New Album not til Spring 2011

[Nikolaj]

Excellent, informed points, Hejira. It was fun to read. And Cher is no Stevie, artistically, of course. The only 2 comments I can make is that the '99 tour did make her a ton of $, as you said, but it also sold the 'Believe' cd, I wasn't referring to the single, which had been #1 in about 15 countries before it (slowly) climbed in the US. Vh-1 wouldn't even air the video for the first 2 months, they instead were airing a Joe Peschi (!) novelty single in quite heavy rotation, and wouldn't play Cher, until...they came around. It took a lot of work.
That cd was up and down and back up, then seemingly,had peaked at around #10 was dropping again, then rebounded to #4 as the tour went on. It sure made Warner Brothers happy. I bet it made more $ for Cher, too, than any musical project, ever. I meant that the tour sold the album, not the single. And I believe it's correct. The album was her biggest ever in the US.
Her tabloid image I think worked against her musical career for a long time, which made the success of the cd and tour all the more shocking, really. She was a 'celebrity' for celebrity's sake, whether she had a recent hit or not. To come back at 52 and 53 and have the Number One selling single in the history of the label was crazy stuff. Also the top selling song of the year. At age 53.
There was one other point, but I forget now. I enjoyed what you wrote, not that you would or should care. But I did, anyway.
Edit: Your Lauper comments were insightful, she's worked hard but just can't seem to revitalize her recording career.
Hejira wrote : I do expect Stevie to debut in the Top 10, but I also expect her album to disappear from the charts within two months, barring some kind of extraordinary incident, e.g., scandal, health issue, movie tie-in, etc
Okay, see, that is what always happens, with the plethora of artists you mentioned. But there's a way around it, and it's hard, but navigatable, as Cher's handlers found. Like when 'Living Proof' US version by Cher died so quickly, WB put out a redundant but new 'Very Best of Cher' package because the tour was huge and that 'Very Best Of' package sold way more than the Living Proof cd and thus became the hit album to go along with the hit tour- and 'Very Best' charted for many months with weeks in the Top 10 in Billboard and selling beyond platinum (1.4 million US units, quickly). Damage control at it's best, and 2 top 10 cds for her in one year.
I just think Stevie could have a killer song they have to lead off with, to sell the album, and it will find an audience and give her the hit she hasn't had in 20 years, I just think she has it in her, and if the song is that strong, I believe it will give the cd legs.
Hopeful? Maybe. Unrealistic? Maybe. Possible? Yes.
Even more hopeful : Then, a 2nd can't miss song, Hejira, I just think she has it in her. If that happens, the cd bullets again, with the tour going strong riding a 'comeback craze' like we haven't seen for a long time. What can I say... I've bought the advance hype of Dave Wild, Stevie and Dave S.
Or you and all the others can be right. I just think it can be done, because Stevie has more musical artistic respect than Cher, and I don't think that Stevie's had a major 'comeback' since 'The Dance' and I really think it's her turn. I think she should be able to go platinum.
And yes, it'll be something of a miracle if I'm correct.