All I Really Want To Do - Cher's Version

Cher's Version

"All I Really Want to Do" was Cher's debut single. Released in May 1965, it reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 in the United Kingdom charts. Cher's recording of the song also charted in several other countries during 1965. Cher's version was involved in a chart battle with The Byrds' recording of "All I Really Want to Do" when both versions entered the Billboard Hot 100 during the same week (see above).

The initial idea to cover the song came when Cher heard The Byrds perform it during their pre-fame residency at Ciro's nightclub on the Sunset Strip in March 1965. This caused a minor controversy when it was alleged by The Byrds and their management that Cher and her husband, Sonny Bono, had taped one of The Byrds' appearances at Ciro's without permission, in order to utilize some of the band's material for their own releases. However, Cher's version is, in fact, quite different to The Byrds' recording and lacks the Beatlesesque bridge that remained unique to their version. Ultimately, Cher's cover was the more successful in the U.S., reaching the Billboard top 20, while The Byrds' single faltered at #40. The reverse was true in the UK, where The Byrds' single reached #4.

Cher continued to perform the song in concerts, usually as part of a hits medly, up to and including her 2002-2005 tour, Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.