Love Hurts (Cher album)

The record featured production by Bob Rock and saw her continue to collaborate with John Kalodner, Diane Warren and Desmond Child. The album was recorded in late 1990/early 1991, during the first year of Cher's relationship to Bon Jovi's guitarist Richie Sambora. She dedicated the album to him and "every man that ever made me shed a tear".

The album contained four covers: "Save Up All Your Tears" recorded in the late 1980s by Bonnie Tyler in 1988 and Robin Beck in 1989, the Kiss song "A World Without Heroes" recorded in 1981, "Fires Of Eden" recorded by Judy Collins in 1990, and "Love Hurts", a remake of the 1975 version which Cher had previously recorded for her album Stars. This time the song was more pop/rock rather than a ballad. The original version was released by Everly Brothers in 1960; however, the most popular version of the song (and the only rendition of "Love Hurts" to become a hit single in the United States, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1976) was the one recorded by Scottish hard rock band Nazareth. In addition, the European version of the album also contains the worldwide hit "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (originally recorded by Merry Clayton in 1963), which was released as a single in the United States in 1990 (prior to the release of the "Love Hurts") to promote Cher's film Mermaids, on whose soundtrack it first appeared.

Early releases of the album in the UK had the same cover as the American release, but later European releases had a different cover, showing Cher laying on a white background wearing a red wig. The European release also included the worldwide hit, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" which reached number one in over 10 countries. In the United States, "The Shoop Shoop Song" was available only through the original soundtrack, Mermaids for the film of the same name.

While the album did extremely well in the UK, its singles were only minor hits. "Love and Understanding" was the only big hit in the charts, but the album also produced many fan-favorites including "Could've Been You" and big Cher favorites, "Save Up All Your Tears", "Love Hurts", and "Fires of Eden". Also "Love Hurts and "Could've Been You" was released only in Europe, while "When Lovers Become Strangers" was released only in North America.

The David Cassidy co-written song, "I'll Never Stop Loving You", was released a year later on Cassidy's album, Didn't You Used to be?. One year before, it was already recorded by Heart and released on a Japanese special edition bonus CD for their album Brigade.

{{See also|Love Hurts Tour}}

To promote the album, Cher did several performances worldwide. In North America she promoted the album on Late Night with David Letterman. She also made a special appearance on the ABC program In Concert on June 21, 1991,{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |title=Rock-concert show premiers on ABC |publisher=Star-Banner |date=1991-06-07 }} where she performed "Love Hurts", "Love and Understanding", "Save Up All Your Tears" and "A World Without Heroes". This particular performance was highly criticized because Cher lip-synced all songs from the album, veering from the ABC show's premise to showcase "honest" live rock.{{cite news |last=Gundersen |first=Edna |title=Cher's lip-synced 'live' performance |publisher=USA Today |date=1991-06-25 }} Later, during an interview, Cher defended her lip-syncing{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Jeannie |title=Lip-sync criticism sets Cher off |publisher=USA Today |date=1991-06-28 }} and In Concert offered her a chance to reappear (with her band plugged in and playing) later in 1991, but the performance never happened.{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Michael |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316198,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519155232/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316198,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2007 |title=A Little Late-Night Music |publisher=Entertainment Weekly.com |date=1991-11-15 |access-date=2009-10-29}}

Cher also promoted the album in some European countries. In the UK she performed "Love and Understanding", "Save Up All Your Tears" and "Could've Been You" on Top of The Pops, on Wogan performed "Love and Understanding" and "Save Up All Your Tears", and on Aspel and Company performed "Could've Been You". Cher also performed "Save Up All Your Tears" in Australia during the Dame Edna Show and with Dame Edna performed "I Got You Babe".

The album received further promotion from her third headlining Love Hurts Tour, which started on April 15, 1992, in Berlin, Germany. The tour was set to start on March 21, 1992, in Copenhagen, but due to illness, the European concerts were rescheduled, except for the UK dates.

Later dates on the North American leg of the tour were also rescheduled twice.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/28/arts/cher-postpones-opening.html |title=Cher Postpones Opening |work=The New York Times |date=1992-05-28|access-date=2009-12-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/30/arts/cher-postpones-shows.html |title=Cher Postpones Shows |work=The New York Times |date=1992-05-30 |access-date=2009-12-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/09/arts/cher-s-shows-rescheduled.html |title=Cher's Shows Rescheduled |work=The New York Times |date=1992-06-09|access-date=2009-12-01}} Cher performed "Love and Understanding", "Save Up All Your Tears", "Love Hurts" and "Fires Of Eden" on her tour.

"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" was released as the albums lead single in Europe on April 1, 1991. Previously released as a single in 1990 from the film Mermaids

soundtrack in the US only. When the song was released internationally in 1991, it became a major hit reaching number one in many European countries including the UK. "Love and Understanding" was released as the album's lead single elsewhere on June 3, 1991. The song was moderate hit, reached the top 10 in countries such as the UK and Austria,{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Cher|title=Cher Singles Discography|date=1965–2005|access-date=2010-01-30|publisher=Austriancharts.at at Hung Medien|work=Ö3 Austria Top 40}} While peaking inside the top 20 in the US, Canada and Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/CHER/single|title=Cher Singles Discography|date=1966–2002|access-date=2010-01-30|publisher=Musicline.de|work=Media Control Charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115055514/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/CHER/single|archive-date=2013-01-15|url-status=dead}}

"Save Up All Your Tears" was released as the third single from the album and has reached top 40 on various charts worldwide, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. “Love Hurts” was released as the fourth single from the album and barely missed the top 40 in the UK.{{Cite web|title=Cher {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11931/cher/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.officialcharts.com}} “Could've Been You” was released as the fifth single from the album and barely missed the top 30 in the UK.{{Cite web|title=Cher {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11931/cher/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.officialcharts.com}} It also peaked within the top 75 in Germany.{{Cite web|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-73413|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.offiziellecharts.de}} “When Lovers Become Strangers” was released as the fifth and final single from the album. It went on to peak in the top 40 in Canada.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Library and Archives|date=2013-07-17|title=Image : RPM Weekly|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2006&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.2006.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2006|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} The song also peaked in the top 10 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary and the top 20 on the US adult contemporary.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Library and Archives|date=2013-07-17|title=Image : RPM Weekly|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2020&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.2020.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2020|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}}{{Cite magazine|title=Cher|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cher/chart-history/asi/|access-date=2021-08-29|magazine=Billboard}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r3772|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Love Hurts > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))|website=AllMusic|access-date=2009-02-04}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{rating|2.5|4}}DeKnock, Jan (1991-08-08). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B+{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/06/14/love-hurts/|title=Love Hurts Review |last=Farber|first=Jim|date=1991-06-14|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2009-11-08}}

| rev4 = Los Angeles Times

| rev4score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news|first=Jean|last=Rosenbluth|title=In Brief|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1991-07-14|page=|accessdate=2023-01-21|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-14-ca-3246-story.html}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 1/10{{cite magazine|first=Steven|last=Wells|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52395807050/|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=1991-07-06|page=30|access-date=2023-04-29}}

}}

Reviews of the record were mixed. On one hand, some critics proclaimed that Love Hurts was the most mature material Cher had tackled in years. Also, critics said Love Hurts was a step up from Heart of Stone, and Cher.{{cite web|url=http://www.justplaincher.net/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=11|title=Love Hurts : By Eliud|access-date=2009-04-04|work=justplaincher.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127163908/http://justplaincher.net/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=11|archive-date=2010-11-27}}

Billboard for example, said that "With a few exceptions, the overall musical direction is more straight-forward rock'n'roll this time, which is the perfect environment for her unique vocal style."{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/4983/90S.HTM|title=Love Hurts|access-date=2009-04-04|work=geocities.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805145210/http://geocities.com/WestHollywood/4983/90S.HTM|archive-date=2009-08-05}}

AllMusic also said that "The result, however, is particularly formulaic, with Cher's vocals sounding largely uninspired and the production and backing musicians content to be obvious."

But on the hand, some critics derided the album. One critic went as far as to claim that "The only song worth listening to is A World Without Heroes, on an otherwise uninspired album".

Unlike Heart of Stone and Cher, Love Hurts received less attention in North America yet it was still certified Gold in the US and Platinum in Canada, for reaching the sales of 500,000 and 100,000 copies in those territories, respectively.

In European and Oceanian countries, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, the album was very successful, and peaked at number one in four countries: Austria, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. In the UK the album debuted at number one and remained there for six consecutive weeks. After ending its reign at the top, the album remained in the top three for five more weeks and became the 2nd best selling female album of the year after Tina Turner .{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/|title=Love Hurts UK Charts|access-date=2009-04-05|work=Official Charts Company}} It was certified multi-platinum and eventually sold more than 1 million copies.{{cite news|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-07-04.pdf|title=DIANE WARREN WINS UK EMI MUSIC AWARD|publisher=Music & Media, page 4|date=July 4, 1992}}

• US vinyl – containing the 11-track album.
• European vinyl – containing the 12-track album.
• US limited collectors' box edition Set – promotional edition hinged wooden box casing with a flip-up cover. The package contains the album in a CD cardboard slip and thirteen "tarot cards" with album designs or Cher photos on one side and lyrics/credits on the other.
• European Cassette – unofficial released by Glob Records, with the alternate track list.

{{Track listing

| headline = Love Hurts track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Save Up All Your Tears

| writer1 = {{hlist|Diane Warren|Desmond Child}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Bob Rock|Richie Zito}}

| length1 = 4:00

| title2 = Love Hurts

| note2 = 1991 version

| writer2 = Boudleaux Bryant

| extra2 = Zito

| length2 = 4:19

| title3 = Love and Understanding

| writer3 = Warren

| extra3 = {{hlist|Warren|Guy Roche}}

| length3 = 4:44

| title4 = Fires of Eden

| writer4 = {{hlist|Mark Goldenberg|Kit Hain}}

| extra4 = Peter Asher

| length4 = 3:43

| title5 = I'll Never Stop Loving You

| writer5 = {{hlist|David Cassidy|John Wetton|Sue Shifrin}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Rock|Zito}}

| length5 = 3:57

| title6 = One Small Step

| note6 = with Richard Page

| writer6 = {{hlist|Barry Mann|Brad Parker|Wendy Waldman}}

| extra6 = Asher

| length6 = 3:28

| title7 = A World Without Heroes

| writer7 = {{hlist|Bob Ezrin|Gene Simmons|Lou Reed|Paul Stanley}}

| extra7 = Steve Lukather

| length7 = 3:09

| title8 = Could've Been You

| writer8 = {{hlist|Arnie Roman|Bob Halligan Jr.}}

| extra8 = Asher

| length8 = 3:30

| title9 = When Love Calls Your Name

| writer9 = {{hlist|Jimmy Scott{{Cite web|url=http://www.jimmyscottsongwriter.com/discography.htm|title=Jimmy Scott, songwriter}}|Tom Snow}}

| extra9 = Asher

| length9 = 3:32

| title10 = When Lovers Become Strangers

| writer10 = Warren

| extra10 = {{hlist|Warren|Roche}}

| length10 = 4:46

| title11 = Who You Gonna Believe

| writer11 = {{hlist|Gerald Marquez|Kevin Chalfant|Joe Marquez|Steve Fontano}}

| extra11 = Zito

| length11 = 4:47

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Love Hurts – Oceanian, European editions and worldwide digital reissue (bonus track)

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title12 = The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)

| writer12 = Rudy Clark

| extra12 = Asher

| length12 = 2:51

}}

Notes

• "Love Hurts" was previously recorded for Cher's twelfth studio album Stars (1975).
• "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" is from the Mermaids Original Motion Picture Soundtrack released in 1990.

{{Div col}}

• John Aguto – assistant engineer (2, 11)
• Ken Allardyce – assistant engineer (3, 4, 6, 8–10)
• Peter Asher – producer (4, 6, 8, 9, 12), drums, percussion, programming (6), background vocals (8), percussion (9), band arrangements (12)
• Sandy Bathgate – production coordination (1, 5)
• Martin Brumbach – assistant engineer (7)
• Robbie Buchanan – piano (4), keyboards (6, 8, 9, 12)
• Kim Bullard – keyboards (2, 11)
• Joanie Bye – background vocals (1, 5)
• David Campbell – background vocal arrangements (4, 6, 8, 9, 12), orchestral arrangements (4), string arrangements (12), conductor (4)
• Joey Cathcart – background vocals (2, 11)
• Margo Chase – design
• Luis Conte – percussion (7)
• Laura Creamer – background vocals (3, 10)
• Mickey Curry – drums (1, 5)
• Lisa Dalbello – background vocals (1, 5)
• Jeff DeMorris – assistant engineer (3, 10)
• David J. Donnelly – mastering supervisor
• Doreen Dorian – production coordination (3, 10)
• Kenny Edwards – background vocals (6, 8)
• Mike Fisher – percussion (4, 6, 9, 12), tambourine (8)
• Mike Fraser – engineer (1, 5)
• David Garfield – keyboards (7)
• Steve George – background vocals (1, 5)
• Andrew Gold – electric guitar (6, 12), background vocals (6, 8), 12-string guitar, electric guitar (4), acoustic guitar (9)
• Greg Goldman – assistant engineer (7)
• Scott Harper – string arrangements (3, 10)
• Steve Heinke – assistant engineer (2, 11)
• Dan Hersch – mastering
• Mark Hudson – vocal director (3, 10)
• Randy Jackson – bass guitar (10)
• Jimmy Johnson – bass guitar (12)
• Phil Kaffel – engineer (2), additional engineering (1, 5), mixing (7)
• John Kalodner – producer
• Raven Kane's Girls – background vocals (4, 9, 12)
• Fred Kelly – assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 10, 11)
• Larry Klein – bass guitar (4, 9)
• Mike Kloster – assistant engineer (7)
• Nathaniel Kunkel – assistant engineer (4, 6, 8, 9, 12)
• Greg Ladanyi – engineer (7)
• Marc LaFrance – background vocals (1, 5)
• Michael Landau – guitar (3, 7)
• Julie Last – assistant engineer (3, 4, 6, 8–10, 12)
• Mario Lucy – assistant engineer (3, 10)
• Steve Lukather – producer (7), guitar (2, 9–11), acoustic guitar (7), guitar solo (7), bass guitar (8)
• Richard Marx – background vocals (7)
• George Massenburg – drum engineer (4, 5, 8, 9, 12)
• Jean McClain – background vocals (3)
• Hugh McDonald – bass guitar (1, 5)
• Jim McGillveray – percussion (1, 5)
• Paul Mirkovich – background vocals (2, 11)
• Gil Morales – assistant engineer (4, 6–9, 12)
• Gunnar Nelson – background vocals (2, 11)
• Richard Page – lead vocals (6), background vocals (1, 5, 7)
• David Paich – keyboards (7)
• Katy Parks – production coordination (1, 2, 5, 11)
• Jeff Porcaro – drums (2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
• Mike Porcaro – bass guitar (2, 11)
• Jeff Rach – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
• Guy Roche – producer (3, 10), synthesizer (3)
• Bob Rock – producer (1, 5)
• Rail Rogurt – assistant engineer (4, 6, 8, 9, 12)
• Bill Sammeth – management
• Glenn Sciurba – guitar (10)
• Connie Scott – background vocals (1, 5)
• Keith Scott – guitar (1, 5)
• Debra Shallman – album coordinator, production coordination (7)
• Josh Sklair – guitar (3, 10)
• Ivy Skoff – production coordination (4, 6, 8, 9, 12)
• Randy Staub – additional engineering (1, 5)
• David Steele – background vocals (1, 5)
• David Thoener – engineer (3, 10), additional engineering (1, 5), mixing (1–3, 5, 10, 11)
• Michael Thompson – electric guitar (4, 9)
• Joe Turano – background vocals (10)
• Myriam Naomi Valle – background vocals (3)
• Carlos Vega – drums (7)
• Howie Vickers – arrangements (1, 5)
• Diane Warren – producer (3, 10), background vocals (3, 10)
• John Webster – keyboards (1, 5)
• Mark T. Williams – drums (3, 10)
• Randy Wine – assistant engineer (2, 11)
• Frank Wolf – engineer (3, 4, 6, 8–10, 12), additional engineering (7), mixing (4, 6, 8, 9, 12)
• Richie Zito – producer (1, 2, 5, 11), additional guitar and keyboards (5){{cite web |title=Cher – Love Hurts (CD, Album) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Cher-Love-Hurts/release/4628654 |website=Discogs |access-date=6 December 2018}}

{{Div col end}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Love Hurts}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1996|access-date=November 12, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1996}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1992|certref=[http://www.mediafire.com/view/b1l57842fpfp59p/NZ_chart_book_Cher.pdf Cher in The Complete New Zealand Music Charts]}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|nocert=true|relyear=1991|certyear=1991|salesamount=65,670|salesref={{Cite web |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/eavis/sok?q=65%2C670+Cher&from=1991-12-24&to=1991-12-24&page=1 |title=Year-end sales info from Dagbladet archive search|access-date=2021-06-07}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1991|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1991|certyear=1992|id=4028-885-2|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite news|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-07-04.pdf|title=DIANE WARREN WINS UK EMI MUSIC AWARD|publisher=Music & Media, page 4|date=July 4, 1992}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Love Hurts|artist=Cher|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1991|certyear=1991|salesamount=600,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:1991 albums

Category:Cher albums

Category:Albums produced by Guy Roche

Category:Albums produced by Bob Rock

Category:Albums produced by Peter Asher

Category:Albums produced by Richie Zito

Category:Geffen Records albums

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios