All I Really Want to Do

Cher's debut solo album, All I Really Want to Do, is like that wild outfit you see on the runway: a bit baffling at first, but ultimately unforgettable. Fresh off the "I Got You Babe" fame with Sonny, Cher plunged headfirst into folk-pop in 1965, and the results are as kooky as they are captivating.

Let's get one thing straight: Cher's voice in this recording is an acquired taste. It's not angelic or polished, and she sure as heck isn't trying to be the next Dusty Springfield. But there's something irresistible about her raw, unfiltered enthusiasm. She tackles Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do" and "Blowin' in the Wind" with such gusto, you almost forget Dylan ever existed. Poor Bob probably didn't love that her version of "All I Really Want to Do" outshone his on the charts, but that's what you get for writing catchy tunes, buddy.

Sonny Bono's production is like a Phil Spector fever dream – lush, layered, and just a tad over the top. Tracks like "Needles and Pins" and "Dream Baby," Sonny's brainchildren, sound like they've been dipped in glitter and rolled in sunshine. It's proof positive that sometimes, good production can turn an okay song into a gem.

Timing-wise, dropping this album right after "I Got You Babe" was a stroke of genius. Cher rode that wave of fame but made sure to surf her own lane. You can hear her ambition in every track. She wasn't content being just Sonny's better half; she was staking her claim as a solo star.

All I Really Want to Do isn't perfect – it's a little rough around the edges – but it's a fiery, fearless debut. It's a flashing neon sign that Cher was destined for greatness, a bold declaration that she was more than just Sonny's sidekick. This album is Cher starting her journey to become the icon we know today, and honey, what a ride it is.