Cher :: Charts & Sales History

[Wayne]

I always go straight to Believe on these lists and the moment I see that number has been inflated, I lose confidence in the rest of the list.

[alfiebot]

I always go straight to Believe on these lists and the moment I see that number has been inflated, I lose confidence in the rest of the list.

Very mature Wayne , why don't you do the breakdown of Believe's sales then?
We all know it sold 1,8 mill in the UK and 2,6 mill in the US, so that's 4,4 million in only two countries.
Besides, even if we count the sales of Believe as 'only' 8 million copies, she would still have sold above 45 million singles, but I stick to the estimate of many that Believe sold 10+ million copies alone, which can be referenced by so many reliable sources.

[raimond]

It's not 47m singles - it's considerably less than that. The 47m figure is equivalent sales.

You do not read the article.

Merging the discography with Sonny, the legendary diva sold 46 million (physical) singles.

In total, Cher, including her catalog with Sonny, sold 12 million copies in downloads and ringtones

He estimates Believe sold 8,5M (7M physical+1,5M digital).

[alfiebot]

^Thank you!

Some people are ready to dismiss something without even reading the facts let alone do the research, and claim things without any clue about the singles/albums chart runs, market at the time etc.

Some of her singles may be a bit over-estimated but some are very much under-estimated, especially the older records. I have seen information saying that Believe sold more than 8 physical singles and 2 million downloads which is more than 10 million in total .

[alfiebot]

Here's Cher's estimated singles sales, both solo and with Sonny which was researched by several people over the course of the last ten years or so, so it wasn't an easy task. While some singles' total may be debatable, overall it is pretty much close to her correct single sales.

Release date / Song title / Worldwide sales

Sep 1964 ---- Baby Don't Go ---- 975,000
Apr 1965 ---- Just You ---- 300,000
Jun 1965 ---- All I Really Want To Do ---- 750,000
Jul 1965 ---- I Got You Babe ---- 3,500,000
Sep 1965 ---- Sing C'est La Vie ---- 100,000
Oct 1965 ---- But You're Mine ---- 570,000
Oct 1965 ---- Where Do You Go ---- 250,000
Jan 1966 ---- What Now My Love ---- 750,000
Mar 1966 ---- Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) ---- 1,600,000
May 1966 ---- Have I Stayed Too Long ---- 150,000
Jul 1966 ---- Alfie ---- 160,000
Jul 1966 ---- I Feel Something In The Air ---- 30,000
Sep 1966 ---- Sunny ---- 200,000
Sep 1966 ---- Little Man ---- 1,500,000
Nov 1966 ---- Living For You ---- 75,000
Nov 1966 ---- Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies) ---- 3,500
Nov 1966 ---- Behind The Door ---- 12,500
Jan 1967 ---- The Beat Goes On ---- 960,000
Apr 1967 ---- A Beautiful Story ---- 80,000
May 1967 ---- Plastic Man ---- 50,000
Aug 1967 ---- It's The Little Things ---- 130,000
Sep 1967 ---- Hey Joe ---- 11,000
Oct 1967 ---- You Better Sit Down Kids ---- 675,000
Dec 1967 ---- Good Combination ---- 95,000
Sep 1969 ---- For What It's Worth ---- 3,000
Sep 1971 ---- Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves ---- 3,000,000
Oct 1971 ---- All I Ever Need Is You ---- 1,420,000
Jan 1972 ---- The Way of Love ---- 1,000,000
Feb 1972 ---- A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done ---- 1,000,000
May 1972 ---- Living In A House Divided ---- 360,000
Jul 1972 ---- When You Say Love ---- 325,000
Sep 1972 ---- Don't Hide Your Love ---- 200,000
Mar 1973 ---- Mama Was A Rock & Roll Singer ---- 60,000
May 1973 ---- Am I Blue ---- 4,000
Jul 1973 ---- Half Breed ---- 2,350,000
Jan 1974 ---- Dark Lady ---- 1,700,000
Apr 1974 ---- Train of Thought ---- 350,000
Aug 1974 ---- I Saw A Man & He Danced With His Wife ---- 200,000
Nov 1974 ---- Carousel Man ---- 1,500
Nov 1974 ---- A Woman's Story ---- 7,000
Apr 1975 ---- Rescue Me ---- 3,000
Jan 1977 ---- Pirate ---- 15,000
Feb 1979 ---- Take Me Home ---- 1,100,000
Apr 1979 ---- Wasn't It Good ---- 135,000
Sep 1979 ---- Hell On Wheels ---- 95,000
Nov 1981 ---- Dead Ringer For Love (with Meat Loaf) ---- 400,000
Nov 1987 ---- I Found Someone ---- 1,200,000
Apr 1988 ---- We All Sleep Alone ---- 550,000
Jul 1988 ---- Skin Deep ---- 30,000
Mar 1989 ---- After All (with Peter Cetera) ---- 1,100,000
Jul 1989 ---- If I Could Turn Back Time ---- 3,000,000
Oct 1989 ---- Just Like Jesse James ---- 1,200,000
Feb 1990 ---- Heart of Stone ---- 350,000
Jul 1990 ---- You Wouldn't Know Love ---- 17,000
Oct 1990 ---- Baby I'm Yours ----2,000
Nov 1990 ---- The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) ---- 1,800,000
Jun 1991 ---- Love & Understanding ---- 800,000
Oct 1991 ---- Save Up All Your Tears ---- 400,000
Nov 1991 ---- Love Hurts ---- 30,000
Apr 1992 ---- Could've Been You ---- 40,000
Mar 1992 ---- When Lovers Become Strangers ---- 6,000
Nov 1992 ---- Oh No Not My Baby ---- 70,000
Jan 1993 ---- Many Rivers To Cross ---- 20,000
Feb 1993 ---- Whenever You're Near ---- 6,000
Jan 1994 ---- I Got You Babe (with Beavis & Butt-Head) ---- 70,000
Mar 1995 ---- Love Can Build A Bridge (with Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton) ---- 350,000
Oct 1995 ---- Walking In Memphis ---- 200,000
Jan 1996 ---- One By One ---- 300,000
Apr 1996 ---- Not Enough Love In The World ---- 17,000
Aug 1996 ---- The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore ---- 26,000
Oct 1998 ---- Believe ---- 10,000,000
Feb 1999 ---- Strong Enough ---- 1,250,000
Jun 1999 ---- All or Nothing ---- 300,000
Oct 1999 ---- Dové L' Amore ---- 170,000
May 2001 ---- Più Che Puoi (with Eros Ramazzotti) ---- 50,000
Oct 2001 ---- The Music's No Good Without You ---- 180,000
Mar 2002 ---- Song For The Lonely ---- 170,000
Apr 2002 ---- Alive Again ---- 30,000
Jul 2002 ---- A Different Kind of Love Song ---- 25,000
Feb 2003 ---- When The Money's Gone ---- 14,000
Oct 2003 ---- Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (with Rod Stewart) ---- 50,000
Nov 2010 ---- You Haven't Seen The Last of Me ---- 200,000
Jun 2013 ---- Woman's World ---- 80,000
Oct 2013 ---- I Hope You Find It ---- 50,000
Nov 2013 ---- Take it Like a Man ---- 20,000
April 2014 ---- I Walk Alone ---- 14,000

+other singles and album tracks ---- 300,000+
------------------------

total singles sales: 51,200,000

[alfiebot]

Sweden Sverigetopplistan

Music DVD chart

#12 RE Live in Vegas 1999 / 22 weeks

[CelinetoBarbra]

^Thank you!

Some people are ready to dismiss something without even reading the facts let alone do the research, and claim things without any clue about the singles/albums chart runs, market at the time etc.

Some of her singles may be a bit over-estimated but some are very much under-estimated, especially the older records. I have seen information saying that Believe sold more than 8 physical singles and 2 million downloads which is more than 10 million in total .

Believe 10M? Only 7m physical according to MJD's es

[CelinetoBarbra]

It's not 47m singles - it's considerably less than that. The 47m figure is equivalent sales.

You do not read the article.

Merging the discography with Sonny, the legendary diva sold 46 million (physical) singles.

In total, Cher, including her catalog with Sonny, sold 12 million copies in downloads and ringtones

He estimates Believe sold 8,5M (7M physical+1,5M digital).

with Sonny, so beyonce and dona ross sold twice with their group?

[alfiebot]

^ Many claims and articles are merging Diana's sales with the Supremes, as for Beyonce I'm not sure. But they were not part of a duo with their name equally billed as with Cher and Sonny & Cher. Anyway, Billboard, Official Charts, etc, are merging her solo discography with the one of Sonny & CHER.

As for her solo sales, they are above 90 million, and having in mind the way her career was managed by some of her labels (especially in the mid to late 70s) we can all agree it's even really impressive she managed to have many comebacks, chart in 6 decades and achieve the 100 million sales.

Anyway, Cher never payed attention to the haters and critics, and neither have her fans, so you can stop trying.

[alfiebot]

^Thank you!

Some people are ready to dismiss something without even reading the facts let alone do the research, and claim things without any clue about the singles/albums chart runs, market at the time etc.

Some of her singles may be a bit over-estimated but some are very much under-estimated, especially the older records. I have seen information saying that Believe sold more than 8 physical singles and 2 million downloads which is more than 10 million in total .

Believe 10M? Only 7m physical according to MJD's es

Really? You are trying to deny the facts with an outdated estimate?
Do the research people, Believe sold 6 million copies in the US, UK and Germany alone. It was one of the best-selling singles in so many countries and has never been certified in many of them. So yes, it sold 10+ million copies, both physical and digital.

[CelinetoBarbra]

^Thank you!

Some people are ready to dismiss something without even reading the facts let alone do the research, and claim things without any clue about the singles/albums chart runs, market at the time etc.

Some of her singles may be a bit over-estimated but some are very much under-estimated, especially the older records. I have seen information saying that Believe sold more than 8 physical singles and 2 million downloads which is more than 10 million in total .

Believe 10M? Only 7m physical according to MJD's es

Really? You are trying to deny the facts with an outdated estimate?
Do the research people, Believe sold 6 million copies in the US, UK and Germany alone. It was one of the best-selling singles in so many countries and has never been certified in many of them. So yes, it sold 10+ million copies, both physical and digital.

What a fake figure, even in physical, Believe isntthe the top 10 biggest female sinlges,and do you know there's a group named Diana & The Supereme?Her peers, Cher is not part of top 5,please. Aretha, Barbra, Diana, Tina, John, Dionne, Summer, Linda...

[alfiebot]

^Thank you!

Some people are ready to dismiss something without even reading the facts let alone do the research, and claim things without any clue about the singles/albums chart runs, market at the time etc.

Some of her singles may be a bit over-estimated but some are very much under-estimated, especially the older records. I have seen information saying that Believe sold more than 8 physical singles and 2 million downloads which is more than 10 million in total .

Believe 10M? Only 7m physical according to MJD's es

Really? You are trying to deny the facts with an outdated estimate?
Do the research people, Believe sold 6 million copies in the US, UK and Germany alone. It was one of the best-selling singles in so many countries and has never been certified in many of them. So yes, it sold 10+ million copies, both physical and digital.

What a fake figure, even in physical, Believe isntthe the top 10 biggest female sinlges,and do you know there's a group named Diana & The Supereme?Her peers, Cher is not part of top 5,please. Aretha, Barbra, Diana, Tina, John, Dionne, Summer, Linda...

Nor should she be among them, she's Cher and is definitely ahead of most of them as far as fame and legendary status is concerned.
And unlike many of them, she's been selling 15-25 million records per decade from the 60s-00s ;), and she has more certified sales out of most of those artists which is why they're not, or are bellow her, on the best selling artists lists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_b ... ic_artists
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08631gw

As far as Believe's sales are concerned, they are in the range of 10 million copies worldwide, and let's not start adding streaming.

[StephenN17]

I have been reading the sales on that site and the majority of them sound realistic but there are a few which are unfortunately wrong. The 1987 Cher album did not sell 200,000 copies in the UK or 100,000 in Australia. It was Gold in Australia (35,000) so 50,000 is the more realistic figure and it sold less than 100,000 in the UK in 1988 and didn't chart again so about 125,000 sounds more realistic for the UK. The figure for the 1987 album should be about 1.5 million as it also sold much less in Canada than 175,000. Heart of Stone would be more realistic at 5 million. Plus Love Hurts sold 600,000 in the US not 800k, this was confirmed by Billboard a few years ago, so about 3 million for that album. I do think it's a great list and a lot of effort has been put in, but there's just some errors here and there.

[StephenN17]

Plus Believe is at 3.6 million in the US, so 4.7 million is a big jump.

[edchercrew]

It looks so idiotics, when people are faster to say Cher isn't a singer at all, than saying she sold pretty good around 120M worldwide by now..
How sad. I didn't know Cher had haters.. now I see it with my eyes.

[edchercrew]

It's not 3.6M of sales. It's 4M, cause of 4x platinum certification by RIAA alone.
Thus, it's more than real that it's 4.4 - 4.5M now (4M certified + some noncertified sales)
please stop discrediting Cher's sales & all.

Plus Believe is at 3.6 million in the US, so 4.7 million is a big jump.

[Wayne]

Believe (the album) has confirmed Soundscan sales of 3.6m - and though that estimate is almost 6 years old, I highly doubt it's shifted anything significant since then.

In terms of the single, it has physical sales of 1.8m (confirmed by Soundscan in 2000 - this figure will not have moved much since then for obvious reasons) and digital sales of 375,000 as of 2011.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/colum ... page=0%2C1

[edchercrew]

Ok, let's talk about numbers..
Here's the link on the official site for RIAA, where you can click on "More Details", when you find Cher Believe Album:
https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab ... ti=BELIEVE
Here you can see that the album was certified 4x platinum for the sales of 4M copies in the USA, dated back at December 23, 1999
Thus, it has sold 4M copies 18 years ago, according to CERTIFICATION only.
Will you BELIEVE our own eyes or go on discrediting?!

[Mikerocha]

Certification is not the same as actual sales

Certification is based on shipments and not over the counter sales.

An album can be certified Platinum for 1 million and have only actual sales of 400,000 copies.

[edchercrew]

Merely physical sales counted... RIAA certificates only when the sales exceed the certain number: 1M - 1 platinum certification & so on.
Thus, according to your words, Believe (single) shipment didn't surpass the shipment of 1M?? Please..

Certification is not the same as actual sales

Certification is based on shipments and not over the counter sales.

An album can be certified Platinum for 1 million and have only actual sales of 400,000 copies.

[Wayne]

Ok, let's talk about numbers..
Here's the link on the official site for RIAA, where you can click on "More Details", when you find Cher Believe Album:
https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab ... ti=BELIEVE
Here you can see that the album was certified 4x platinum for the sales of 4M copies in the USA, dated back at December 23, 1999
Thus, it has sold 4M copies 18 years ago, according to CERTIFICATION only.
Will you BELIEVE our own eyes or go on discrediting?!

That's representative of shipments - so 4m copies of the album were shipped to retailers.

Believe isn't in the top 100 selling albums of all-time at BMG Music Club (which means it sold less than 298,000 copies there) and it wasn't available at Columbia House - which means it's club sales are very small. Even allowing for the fact that Soundscan tracked less than 85% of the market in 1998, it is highly unlikely that Believe has sold 4.6m copies.

[Wayne]

Merely physical sales counted... RIAA certificates only when the sales exceed the certain number: 1M

It does not - the RIAA issues a certiifcation when the label pays it to audit an album's shipments to retailers.

It's based on shipments to retailers - that's why Mariah Carey's Glitter, an album which has sold 650,000 odd copies, is certified for 1m (because that's how many copies were shipped).

And anyway, I don't have an issue with the 4m figure for Believe - I'm comfortable with that estimate.

[edchercrew]

Okay, thanks for the info, didn't really know that.
I'm not going to say the album sold 5 or more in the US.. but 4 is very close to how much it really sold there, I guess.

Merely physical sales counted... RIAA certificates only when the sales exceed the certain number: 1M

It does not - the RIAA issues a certiifcation when the label pays it to audit an album's shipments to retailers.

It's based on shipments to retailers - that's why Mariah Carey's Glitter, an album which has sold 650,000 odd copies, is certified for 1m (because that's how many copies were shipped).

And anyway, I don't have an issue with the 4m figure for Believe - I'm comfortable with that estimate.

[alfiebot]

what the ...

[alfiebot]

I'm not for inflated numbers, and I did say the CM estimates are questionable and was referring mainly to album sales.
According to the data I got from a reliable source, and will post them soon, the CM sales of some of the newer albums are higher that they should be, on the other hand the older albums are much lower then what they really sold...

ALSO, for the ones posting outdated numbers, here's the most recent report of Cher's digital sales in the US:

36,546, "We All Sleep Alone" (updated 7/3/13)
487,395, "If I Could Turn Back Time" (updated 7/3/13)
161,184, "Just Like Jesse James" (updated 7/3/13)
273,058, "After All" (with Peter Cetera) (updated 7/3/13)
130,674, "I Found Someone" (updated 7/3/13)
538,912, "Believe" (updated 7/3/13) ------ sold 160,000 in less than 2 years since the 2011 update
105,746, "Strong Enough" (updated 7/3/13)
120,900 , "(This Is) A Song For the Lonely" (updated 7/3/13)
172,465, "You Haven't Seen The Last of Me" (updated 7/3/13) ------it's at 200,000 on my list on the previous page, so it's definitely a bit more by now
43,147, "Woman's World" (updated 7/11/13)