Dave's Song of the Day
Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves – Cher
Thursday song of the day: Today’s song is essentially about prostitution.
Yesterday’s song was written by Sonny Bono, who continued writing for his act Sonny and Cher, along with a good part of Cher’s solo work. In the late 60s, however, both the duo and Cher as a solo artist were in a slump and hadn’t had a hit since 1967. Then in 1971, a career resurgence was underway. CBS signed Sonny and Cher for a new variety program, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, and Cher began recording a new album, with Sonny no longer writing the songs and determining the musical direction.
The album, simply titled Chér (early in her career she included an accent over the e, but that affectation stopped not long afterward), was produced by Snuff Garrett and featured songs written for her by established songwriters. One of these songs was the cheesy storytelling number Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves. Written by Bob Stone, it told the tale of a young girl who was part of a traveling show. Her mother danced for the crowds and engaged in prostitution after the shows. Eventually the girl becomes pregnant and has a daughter, with the new mother embarking on the same pattern of life – dancing for the show and presumably becoming a prostitute herself – to support the family.
Bob Stone had originally titled the song Gypsys and White Trash, but producer Garrett insisted that he tone it down some and change the title to Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves. The TV show debuted on August 1st, 1971 as a six-week summer replacement program and the song was released as a single on September 1st, 1971. Both were hits. The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was picked up as a full-time program and Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and revitalized Cher’s career.
View: https://youtu.be/2xHhWkz5aMc
Tomorrow: So take your hat off boy when you’re talkin’ to me
Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves – Cher
Thursday song of the day: Today’s song is essentially about prostitution.
Yesterday’s song was written by Sonny Bono, who continued writing for his act Sonny and Cher, along with a good part of Cher’s solo work. In the late 60s, however, both the duo and Cher as a solo artist were in a slump and hadn’t had a hit since 1967. Then in 1971, a career resurgence was underway. CBS signed Sonny and Cher for a new variety program, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, and Cher began recording a new album, with Sonny no longer writing the songs and determining the musical direction.
The album, simply titled Chér (early in her career she included an accent over the e, but that affectation stopped not long afterward), was produced by Snuff Garrett and featured songs written for her by established songwriters. One of these songs was the cheesy storytelling number Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves. Written by Bob Stone, it told the tale of a young girl who was part of a traveling show. Her mother danced for the crowds and engaged in prostitution after the shows. Eventually the girl becomes pregnant and has a daughter, with the new mother embarking on the same pattern of life – dancing for the show and presumably becoming a prostitute herself – to support the family.
Bob Stone had originally titled the song Gypsys and White Trash, but producer Garrett insisted that he tone it down some and change the title to Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves. The TV show debuted on August 1st, 1971 as a six-week summer replacement program and the song was released as a single on September 1st, 1971. Both were hits. The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was picked up as a full-time program and Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and revitalized Cher’s career.
View: https://youtu.be/2xHhWkz5aMc
Tomorrow: So take your hat off boy when you’re talkin’ to me