Stars was released April 19, 1975. It was the first record for Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Jimmy Webb. The album was also her very first without Sonny’s influence as it followed Cher‘s divorce with Sonny and the dissolution of her relationship with David Geffen. The album reviews were good, but sales were below expectations despite promotion. Two singles, “These Days” and “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, were released to promote the album’s release. Both songs did not enter the charts. To help sales, Cher performed material from the album on the The Carol Burnett Show and The Flip Wilson Show. The songs performed were “Love Hurts”, “Just This One Time” and “Geronimo’s Cadillac”. In early 1975, Cher began recording with Phil Spector. These sessions beget the songs “A Woman’s Story,” and the previously recorded song by The Ronettes, “Baby, I Love You.” However, due to Spector’s expensive use of studio time, the album was eventually shelved. These songs were released as singles but were unsuccessful; these releases are now considered hard-to-find rarities. Cher then turned to Jimmy Webb to record this album.
Tracks
1 Bell Bottom Blues (Eric Clapton) 4:12 2 Geronimo’s Cadillac (Michael Murphy, Charles Quarto) 3:01 3 Just This One Time (Jimmy Webb) 4:48 4 Love Enough (Tim Moore) 3:11 5 Love Hurts (Boudleaux Bryant) 5:02 6 Mr. Soul (Neil Young) 3:05 7 Rock And Roll Doctor (Lowell George, Fred Martin) 3:12 8 Stars (Janice Ian) 5:19 9 The Bigger They Come The Harder They Go (Jimmy Cliff) 3:28 10 These Days (Jackson Browne) 4:11
Musicians
Bass - Colin Cameron Drums - Jeffrey Porcaro Drums - Gary Mallaber Drums - Hal Blaine Drums - Harvey Mason Sr Drums - Jim Gordon Drums - Jim Keltner Guitar - Art Munson Guitar - Jesse Ed Davis Guitar - Fred Tackett Guitar - Dennis Budimir Guitar - David Cohen Pedal Steel Guitar - Jeff Baxter Pedal Steel Guitar - Red Rhodes - Keyboards - Jimmy Webb Keyboards - Joe Sample Keyboards - Larry Knechtel Percussion - Pat Murphy Steel Drums - Robert Greenidge Strings - Sid Sharp - Background Vocals - Clydie King Background Vocals - Edna Wright Background Vocals - Gerald Garrett Background Vocals - Herb Pedersen Background Vocals - Sherlie Matthews Background Vocals - Susan Webb
Liner Notes
Producer – Jimmy Webb Arranged By – Jimmy Webb Arranged By (Horns) – Fred Tackett (Tracks 7, 9) Arranged By (Steel Drums) – Van Dyke Parks Conductor – Jimmy Webb Concertmaster (String Orchestra) – Sidney Sharp - Mixed By – John Haeny Recorded By – John Haeny Design – Robert Lockart Photography – Norman Seeff, Bill King Mixed At Sunset Sound Recorded At Sunset Sound Recorded At Record Plant, LA Phonographic Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc
