Updated - Again! News Round-Up: Cher's New Album

As the release of Cher's new single approaches us, I (for the third time!) take a look at just about all the information that I can get my hands on about her upcoming album.

Cher's new “hardcore dance” album, which is currently planned for release during the “last months of” 2012, will be her 25th solo studio album. It will be her first since 2001's Gold-certified 'Living Proof'.

The 66-year-old superstar has reportedly been working with Lady Gaga, RedOne, Timbaland, J-Roc, Kuk Harrell, Jason Derülo and Pink to complete the album.
One track which has been widely publicised is the album's Lady Gaga-duet 'The Greatest Thing'. In it, Cher sings the first verse, whilst Gaga sings the second and they sing the chorus together. Written by Lady Gaga and produced by RedOne, the mid-tempo ballad was previously reported to be the album's lead single but this was changed for reasons unexplained. However, Cher does believe the song may serve as its second single; last month, she said, “The duet with Lady Gaga is great! I think it's [going to be the album's] second single.”

Another song – which she declared as her favourite song on the whole album – will now serve as the album's first single. She recently stated that the single would be released in October 2012. She revealed a few days back that she had “finished” the song.

Music producer Timbaland stated last year that he had been working on new songs for Cher while Cher revealed that she had received a "hot" demo song from him.. He spoke about the Cher songs, saying that they "are coming out dope". He went on to thank colleagues Keithin Pittman and Jim Beanz, who were both involved in the making of the tracks. Beanz is signed to 'Timbaland Productions' and is said to be currently working alongside Timbaland as a vocal producer, and more recently, as a song writer.

Certain comments by Cher later suggested that only one of Timbaland's songs had made the album. Cher explained in April that she was “finishing” the song with vocal producer Kuk Harrell. However, she confused the matter just a few days ago by stated that she will “finish” Timbaland's song “next week”. The Timbaland track is one of three dance songs that she was originally set to work on together with Harrell in April.

Someone else who is signed to 'Timbaland Productions' and is confirmed to be working on the album is music producer J-Roc. Real name Jerome Harmom, J-Roc confirmed to 'Weerai Music' that he would be co-producing Cher's new album. Though he is best known for producing pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, he described his new tracks with Cher as "high energy dance music".

One track on the album that we know the title of is 'Red'. Cher has commented on the song several times and recently made it clear that it was not the track put forward by Timbaland. This could actually be the track that is to be the lead single. Vocal Producer Kuk Harrell has spoken positively of the track recently, saying 'Wait 'til you hear it! Wow!”.

Now, you may have seen Kuk Harrell pop up a couple of times in this article. Kuk is a four-time Grammy Award-winner; arguably his most famous work comes as being a co-writer and vocal producer on Rihanna's worldwide smash 'Umbrella' – a song he won one of his Grammy Awards for. Another Grammy came for his work as a vocal producer on another of Rihanna's number one hits, 'Only Girl In The World'. He is also notable for his work with Jennifer Lopez and Mary J. Blige amongst others. He is as vocal producer on Cher's new album.

R&B star Jason Derülo announced his involvement on the album. He told 'BANG' Showbiz in 2011, "I just wrote a song for Cher which she will be performing. It's a mid tempo club tune so I'm really excited about it." Derülo has had several huge hits since his début in 2009, such as the US #1 hit "Whatcha Say", the UK #1 hits "In My Head", "Don't Wanna Go Home" and the massive hit "Ridin' Solo".

In July this year, Cher announced that popular singer Pink had written two “great” songs for the album. “I've got two new great songs! Pink wrote them!”, she said. She went on to reveal that one of the tracks is a ballad while the other one is both rock and dance. Pink is no stranger to penning hits; some of her biggest hit singles such as her US chart-topping tracks 'Raise Your Glass' and 'So What' showcase her successful songwriting ability.

Several sources have highlighted songwriter Diane Warren's involvement on the album. Of course, Warren has worked with Cher on many occasions. In fact, she has received songwriting credits on every Cher studio album since 1987's 'Cher,' with the one exception being 1995's 'It's A Man's World'.

Warren is most prolific in Cher's career as the songwriter of hits 'If I Could Turn Back Time', 'Love & Understanding', 'Save Up All Your Tears' and co-songwriter of 'Just Like Jesse James'. She received a Golden Globe Award as the songwriter of the 2010 Cher song 'You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me'. Cher revealed in April this year that a dance version of the aforementioned 2010 'Burlesque' ballad would be included on her new studio album. At another moment, one particular tweet from Cher explained that there would be two versions of the song on the album – the other most likely being the original ballad version as heard on the 'Burlesque' soundtrack; she said the album would have, “All new songs except both versions of 'You Haven't Seen The last of Me'”.

A 2012 world tour was confirmed by Cher; she said, “The tour is to promote the new CD”. She announced that the series of concerts would begin in Kansas in September of this year but eventually hinted that it would need to be postponed due to foot injuries.

Of the many delays that the album's release has experienced, Cher commented, “I think the CD is one of my very best and I hope you will think it's worth the wait!” But hopefully we now have little time to wait; last month, she tweeted, “The record company wants it out the end of this year”. On a separate occasion, she stated that she believed it would be released “near Christmas”.