PRE-ORDER FROM VIBE ON RECORDS
I Paralyze, the seventeenth studio album from the one and only Cher, had all of the earmarks of a hit album. Her first and only LP for Columbia Records, it boasted a line-up of heavy hitters including producer-songwriters John Farrar (a string of Olivia Newton-John's most beloved hits including "Magic," "Have You Never Been Mellow," and "Hopelessly Devoted to You") and David Wolfert (whose credits include Melissa Manchester, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield), songwriter Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf) and musicians including Toto's Steve Lukather, Utopia's Ralph Schuckett and others. Despite strong material including the pop throwback "Rudy" and the contemporary new wave-tinged "I Paralyze," the album failed to chart upon its original release in May 1982. Now, the reissue specialists at Vibe On Records are giving fans another chance to hear what they missed the first time around with a remastered and expanded edition due on September 23!
When Cher was asked by Rolling Stone in 1999 to name a favorite single of her own, she responded, "There are two, and neither of them were hits. One was 'I Paralyze.'" The killer track was the album's lone composition from John Farrar, co-written with Steve Kipner (Newton-John's "Physical"). The second single to be released, it was preceded on 45 by "Rudy." Among the catchy pop confection's co-writers were Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo of The Village People fame. "Rudy" put a modern spin on the girl-group sound that Cher knew well from her 1960s days singing backgrounds for Phil Spector. Desmond Child would later collaborate with Cher on such hits as "We All Sleep Alone" and "Just Like Jesse James," but he contributed three songs to I Paralyze first, including the power ballad "When the Love is Gone," "Walk with Me" (with its own Spectorian overtones) and the tough rocker "The Book of Love." Michael Smotherman, a favorite writer of Glen Campbell's, penned the beautiful, country-flavored ballad "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind." The Babys' "Back on My Feet Again" was covered by Cher, retitled "Back on the Street Again." I Paralyze, with its diverse collection of modern sounds that still honored Cher's signature style, should have catapulted her into the new decade on a high note but was largely overlooked by fans and critics alike.
Now, the time couldn't be better for a new look. Vibe On's new, deluxe reissue of the long out-of-print I Paralyze features ten previously unreleased bonus tracks: two alternate vocal mixes of "Rudy" as well as instrumental versions of the David Wolfert-produced material (all tracks other than the Farrar-helmed title song). The booklet features a new interview with Wolfert conducted by journalist and Quentin Harrison, along with previously unpublished photos from Cher's shoot with the legendary Harry Langdon. Vibe On promises that input from Cher, executive producer Charles Koppelman, and John Farrar is expected. The album has been remastered by Sean Brennan at Sony's Battery Studios in New York.
Pre-orders are now live at VibeOnRecords.com, and those who pre-order early will receive a limited 5x5" art card that will serve as an alternate album cover. Pre-order pricing is in place until the September 23 ship date. The album will be available to purchase from Amazon.com from September 23 onward. You can also visit Vibe On for information on the label's other recent releases, including a trio of titles from LaToya Jackson! The label's deluxe expanded edition of I Paralyze can be pre-ordered at the link below!
Cher, I Paralyze (Columbia CK 38096, 1982 - reissued Vibe On Records, 2016)
- Rudy
- Games
- I Paralyze
- When the Love is Gone
- Say What's On Your Mind
- Back on the Street Again
- Walk with Me
- The Book of Love
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
- Rudy (Long Version)
- Rudy (Short Version)
- Rudy (Instrumental)
- Games (Instrumental)
- When the Love is Gone (Instrumental)
- Say What's On Your Mind (Instrumental)
- Back on the Street Again (Instrumental)
- Walk with Me (Instrumental)
- The Book of Love (Instrumental)
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (Instrumental)
Tracks 10-19 previously unreleased
Release Round-Up: Week of September 20
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Release Round-Up: Week of June 28
So glad this amazing release will finally see the light of day! I was so disappointed when it was initially announced, then suddenly pulled w/o explanation.
Disregard my previous comment. I was confusing this release with "Stars". In any event, it's good to see another Cher rarity finally get the remastered treatment. 🙂
10 unreleased songs?? I was gobsmacked until I scrolled down and saw it was just instrumental tracks!
There are two additional versions of Ruby available too, their titles have been specified now as Alternate Mix and Rough Mix. You can listen to samples.
I take it "instrumental" means "backing tracks."
Sound samples have been posted now. Looking forward to having the Instrumental versions too.
So, the album with 8 karaoke tracks added? Ho hum.
HA HA HA
Probably my favorite Cher album. Now if we could just get Stars released along with her two Casablanca albums (with extended versions).
I'm waiting til this hits Amazon, another "new" company with Latoya and Cher? High hopes that it's legit though.
I can vouch for the team at Vibe On, as they are working with our friends and colleagues at Sony to make these releases a reality.
can you apply for Cher's Warner Brothers catalog??
The website banner also mentions a Miami Sound Machine Primitive Love reissue coming in 2016, can this be true? I hope Celine Dion's early 90s albums (Sony) will eventually also be reissued!
Hi Adam,
Matt from Vibe On here. We have applied for her first 2 English albums!
Excellent news! There is a lot of B Sides and duets on other albums to choose from for those projects, wold be nice to get the Unison Tour and videos too!
Regarding the MSM reissues, GE said they know nothing about it a few months back on Twitter?
Your website contact page seems to be broken.
Pre-ordered the Cher reissue, can't wait!
They know full well about it now. (They don't have much of a say in their catalog, but we've asked them to be involved.) I don't see the tweet you're referencing btw.
Will look into the contact form! As for now: contact@vibeonrecords.com
Is this release available? There has been no information on shipping or actual release.
Yes, "I Paralyze" is still available for pre-order from Vibe On Records, and I have confirmed that while there has been a small delay, it will begin shipping by mid-October! I know it will be a release worth waiting for.
Got it yesterday - wanna hear it? hear it go! -
It says nothing about remastering in the liner notes but it is a step above the Varese Saraband reissue of years back and certainly than the original CD release which was quite flat (altho the original vinyl is very deep.)
The packaging is crappy - there are gazillions of Harry Langdon photos from that session which could have made a very nice hardcover booklet (like the Belinda Carlisle's). Also the misquote from David Wolfert about "I Paralyze" being the initial single release is unforgivable. HOWEVER - the two extra "RUDY" tracks are a wonderful reveal! LOVE THAT! I'm sure there are so many more of those type of mixes in the "CHER" vaults - it's fascinating to see how the song developed. As for the instrumentals - well, whatever - they got a hold of the masters and stripped the vocals. No big deal. Seriously, Vibe One - if you are going to do more Cher releases, please contact me!
On THAT note - I think it is about time that her 3 Geffen Hit albums get major reissue projects - tons of remixes, outtakes, edits and videos! Loads of photo sessions. Just saying! All hail the true Queen - CHER!
Hi Dishy,
Thanks for your comments regarding the I Paralyze reissue. I'm sorry you don't feel as if the product is up to your standard. We are very happy with the CD, though, and hope that it continues to do well.
As for the 'first single' comment, we did check with Billboard and The Official Chart Company, and the title track was, in fact, released in Britain before Rudy was released either there or the US.
Regarding the instrumental tracks, we did not just 'strip the vocals' from the master tape. As you would be able to tell if you actually listened to the tracks, the instrumental tracks were done separately from the vocal track. Many of them are indeed quite longer than their album counterparts.
The packaging is standard for a straightforward reissue. I'm not sure what you would have expected, considering we used all of the photos that Sony owns. Should we have licensed more from the Harry Langdon Archives, the CD's price would've gone up considerably, which, as I'm sure you know, would not have been the best move for an album that never charted in the first place.
Rudy was the first official release - I went to the record store to get it when it was released. Cher performed it on American Bandstand and then promoted I PARALYZE the single later, so, the first single was and always has been RUDY - everywhere.
I'm not unhappy with this at all! I think it is a fantastic reissue! I just real critical when it comes to CHER! As I mentioned, the sound is AMAZING!!!!
Personally, I love the VibeOn release and feel that they did an amazing job.
Regarding the packaging, I, for one, will take a jewel box over a digipak or book-bound pkg. any day of the week.
Driven by the Music/Crimson did an amazing job on their recent Donna Summer re-issues, but the hardbook format is horrendous. They scratch the enclosed CDs, pull apart at the seams, and are nearly impossible to find in good condition, even when received brand-new. They also don't wear well.
I got mine and I am VERY happy. I disagree about the packaging, it's a lot more than I expected honestly. I think it's super. More please.
Excellent is the first word that comes to mind, but this CD is much more than that!!! A true Cher masterpiece!!! This album is truly one of her best...largely overlooked when it was released, but has always been a true fan favorite!!! The sound quality on this expanded edition is remarkable and makes these musical treasures shine even brighter!!! The addition of the alternate versions of "Rudy" are wonderful to hear, and the instrumental tracks are wonderful at showcasing the fine players that took part in this project!!! All in all, Cher at her finest at the start of a new decade of her illustrious career!!!