This
Cher tribute is entertaining for a spin, but who is it made for? Probably fanatics who need everything by
Lisa Loeb,
Sheila E., or maybe even
Cher, but they'll be underwhelmed by the performances, alienated by the disc's constant genre-jumping, and bored by the studio band's sterile delivery of the music. The production for
Tiffany's "The Beat Goes On" is the most interesting thing here, as it devours psychedelia and club music and spits out an indulgent construction that makes
the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" sound unambitious.
Lisa Loeb's "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" borrows both the Exorcist theme and circus music while the usually spicy
Sheila E. tries out for the cast of Dreamgirls with her too sweet "Shoop Shoop Song."
Runaways fans will be happy to know
Cherie Currie's "I Got You Babe" has plenty of guts and grit, but who is the guy singing the duet with her? The liner notes don't mention it, adding to the album's "huh?" factor. Campy collectors of pop who get a smile out of all this should also know about the All Starz label's All Star Tribute to Shania Twain, which contains mostly the same artists but adds rockabilly legend
Wanda Jackson to the confusion. ~ David Jeffries