The late Cheryl Dilcher left behind four albums, all of which have something to recommend them. Dilcher was an American singer/songwriter (from Pennsylvania) whose first album, the rather prosaically titled Special Songs (1971), was recorded in New York and issued on the Ampex label. It’s an acoustic folk/pop album, with a pre-fame Bette Midler featured prominently on backing vocals. Dilcher, who accompanies herself on guitar, wrote perky, thoughtful songs and gets more interesting in the next phase of her career – her two A&M albums, made after she and her producer, the renowned Jeff Barry, moved to Los Angeles. Butterfly contains two of her finest songs ‘High’ and ‘All Woman’; coquettish funk of the highest order. The only questionable part of the album is the rather twee ‘Rainbow Farm’. Melanie had a knack for writing kiddy-wink songs and somehow pulling them off. Dilcher less so. Dilcher’s final album, Blue Sailor, came out in the second half of the 1970s on the Butterfly label and in its musical cast was Al Kooper. Like Magic, it has a slightly harder rock character than Dilcher’s first two albums.
I wish I knew more about this quirky, intriguing performer. You can find bits and pieces online, and they’re worth reading, especially this one. And here’s an intelligent analysis of one of Dilcher’s finest songs, ‘It’s A Secret’ from the Magic album. Dilcher suffered from epilepsy and perhaps this explains not only her difficulties in breaking through to a national and international audience but also her very untimely, premature demise. Her albums seem to be a little more sought after than the average, with slightly higher prices for the first three than for the more easily acquired fourth.
8 comments
I started playing back up guitar for Cheryl in the early 70 and came to California and A&M with her. Jeff Barry wanted to co-write and produce her album. Herb and Gerry were very supportive of her and I think Jeff did a good job. Cheryl was being wooed by quite a few people who had their own agendas and for an Allentown girl, it was quite a bit do deal with. She was wonderful on stage. It was her element. She would walk on a stage and capture everyone’s attention with out trying. They hung on her vocals. There were lots of demons and lots of chaos. Those years were wonderful but fill of pitfalls. A huge talent passed without us ever really having the chance to enjoy all she had to offer. I saw her last about 10 years before she passed. I do mourn her loss.
Hi John. Many thanks indeed for sharing your recollections of Cheryl. I can well imagine she was great on stage. There’s such a vibe from the music and those album covers. I love her work and it’s a shame there wasn’t more after Blue Sailor.
It is a bummer I just stumble upon her Magic album and I like her songs. And started looking about Cheryl Dilcher
I will be checking out the used album stores for her album, if I can.
*started looking online about Cheryle Dilcher then cam upon your blog. Thanks for the information
She’s good, isn’t she? All four albums are well worth getting. Most people rate Butterfly as the best, though some people are devotees of the first album, which is more folky and less elaborately produced than all the others.
I like Cheryl Dilcher Magic album the best. But I’ll give it that another album Special Songs is not bad.
Yes, Magic is great, I agree.
Maybe you can update Cheryl Dilcher biography such as where she was born, where and when she died. Maybe find her gravesite. I read she died in 2005
https://www.last.fm/music/Cheryl+Dilcher/+wiki That is where I saw that the year of her death, but nothing about cause of death. I feel sad, every time I listen to her albums.