The song “Half-Breed” was Cher’s second number-one hit (after 1971’s “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves“), and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in July of 1973, “Half-Breed” went to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and to #3 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart.
“Half-Breed” was written by Al Capps and Mary Dean. The record was produced by Snuff Garrett and recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood using members of the Wrecking Crew, including Al Casey on guitar and Hal Blaine on drums. Mr. Capps was the session leader.
Ignore the obvious cultural appropriation and historical inaccuracies (the Cherokee actually do accept children of a Cherokee mother and white father as one of their own, despite what the song says) and “Half-Breed” is a pretty good song and a good match for Cher’s vocal stylings. That said, she decided to drop the song from her setlist in 2017 (and quit wearing the somewhat inappropriate Native American costume) so as not to offend modern-day audiences.
Speaking of that Indian costume, check out today’s daily bonus video of the day. It’s Cher’s performance of “Half-Breed” from The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. That’s a Bob Mackie-designed fake Indian outfit, appropriately skimpy and inappropriately non-Cherokee.
