Billboard #1 Hits: #262: “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves”- Cher. November 6, 1971. #1 for 2 weeks.
- Single: “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves”- Cher
- Record Company- Kapp-MCA
- Genre: Pop
- Written by Bob Stone
- Time: 2:36
- B-side: “He’ll Never Know”
- Album- Cher
- Grade: B
- Peaked at #1 2 weeks in Billboard Hot 100. #4 in UK Singles Chart #1 in Canada.
Up until this point Cher was best known for her part in the successful Sonny and Cher -husband-wife duo. While she was at this point still married to Sonny- and the couple was starting a successful variety show in 1971- “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” was her first #1 hit as Cher. Not only did the song go to #1 but Cher received her first Grammy nomination for it- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Cher’s star was starting to eclipse Sonny’s. This song became a big turning point in her career. Billboard would call it one of the 20th Century’s greatest singles. I think that is way off the beam -but over the years if the song comes on the radio I have listened.
slicethelife 
I can’t stand Cher but, this is a good song.
Yes not a fan here either. I’ve always found her to be obnoxious. But a good song is a good song.
Agreed!
Love Cher! (I saw her perform three times over the years). As a kid I collected her records and the early stuff like is this what I enjoy the most. Even the B-sides. “He’ll Never Know” is a good one, but an even better B-side is “Don’t Put it On Me” which is the other side of the hit, “The Way of Love.” …. Another cool young Cher fact is she made a single “Ringo I Love You” under the name Bonnie Jo Mason. All this stuff is on You Tube if anyone wants to check it out.
A typical pop song for 1971. The record producers and company used the duo and the upcoming show to sell this one. Between 69-69 and 71, something changed in her voice. It became more alto and the high notes were gone. Any idea about this?
I like Cher and I like this song, probably my favorite one of hers as a solo singer. She’s a fair to middling actress as well, and the wet dream of female impersonators across time.
This was my absolute favorite song that year (I was 7). I was hospitalized after a car accident and two different people gave me the 45 RPM to listen to when I got home.
Do you still like it?
I do indeed.