When I saw this image on the front page of the NYT Arts section today (in the music section online), I was immediately transported back to 1971, with my Cher "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" LP in hand.
Back in the day, you may know, photos of singers were rare, especially to a lass on PEI, and I anticipated a new Cher album for its cover art (this was before I knew about Rona Barrett's Hollywood).
This album art was shot by Richard Avedon, and I found the cover to be particularly disappointing to a six-year-old in search of glamour. (What? Was I really six? The numbers match, but I'm rather shocked.)
above: two Avedon photos of Cher.
The one on the left recalls the album cover; the one on the right recalls my childhood ambition.
Yes, I did conscript my best friend into playing Sonny to my Cher on stage. (Sorry, Susan.)
For this was no Bob Mackie Cher on the cover, but an edgy, Cher-via-Patti-Smith, stringy-hair-in-face Cher that I utterly appreciate now, but didn't get then.
Fortunately, the back cover had a glamour pose of Cher, which I recall to be a large head shot, with the singer's posture tilting attractively. It was also in black and white, and I remember tracing it so I could make a poster for my room.
And here I return to Marc Anthony. His lips, in this NYT photo, remind me of Cher's, in that Avedon black-and-white image, with lips of various values (artist jargon).
Can't locate a photo of the back cover on the Web, so if there are any Cher collectors out there with an image, do let me know!
I'm glad someone else appreciates Cher as much as I do.
ReplyDeleteShe was rather avant garde, in hindsight. I just can't abide Mr. Anthony. I want to smack him for marrying J. Lo. You know he was in Big Night. I just rewatched it for the first time in ages (just as good as it was 13 years ago) and there he was.
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