ON THIS DAY: 19 June 1989 – Cher’s Heart Of Stone Is Released And She Turned Back Time!

A Pop-Rock Masterpiece with a Rebel Heart

1989 – when glam met grit, synths danced with guitars, and Cher strolled in wearing a black leather jacket, a no-nonsense gaze, and a firecracker of an album. Heart of Stone isn’t just another entry in Cher’s towering discography – it’s a cornerstone. A moment when she wasn’t just surviving the tides of change in the music industry – she was steering them.

A Comeback with Swagger

Let’s not forget where Cher was in the late ‘80s. Already a legend, she’d weathered the disco storm, embraced a brief country detour, and won an Oscar (Moonstruck, darling, if you need a refresher). With Cher (1987), she’d made a stylish return to the pop-rock charts. But Heart of Stone? That was the exclamation point.

Produced with heavyweight names like Diane Warren, Michael Bolton, Desmond Child, and Guy Roche, this album is polished to pop perfection – but don’t mistake that for gloss over grit. It’s equal parts rebellion, resilience, and rhinestones.

The Anthems That Shaped a Generation

Let’s start with the one and only.

• ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’: It’s more than a power ballad – it’s a cultural landmark. The USS Missouri music video sparked scandal and sensation. Cher, in that infamous fishnet-and-leather outfit, faced backlash from the Navy but won hearts across MTV. The song? Pure drama. Pure Cher. And pure pop brilliance.
• ‘Just Like Jesse James’: Think western cinema meets vocal duel. This track blends outlaw mythology with emotional reckoning. Cher’s vocal performance is a slow burn that builds to a glorious explosion – like a campfire story gone cinematic.
• ‘After All’ (with Peter Cetera): Oh, the softness! The romance! A wedding staple for many, it’s the tender side of an otherwise edgy album. Their voices intertwine like star-crossed lovers – melancholic, beautiful, timeless.
• ‘Heart of Stone’: The title track is haunting. Lyrically introspective and musically restrained, it’s an anthem for emotional survival. It shows Cher not as an untouchable diva, but as someone who’s walked through fire – and learned to dance in the ashes.

The B-Side Gems You Shouldn’t Miss

Sure, the hits made the airwaves, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find tracks that are criminally underrated:

• ‘You Wouldn’t Know Love’: Written by Michael Bolton and Diane Warren, this is a vocal showcase and a lyrical mic drop. It’s fierce, fiery, and all sass.
• ‘Emotional Fire’: Another Warren-Bolton collab, and wow does it burn. The layered harmonies and electric guitar licks are pure stadium rock joy.
• ‘Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?’: If you need a big, emotional ballad to belt in your kitchen at 2AM, this is it. Bonus points for that key change.
• ‘Starting Over’: Tender, subdued, and a bit melancholy. It feels like a deep breath after a storm, a quiet reminder that even icons sometimes have to begin again.

Album Track Listing

1. If I Could Turn Back Time – Diane Warren
2. Just Like Jesse James – Diane Warren, Desmond Child
3. You Wouldn’t Know Love – Diane Warren, Michael Bolton
4. Heart of Stone – Andy Hill, Peter Sinfield
5. Still in Love with You – Michael Bolton, Bob Halligan Jr.
6. Love on a Rooftop – Diane Warren, Desmond Child
7. Emotional Fire – Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Michael Bolton
8. All Because of You – John Lind, Sue Schifrin
9. Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore? – Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
10. Starting Over – Michael Bolton, Jonathan Cain
11. Kiss to Kiss – John Lind, Mary D’astugues, Phil Galdston
12. After All (duet with Peter Cetera) – Love Theme from Chances Are

More Than Sequins and Sass

What makes Heart of Stone endure isn’t just its catchy hooks or Cher’s undeniable presence – it’s the album’s emotional core. Each song feels lived-in. There’s joy, yes, but also bruises and bite. Whether she’s crying out for a second chance or throwing up her hands at yet another heartbreak, Cher never hides behind production. She bares it all, with a voice that’s raspy, raw, and unmistakably real.

And it’s that voice – that lived-in, laughed-through, cried-over voice – that carries this album. It makes you believe every lyric, every note, every whispered promise and shouted defiance.

Final Thoughts: A Glittering Testament to Survival

Heart of Stone is more than a pop-rock album – it’s a testament to staying power. It’s about what happens when you refuse to fade, when you reinvent without apology, and when you dare to blend glamour with grit.

Even decades later, it’s still a go-to for heartbreak healing, dramatic dance sessions, or simply basking in the glow of one of music’s most enduring icons. Cher doesn’t just sing – she declares. And on Heart of Stone, every declaration hits home.

So whether you’re rediscovering this gem or spinning it for the first time, know this: you’re in the presence of pop royalty. Sit back, turn up the volume, and let the diva speak.

Fun Facts

Hidden Meanings & Artwork

• The original album cover (used briefly before being replaced) is a clever optical illusion: it shows Cher beside a stone heart, which, when seen from a distance, forms a skull.
• The cover art was switched shortly after release – making the early copies with the skull motif collector’s items.

Massive Sales & Chart Records

• Heart of Stone sold over 4 million copies worldwide by January 1991.
• In the U.S. alone, it eventually sold more than 3 million copies, earning triple platinum status.
• It hit the No. 1 spot in Australia – making it Cher’s first international No. 1 album under Geffen Records.

Star-Studded Collaborations

• The album featured backing vocals from heavyweights like Michael Bolton and Bonnie Tyler on ‘Emotional Fire’.
• Songwriting and production legends involved included Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Peter Asher, Jon Bon Jovi, Guy Roche—and even Michael Bolton himself.

Iconic Tour

• The Heart of Stone Tour took place between August 1989 and December 1990, spanning four legs with 78 shows in North America, six in Europe, and 11 in Oceania – for a total of 95 concerts
• Supporting the tour, Cher performed at the Formula One Grand Prix in Adelaide on November 4, 1990 – a free show for race attendees.

Music Video Legacy

• The song ‘Heart of Stone’ was originally recorded by the UK pop band Bucks Fizz in 1988, but Cher’s version became the most famous – making her the first woman to have Billboard Hot 100 hits in four different decades.
• Richard “David” Shelley, a backup guitarist/dancer who appears in Cher’s ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ video, also toured with her extensively during this era.

Emotional Depth

• The title track is a poignant plea for emotional self-protection, with Cher longing for a “heart of stone” to shield against heartbreak – underscoring the album’s theme of emotional resilience.
• ‘Just Like Jesse James’ hit the Billboard Top 10, yet Cher reportedly confessed she didn’t particularly like the song – despite its success.