Cher in Concert, also known as the Take Me Home Tour,[1] was the first solo concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. The tour's debut was at Sahara Reno in Reno, Nevada with a huge production and cast put together by Joe Layton, who did the same for Bette Midler's "Clams on a Half Shell" and Diana Ross previously. Cher premiered her one-woman show at the Opera House Theatre June 3 through 19. This is the first time Cher has appeared solo on the nightclub circuit.

Cher in Concert
Tour by Cher
Associated albumTake Me Home
Start dateJune 3, 1979 (1979-06-03)
End dateDecember 6, 1981 (1981-12-06)
Legs7
No. of shows
  • 67 in North America
  • 5 in Europe
  • 4 in South Africa
  • 5 in Australia
  • 81 total
Cher concert chronology

The show then became Cher's first world tour as a solo artist. The tour reached North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia. The concert was filmed in Monte Carlo on May 10, 1980 and broadcast on HBO the following February and later taped in Las Vegas in 1981 at Caesars Palace for a broadcast on Showtime on April 21, 1983.

Background

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The show featured three backing singers, six dancers, three drag queens as Bette Midler, Cher, and Diana Ross, a mechanical bull and twelve costume changes.

Cher described the show as "a bit Sonny & Cher-ish" a mixture of cabaret, disco and rock'n'roll.[2] With twelve changes of clothes, Cher wore no costume for more than eight minutes.

The concerts were based in part on her solo television shows The Cher Show, Cher... Special and Cher... and others Fantasies. During Cher's costume changes, drag performers Kenny Sacha, as Bette Midler and J.C. Gaynor as Diana Ross performed "In the Mood" and "I'm Coming Out" respectively. Cher joined them to end the show with a performance of "Friends". Russell Elliott opened the show as Cher.

Set list

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  1. "Ain't Nobody's Business"
  2. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
  3. "Fire"[3]
  4. "Easy To Be Hard"
  5. "The Way of Love"
  6. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (performed by J.C. Gaynor and Cher)
  7. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (performed by Kenny Sacha)
  8. "Friends" (performed by Sacha, Gaynor, and Cher)
  9. "Jailhouse Rock" / "Dream Lover" / "Great Balls Of Fire"
  10. "Rockin' Robin"
  11. "Johnny B. Goode"
  12. "Dedicated to the One I Love"
  13. "Hand Jive" / "Honky Tonk Women" / "Old Time Rock and Roll"
  14. "Take It to the Limit"
  15. "Take Me Home"
  16. "Takin' It to the Streets"
  17. "Ain't Got No Money"
Notes

"Git Down (Guitar Groupie)" was performed at O'Keefe Centre only one night (Jul. 23, 79).

"My Song (Too Far Gone)" was performed at O'Keefe Centre (Jul. 23 - 29, 79).

"Still The One" and "My Song (Too Far Gone)" was performed at Universal Amphitheatre (Jul. 31 - Aug. 2, 79).[4]

Tour dates

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Date City Country Venue Opening act
North America [5]
June 3, 1979 Reno United States Sahara Reno Opera House Theatre
June 4, 1979
June 5, 1979
June 6, 1979
June 7, 1979
June 8, 1979
June 9, 1979
June 10, 1979
June 11, 1979
June 12, 1979
June 13, 1979
June 14, 1979
June 15, 1979
June 16, 1979
June 17, 1979
June 18, 1979
June 19, 1979
July 9, 1979 Atlantic City Resorts International Grand Ballroom
July 10, 1979
July 11, 1979
July 12, 1979
July 13, 1979
July 14, 1979
July 16, 1979 Washington, D.C. Kennedy Center Opera House
July 17, 1979
July 18, 1979 Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre
July 19, 1979
July 21, 1979 Washington, D.C. Kennedy Center Opera House
July 22, 1979
July 23, 1979 Toronto Canada O'Keefe Centre
July 24, 1979
July 25, 1979
July 26, 1979
July 27, 1979
July 28, 1979
July 29, 1979
July 31, 1979 Los Angeles United States Universal Amphitheatre Sister Sledge[4]
August 1, 1979
August 2, 1979
April 3, 1980 Atlantic City Resorts International
April 4, 1980
April 5, 1980
Europe
May 10, 1980 Monte Carlo Monaco Salle des Étoiles
May 12, 1980 Paris France L'Olympia
May 14, 1980 London England Hammersmith Odeon
North America
June 14, 1980 Atlantic City United States Resorts International
June 15, 1980
June 16, 1980
June 17, 1980
June 18, 1980
June 19, 1980
July 14, 1980
July 15, 1980
July 16, 1980
July 17, 1980
July 18, 1980
July 19, 1980
July 20, 1980
June 5, 1981 Los Angeles Greek Theatre
June 6, 1981
June 7, 1981
June 8, 1981
July 13, 1981 Hoffman Estates Poplar Creek Music Theater
July 14, 1981
Europe
July 31, 1981 Monte Carlo Monaco Salle des Étoiles
August 1, 1981
Africa
August 6, 1981 North West South Africa Sun City Hotel
August 7, 1981
August 8, 1981
August 9, 1981
North America [6]
August 17, 1981 Atlantic City United States Resorts International Freddie Roman
August 18, 1981
August 19, 1981
August 20, 1981
August 21, 1981
August 22, 1981
Australia
November 26, 1981 Sydney Australia Capitol Theatre
November 27, 1981
December 4, 1981 Melbourne Palais Theatre
December 5, 1981
December 6, 1981
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
July, 1981 Montreal, Canada Place des Arts Cancelled
September 4, 1981 Los Angeles, California Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre Cancelled
September 5, 1981 Los Angeles, California Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre Cancelled
Framingham, Massachusetts Chateau de Ville Cancelled

A Celebration at Caesars Palace

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A Celebration at Caesars Palace
Residency by Cher
 
Poster for shows in Las Vegas
Associated albumTake Me Home
Start dateJune 29, 1979 (1979-06-29)
End dateAugust 11, 1982 (1982-08-11)
Legs4
No. of shows223

A Celebration at Caesars Palace was the first concert residency by Cher. Shows were performed at the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (show time were 9:00 pm and 12:30 pm). Shows from September 25 to October 2, 1980 were performed at the Stateline Showroom at Caesars Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada. The premiere concert was on June 29, 1979.

Set list

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  1. "Could I Be Dreaming"
  2. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
  3. "You Make My Dreams"
  4. "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
  5. "Those Shoes"
  6. "Out Here On My Own"
  7. "Take It to the Limit"
  8. "I'm Coming Out" (performed by J.C. Gaynor)
  9. "In the Mood" (performed by Kenny Sacha)
  10. "Friends" (performed by Sacha, Gaynor and Cher)
  11. "Lookin' for Love" (contains elements of "Devil Went Down to Georgia")
  12. "When Will I Be Loved"
  13. "More Than You Know"
  14. "Fame"
Notes

Residency dates

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1979

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Date City Venue
Leg 1 - 1979 [7]
June 29, 1979 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
August 16, 1979
August 17, 1979
August 18, 1979
August 19, 1979
August 20, 1979
August 21, 1979
August 22, 1979
August 23, 1979
August 24, 1979
August 25, 1979
August 26, 1979
August 27, 1979
August 28, 1979
August 29, 1979
August 31, 1979
October 29, 1979 Stateline Sahara Tahoe
October 30, 1979
October 31, 1979
November 1, 1979
November 2, 1979
November 3, 1979
November 4, 1979
November 5, 1979
November 6, 1979
November 7, 1979
November 8, 1979
November 9, 1979
November 10, 1979
November 11, 1979
November 15, 1979 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
November 16, 1979
November 17, 1979
November 18, 1979
November 19, 1979
November 20, 1979
November 21, 1979
November 22, 1979
November 23, 1979
November 24, 1979
November 25, 1979
November 26, 1979
November 27, 1979
November 28, 1979

1980

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Date City Venue
Leg 2 - 1980 [8][9]
January 10, 1980 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
January 11, 1980
January 12, 1980
January 13, 1980
January 14, 1980
January 15, 1980
January 16, 1980
January 25, 1980 Stateline Sahara Tahoe
January 26, 1980
January 27, 1980
February 1, 1980
February 2, 1980
February 3, 1980
April 6, 1980 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
April 7, 1980
April 8, 1980
April 9, 1980
April 10, 1980
April 11, 1980
April 12, 1980
April 13, 1980
April 14, 1980
April 15, 1980
April 16, 1980
May 22, 1980
May 23, 1980
May 24, 1980
May 25, 1980
May 26, 1980
May 27, 1980
May 28, 1980
June 5, 1980
June 6, 1980
June 7, 1980
June 8, 1980
June 10, 1980
June 11, 1980
July 3, 1980
July 4, 1980
July 5, 1980
July 6, 1980
July 8, 1980
July 9, 1980
August 28, 1980
August 29, 1980
August 30, 1980
August 31, 1980
September 2, 1980 Stateline Caesars Tahoe
September 3, 1980
September 11, 1980 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
September 12, 1980
September 13, 1980
September 14, 1980
September 16, 1980
September 17, 1980
September 18, 1980
September 19, 1980
September 20, 1980
September 21, 1980
September 22, 1980
September 23, 1980
September 24, 1980
September 25, 1980 Stateline Caesars Tahoe
September 26, 1980
September 27, 1980
September 28, 1980
September 29, 1980
September 30, 1980
October 1, 1980
October 2, 1980
November 6, 1980 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
November 7, 1980
November 8, 1980
November 9, 1980
November 11, 1980
November 12, 1980

1981

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Date City Venue
Leg 3 - 1981 [10]
January 22, 1981 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
January 23, 1981
January 24, 1981
January 25, 1981
January 27, 1981
January 28, 1981
February 5, 1981
February 6, 1981
February 7, 1981
February 8, 1981
February 9, 1981
February 10, 1981
February 11, 1981
May 28, 1981
May 29, 1981
May 30, 1981
May 31, 1981
June 1, 1981
June 2, 1981
June 3, 1981
June 18, 1981
June 19, 1981
June 20, 1981
June 21, 1981
June 22, 1981
June 23, 1981
June 24, 1981
June 25, 1981
June 26, 1981
June 27, 1981
June 28, 1981
June 29, 1981
June 30, 1981
July 1, 1981
July 8, 1981
July 9, 1981
July 10, 1981
July 11, 1981
July 12, 1981
July 13, 1981
July 14, 1981
July 16, 1981 Stateline Caesars Tahoe
July 17, 1981
July 18, 1981
July 19, 1981
July 20, 1981
July 21, 1981
July 22, 1981
August 27, 1981 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
August 28, 1981
August 29, 1981
August 30, 1981
August 31, 1981
September 1, 1981
September 2, 1981
September 10, 1981
September 11, 1981
September 12, 1981
September 13, 1981
September 14, 1981
September 15, 1981
September 16, 1981
October 22, 1981
October 23, 1981
October 24, 1981
October 25, 1981
October 26, 1981
October 27, 1981
October 28, 1981
November 12, 1981
November 13, 1981
November 14, 1981
November 15, 1981
November 16, 1981
November 17, 1981
November 18, 1981

1982

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Date City Venue
Leg 4 - 1982 [11]
March 11, 1982 Las Vegas Circus Maximus
March 12, 1982
March 13, 1982
March 14, 1982
March 15, 1982
March 16, 1982
March 17, 1982
June 19, 1982
June 20, 1982
June 21, 1982
June 22, 1982
June 24, 1982
June 25, 1982
July 1, 1982
July 2, 1982
July 3, 1982
July 4, 1982
July 5, 1982
July 6, 1982
July 7, 1982
July 8, 1982
July 9, 1982
July 10, 1982
July 11, 1982
July 12, 1982
July 13, 1982
July 14, 1982
July 29, 1982
July 30, 1982
July 31, 1982
August 1, 1982
August 2, 1982
August 3, 1982
August 4, 1982
August 5, 1982
August 6, 1982
August 7, 1982
August 8, 1982
August 9, 1982
August 10, 1982
August 11, 1982

Broadcasts and recordings

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Personnel

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  • Lead vocals: Cher
  • Background vocals: Michelle Aller
  • Background vocals: Warren Ham
  • Background vocals: Petsye Powell
  • Produced and Staged: Joe Layton
  • Musical Director: Gary Scott
  • Dancer: Wayne Bascomb
  • Dancer: Damita Jo Freeman
  • Dancer: Warren Lucas
  • Dancer: Mykal Perea
  • Dancer: Randy Wander
Impersonators
Costumes
  • Costumes Designed: Bob Mackie
  • Wardrobe: Alan Trugman
  • Wardrobe: Debbie Paull
  • Wigs: Renata
Band
  • Saxophone: Warren Ham
  • Drums: Gary Ferguson
  • Guitarist: Ron "Rocket" Ritchotte
  • Ken Rarick
  • Bob Parr

References

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  1. ^ Howard, Josiah (July 2014). Cher: Strong Enough. ISBN 9780859658973.
  2. ^ "Cher brings her act to town". The Age. 1981-11-24.
  3. ^ Cher singing "Fire" in her 1980 concert in Monte-Carto: Video on YouTube
  4. ^ a b "Billboard Newspaper Aug. 18 1979" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  5. ^ "1979 - 1983" (PDF). Delwebbsuncitiesmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  6. ^ "Cher : Center Stage". Pressofatlanticcity.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  7. ^ "Search for setlists: Cher". Setlist.fm.
  8. ^ "Search for setlists: Cher". Setlist.fm.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2020-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Search for setlists: Cher". Setlist.fm.
  11. ^ "Search for setlists: Cher". Setlist.fm.
  12. ^ "Cher.com: The Official Community : 1977 - 1979". Tapatalk.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  13. ^ "The Monte Carlo Show 1980". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  14. ^ ""The titillating tigress of talent, Cher, will take the spotlight of the first episode of The Monte Carlo Show. Hosted by Patrick Wayne, the new star-studded variety series debuts over syndicate television the week of September 14."". Gettyimages.com.br. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  15. ^ "STANDING ROOM ONLY CHER IN CONERT, Cher, aired February 8, 1981, HBO courtesy Everett Collection HBO Cou". Imago-images.com. January 1980.
  16. ^ "The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 12, 1981". Startribune.newspapers.com. p. 113.
  17. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Cher ... a Celebration at Caesars". People. April 4, 1983. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.