3614 Jackson Highway (Purple Smoke Vinyl)

CHER, commonly referred to as the Goddess of Pop, is easily one of the most iconic female artists and performers of all time. She originally gained fame in 1965 as one-half of the folk rock husband-wife duo of Sonny & Cher after the smash hit, "I Got You Babe", reached number one on the American and British charts. In less than two years they had sold 40 million records worldwide and had become rock's "it" couple. She began her solo career releasing her first million-selling song, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", in 1966, became a TV personality in the 1970s with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour which was watched by 30 million viewers weekly and emerged as a fashion trendsetter by wearing elaborate outfits on television. While working in TV, Cher established herself as a solo artist with the US Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles, "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed" and "Dark Lady". She has won a Grammy, an Emmy, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, among many other honors. She has sold 100 million records worldwide to date, becoming one of the best-selling music artists in history. 3614 Jackson Highway is the sixth studio album by Cher and was originally released on June 20, 1969 by Atco Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. At the time of release, the album was a commercial failure, peaking at only #160 although it received praise and positive reviews from music critics at the time based on Cher's maturing vocals along with the sophisticated instrumentation and arrangements. The album remains Cher's first and last solo studio album from Atco and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. The cover art is a photo of Cher with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of musicians that are featured on the album. The album was conceived as a way to bring success to Cher and Sonny & Cher, after a two-year period of commercial failure as the formulaic nature of the duo's musical endeavors were rendered obsolete as pop music evolved in the later 1960s. In 1968 and '69 Cher recorded songs for an album with a tentative release in 1970. For unknown reasons the album was cancelled and five of the tracks were issued as singles. The remaining tracks went unreleased until Rhino issued a limited edition CD of the album with including the mono tracks as bonus. Run Out Groove reissues 3614 Jackson Highway on vinyl for the first time since original release and expands it to include the entire 1970 unreleased mono album/singles that would be making their debut on vinyl as a collected effort for the first time. • Strict One Time Pressing based on preorders received • Numbered, Limited Edition • 180g Vinyl • Purple Smoke Vinyl (Clear & Purple Mixed) • Double LP • First vinyl reissue in the U.S. since original release in 1969 • Original LP in Stereo • Bonus LP features Cher's 1970 untitled Atco album in Mono - first time on vinyl • Mastered for vinyl by Pete Weiss at Verdant Studios, VT • Lacquers cut by Jeff Powell for take Out Vinyl at Sam Phillips Recording Studio • Pressed at Record Industry • Deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket • 11x11 insert