thought I'd Be Dead'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Cher: A life in pictures". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Happy Birthday to a true icon, 70 year old Cher". Marie Claire. May 19, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Greatest of All Time Artists". Billboard. November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists". Billboard. November 12, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"The best-selling singles of all time on the Official UK Chart". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"Cher on Amazon Music". www.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^Bego 2004, pp. 97–98: Geffen cutting a deal with Spector and Warner Bros. Records to record and release one Cher test single under Warner-Spector Records; Rees & Crampton 1999, p. 194: $2.5 million deal with Warner.
^Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Two the Hard Way - Allman and Woman". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^"Cher Says 'Farewell' With 50-City Tour". Billboard. May 1, 2002. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
^Newman, Melinda (July 13, 2003). "The Beat: Cher Signs Worldwide Warner Bros. Deal". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 37. New York. p. 13. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
^Caulfield, Keith (October 7, 2018). "Cher Ties Solo-Career-Best Rank on Billboard 200 as 'Dancing Queen' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
^It's a Man's World (Deluxe Edition), July 14, 2023, retrieved July 14, 2023
^It's a Man's World (Deluxe Edition) [2023 Remaster] by Cher, November 6, 1995, retrieved July 14, 2023
^Christmas, October 20, 2023, retrieved November 4, 2023
^Christmas by Cher, October 20, 2023, retrieved November 4, 2023
^Believe (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) by Cher, October 22, 1998, retrieved November 4, 2023
^Believe (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), November 3, 2023, retrieved November 4, 2023
For all except those indicated below: "Cher Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
For Chér (1966): "Billboard: November 12, 1966 (Page 42)". Billboard. November 12, 1966. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
For Dancing Queen: Caulfield, Keith (October 7, 2018). "Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter V' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Second-Largest Streaming Week Ever for an Album". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
^ abcPeak chart positions for albums in Australia:
For all except those indicated below: "australian-charts.com - Discography Cher". australian-charts.com. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
For Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 16". RPM. December 18, 1971. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Foxy Lady: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 18". RPM. September 23, 1972. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Half-Breed: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 20". RPM. December 1, 1973. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Dark Lady: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 21". RPM. July 27, 1974. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Take Me Home: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 31". RPM. May 19, 1979. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Cher: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 47". RPM. March 12, 1988. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Heart of Stone: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 50". RPM. October 16, 1989. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Love Hurts: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 54". RPM. August 17, 1991. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For It's a Man's World: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 63". RPM. June 24, 1996. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Believe: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 68". RPM. January 14, 1999. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
For Living Proof: "Canadian 100 Albums chart: 06 December 2001". Jam!Canoe. December 6, 2001. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Closer to the Truth, Dancing Queen and Christmas: "Billboard: Cher (Canadian albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
For all except those indicated below: "Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2" (in Spanish). Charts SPA. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
For Closer to the Truth: "GfK Promusicae: Top 100 Albumes (SEMANA 40: del 30.09.2013 al 06.10.2013)" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
For Dancing Queen: "Top 100 Álbumes – Semana 40: del 28.9.2018 al 4.10.2018" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
^"IFPI Denmark database". IFPI. April 4, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
^"Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2" (in Spanish). Retrieved April 23, 2013.[permanent dead link]
^ ab"2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
^"Cher's Danish certification for (Living Proof) sent by IFPI Denmark" (PDF). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
^ ab"Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 68 (No. 23)". RPM. April 23, 1999. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
For The Greatest Hits: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 70 (No. 7)". RPM. December 6, 1999. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
For The Very Best of Cher: "Canadian 100 Albums chart: 18 September 2003". Jam!. September 18, 2003. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For all except those indicated below: "Discography Cher". Danish Charts Portal. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
For Greatest Hits: 1965–1992: "Top National Sellers, page 13" (PDF). Music and Media. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
For If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits: "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
For The Greatest Hits: "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^"charts.nz: Cher". charts.nz. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
^"Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2" (in Spanish). Charts SPA. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"Sverige Topplistan". Sverige Topplistan, to retrieve the correct chart peaks, type in Cher in the search box "Sök" and then click enter, then on "Visa" of the desired album. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"Cher's Danish certification for (Greatest Hits '99) sent by IFPI Denmark" (PDF). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
For Mermaids: "Allmusic: Mermaids (Awards)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Burlesque: "Allmusic: Burlesque (Awards)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!: "Drake's 'Scorpion' Holds at No. 1 for Fourth Week on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
For Mermaids: "RPM 100 Albums: Volume 53 (No. 13)". RPM. April 2, 1991. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
For Burlesque: "Allmusic: Burlesque (Awards)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
For Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!: "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
^Peak chart positions for albums in Denmark:
"Discography Cher". Danish Charts Portal. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
For Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!: "Danish Album Top 40". Hitlisten.NU. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
For Divas Las Vegas: "Ultratop: Divas Las Vegas". Ultratop Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
For Live! The Farewell Tour: "Ultratop: Live! The Farewell Tour". Ultratop Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
^Peak chart positions for albums in Denmark:
"Discography Cher". Danish Charts Portal. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
For VH1 Divas Live 1999: "Swisscharts.com: VH1 Divas Live 1999". swisscharts.com (in German). Retrieved December 1, 2012.
For VH1 Divas Las Vegas: "Swisscharts.com: VH1 Divas Las Vegas". swisscharts.com (in German). Retrieved December 1, 2012.
For Live! The Farewell Tour: "Swisscharts.com: Live! The Farewell Tour". swisscharts.com (in German). Retrieved December 1, 2012.
^Mitchell, Gail (October 30, 1999). "Double Dose Of Divas". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 44. p. 21. Retrieved August 3, 2023. Arista Records will release "VH1 Divas Live '99" on Nov. 2.
^"Brazil's Certification Database". ABPD. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
^Peak chart positions for music video sales in the US:
For Cher Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage: "Billboard: July 04, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
For Live in Concert: "Billboard Top Music Videos". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 15, 2000. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
For The Farewell Tour: "Billboard: September 13, 2003". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
For The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection: "Billboard: July 10, 2004". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
^Peak chart positions for music DVDs in Australia:
For Cher Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage: "ARIA's Australian Top 40 Music DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
For Live in Concert: "ARIA's Australian Top 40 Music DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
For The Farewell Tour: "ARIA's Australian Top 40 Music DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
For The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection: "ARIA's Australian Top 40 Music DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
For The Farewell Tour: "Ultratop 10 Musicaux" (ASP) (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
^Peak chart positions Top 10 Music DVDs in Denmark:
For Live in Concert: "Musik DVD Top-10: Uge 2 – 2001" (ASP) (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
For The Farewell Tour: "Musik DVD Top-10: Uge 18 – 2004" (ASP) (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
^"Association of Hungarian Record Companies website, search 'Cher' to see all the chart peaks". Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
^Peak chart positions for music DVDs in the Netherlands:
For The Farewell Tour: "GfK Dutch Charts: The Farewell Tour". GfK Dutch Charts Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
For The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection: "GfK Dutch Charts: The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection". GfK Dutch Charts Hung Medien. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
^"AFP: Discos Ouro e Platina 2010". AFP. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
^"Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.