Album: Cherished

Introduction
"Cherished" is a studio album launched in 1977 by the American vocalist and actress, Cher. Known for her fascinating existence on and off phase, Cher has taken pleasure in a career that spans over 6 years, with numerous hit songs and albums defining her tradition. This album was Cher's 16th studio album at the time and marked an intriguing period in her musical profession.

Context and Production
The album was released throughout a tumultuous period in Cher's career, with a bitter divorce from Sonny Bono being finalized, and her emergence as a solo artist after the duo's separation. At this time, Cher was fresh from her 1976-1977 residencies at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and she was transitioning from the Cher Berelian (Cher Allman) persona to her own.

"Cherished" was produced by Snuff Garrett, who had formerly guided Cher through her five-album Warner Bros. period. The album was released under the Warner Bros. label and features ten cover tunes, predominantly including soft-rock and ballad analyses.

Style and Composition
Cher's "Cherished" followed the trend of covering hit modern songs, which was popular throughout the time. The soft-rock structures and reinforced ballads symbolized a clear departure from the raw pulse and hard beat of her early albums under the Sonny & Cher partnership.

The album was a mix of lyrical expressiveness and mild tunes, which showed a more emotionally-invested side of Cher that resonated with her listeners' experiences and emotions. Though it didn't consist of any original songs, the collection of covers permitted her to display her flexibility and adaptability as an entertainer.

Some standout tracks from the album consist of:

1. "Pirate" - A dreamy ballad that welcomes the listener into a world of romantic experiences and cruising on the ocean blue.
2. "War Paint and Soft Feathers" - A tender love song with a powerful message about welcoming vulnerability in relationships.
3. "She Loves to Hear the Music" - A catchy and dance-worthy tune, showcasing Cher's capability to captivate her audience with her transmittable energy.
4. "Cherished" - The title track of the album, with a strong representation of the romantic yearning and vulnerability that embody the remainder of the album.

Critical Reception and Legacy
Regardless of showcasing Cher's singing expertise, "Cherished" did not prosper in regards to sales or chart performance, peaking at # 209 on the United States Billboard 200 and stopping working to make the charts in the UK. This caused it being her least commercially effective album.

Nevertheless, "Cherished" stays a fundamental part of Cher's evolution as an artist. It highlighted a turning point in her profession, where she began to solidify her identity as a solo act, stepping away from the pop-infused noise she was formerly known for under Sonny & Cher partnerships.

Though the album didn't achieve industrial success, it stays a testimony to her strength as an artist who could pass through across genres and styles with grace, leaving an abundant legacy in her wake. This strength ultimately bore fruit in the 1980s and beyond, as Cher managed to reinvent herself and attain massive chart success with subsequent releases.

In Conclusion, "Cherished" stays a crucial part of Cher's discography as a transitionary album in her profession. It might not be amongst her most popular or acknowledged works, but it offered a platform for her growth and development as a versatile and enduring artist on the planet of music.