Ike and Tina Turner
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 () - Ike Turner (RIP 2009) -- vocals, guitar - Tina Turner (RIP 2023) -- vocals
|
- Ike Turner (solo efforts) - Tina Turner (solo efforts)
|
|
Genre: blues Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Outta Season Company: Blue Thumb Catalog: BTS 5 Year: 1968 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/ VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $30.00
|
Tom Wilkes was reportedly responsible for the controversial album cover concept with Barry Feinstein serving as the photographer. Seriously, did you think anyone in their right mind was going to want to see their name associated with the album cover? That probably explains why the liner notes carried credits to "Amos and Andy".
Co-produced by Tina Turner and Bob Krasnow, 1968's "Outta Season" marked the Turners' debut on Krasnow's Liberty-affiliated Blue Thumb label. While their roots were in R&B, Ike and Tina had long shown a willingness to adapt to changing public tastes. Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise that in line with audiences moving away from pop and psychedelic to a rediscovery of classic blues, the Turners would offered up a collection heavy on classic blues covers - Willie Dixon, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, etc. Admittedly I've never been a big Ike and Tina fan. Tina's vocals have always struck me as being shrill and over-the-top. She was definitely a member of the Janis Joplin school of more-and-louder-is-better. Ike's reputation as a guitar slinger - well I just never got it. And that's where the album surprised me. I figured a blues collection would be a ticket that allowed Tina to go even deeper into the over-singing mode. I was wrong. On tracks like her cover of T-Bone Walker's 'Mean Old World', Eddie Boyd's 'Five Long Years' and their bouncy version of Willie Dixon's 'My Babe'' her performances reflected an unheard degree of restraint. Best of the lot was her performance on a rocked-up cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's 'Crazy 'Bout You Baby.' The set was rounded out by two original compositions - Ike's forgettable instrumental 'Grumbling' and Tina's stark remake of the hymn 'City Called Heaven.' Too this day I am surprised by how much I like the album.
"Outta
Season" track listing:
1.) I've Been Loving You Too Long (Otis Redding - Jerry Butler) - 3:40 rating: **** stars Give the credit for taking on an Otis Redding classic. For once Tina managed to largely tame her excesses turning in a performance that came close to surpassing Redding's original. If you listen closely you can hear Ike in the background. Blue Thumb tapped the track as the album's leadoff single:
- 1968's 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' b/w 'Grumbling' (Blue Thumb catalog number BLU 101) # 68 Billboard pop; # 23 R&B YouTube has a couple of live performances of the song. Recorded as part of a 1971 concert in Accra, Ghana, this may be the best of the lot: Ike & Tina Turner - I've Been Loving You Too Long ( Concert Soul to Soul, Accra, Ghana 1971 ) (youtube.com) 2.) Mean Old World (T-Bone Walk - adapted by Ike Turner) - 2:20 rating: **** stars I've never been a big blues fan, but Tina's cover of T-Bone Walker's 'Mean Old World' was an exception. The Turner's didn't mess with the original's melody, but they smoothed it out a little with Tina adding back an edge with her vocals. Shame this one was so short. 3.) 3 O 'Clock in the Morning Blues (B.B. King - Jules Taub) - 2:35 rating: *** stars Their cover isn't going to make you forget the B.B. King original. About the best I can say is Tina turned in a surprisingly restrained reading and Ike got a chance to showcase his frequently overlooked fret work. 4.) Five Long Years (Eddie Boyd) - 3:20 rating: **** stars Reaching for a lower vocal range Tina's cover of Eddie Boyd's 'Five Long Years' was one of the album's standout performance. The lyrics certainly seem to resonated with her challenging personal life. 5.) Dust My Broom (Robert Johnson - adapted by Ike Turner) - 2:30 rating: **** stars Robert Johnson's 'Dust My Broom' was already a long time staple in the Turners' catalog. They'd initially recorded a cover for Ray Charles' Tangerine Records back in 1966. It was even released as a single. Perhaps an effort to capitalize on the "Outta Season" LP, Tangerine reissued the 45 in 1971. The remake dropped the original's R&B arrangement, including Ikettes on backing vocals and the blaring horns in favor of a much bluesier attack. I actually like the redo better, though again it was too short.
-
1966's 'Dust My Broom' b/w 'I'm Hooked' (Tangerine catalog number
45-TRC-967)
6.) Grumbling (Ike Turner) (instrumental) - 2:35 rating: ** stars One of two originals, 'Grumbling' was a pedestrian instrumental that served to give Ike's guitar work a moment in the spotlight. Nothing spectacular. 7.) I Am a Motherless Child (Tina Turner) - 3:30 rating: **** stars Although credited to Tina, 'I Am a Motherless Child' was largely based on the hymn 'City Called Heaven.' Unlike anything else on the album, it was the album's prettiest performance with another unexpectedly restrained Tina performance. I'd argue it was one of her best performances; the stark arrangement has always reminded me of The Animals' 'House of the Rising Son.'
(side 2) 1.) Crazy 'Bout You Baby (Sonny Boy Williamson) - 3:25 rating: **** stars Abandoning the original's blues sound, their remake of Sonny Boy Williamson's 'Crazy 'Bout You Baby' turned the song into a breezy rocker that had top-40 hit written all over it. Easily the album's most commercial performance (one of the most radio-ready things they ever recorded), you just had to wonder how radio missed this one. The Turner's UK label certainly got it, flipping the US single around with this track serving as the "A" side:
- 1972's 'Crazy 'Bout You Baby' b/w 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' (Liberty catalog number LBF 15233)
2.) Reconsider Baby (Lowell Fulson) - 2:40 rating: *** stars 'Reconsider Baby' served as one of the album's most conventional covers. Pleasant, but not particularly memorable. 3.) Honest I Do (Ewart Abner - Jimmy Reed) - 2:20 rating: *** stars Well I liked Ike's harmonica accompaniment ... 4.) Please Love Me (B.B. King - Jules Taub) - 2:10 rating: *** stars Their cover of B.B. King's 'Please Love Me' underscored my surprise at discovering how good Tina could be when she kept her vocal excesses under control. 5.) My Babe (Willie Dixon) - 1:50 rating: **** stars A breezy, rollicking over of the classic 'My Babe' served as another album and another song that would have benefited from a longer arrangement. The song also provided Ike's nicest soloing. 6.) Rock Me Baby (B.B. King - Joe Josea) - 2:45 rating: *** stars Who hasn't heard this B.B. King tune hundreds of times? It's been recorded by thousands of groups; most of them not coming close to King's original. Like most of the other covers, this one wasn't going to make you forget the original performance, but Tina's laidback groove was quite attractive and Ike's brief solo was equally enjoyable. Nice way to end the collection.
© 06/2024 Scott R. Blackerby
|
|
Genre: soul Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Let Me Touch Your Mind Company: United Artists Catalog: UAS-5660 Year: 1973 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: punch out hole top right corner; gimmick cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 6046 Price: $15.00
|
Well, at least the album packaging was pretty cool. The back panel was folded into four discrete squares which had to be unfolded in order to take the LP out. Imagine an elaborate origami structure ..
"Let Me
Touch Your Mind" track listing:
1.) Let Me Touch Your Mind (D. Sain) - 3:59 rating: * star 'Let Me Touch Your Mind' stood as a perfect example of everything wrong with Ike and Tina records. Tina's worst over-singing traits were in full form here. For whatever reason she continued to confuse vocal prowess with shrill shrieking. The fact this was a simply horrible song didn't exactly help the situation. That didn't stop United Artists from tapping it as a single: YouTube has a clip of the Turners performing the song for French television: Ike and Tina Turner - 'Let Me Touch Your Mind' 1972 (youtube.com)
- 1972's Let Me Touch Your Mind' b/w 'Chopper' (United Artists catalog number 50955) 2.) Annie Had a Baby (Henry Glover - L. Mann) - 3:43 rating: * star While it wasn't a great performance, 'Annie Had a Baby' was at least interesting for it's old school soul feel. It was also a true Ike and Tina collaboration with the pair sharing lead vocals. Interestingly, listening to this track the pair appeared to have zero chemistry. I've seldom heard a male/female duet with less charm. In fact their shared vocals were simply irritating with Ike's voice having the same appeal as chalk on a blackboard. They almost sounded like they were trying to undo one another. Gawd only knows why but the track was released as a single in Portugal:
- 1973's 'Annie Had a Baby' b/w 'Help Him' (United Artists N-S-14-73) 3.) Don't Believe Her (Ike Turner) - 2:51 rating: *** star
The lone Ike Turner composition, 'Don't Believe Her' started out on a high note, Sporting a tasty soul melody, Tina actually showed some restraint across the first couple of lines, but then quickly reverted to her patented shrieky vocals. Hard to imagine it, but Ike's Pop Staples-styled vocal was actually far better and he turned in a nice guitar solo, though the overly long sax solo didn't do much for me. 4.) I Had a Notion (Tina Turner) - 3:44 rating: * star Geez, given Tina's cart wailing screech, the bluesy 'I Had a Notion' never had a chance. 5.) Popcorn (Tina Turner) - 3:08 rating: *** stars Opening up with some tasty Ike fuzz guitar and some extraordinarily cheesy synthesizers and bubble sound effects (which I love), 'Popcorn' was the album's funkiest number. The bass will make your speakers distort !!! Unfortunately, once again Tina's harsh vocals managed to suck away much of the song's charm.
(side 2) 1.) Early One Morning (R. Whittaker) - 3:38 rating: *** star With an old school R&B edge, 'Early One Morning' was the one track where Tina actually showed a bit of vocal restraint. It made for a nice change of pace. 2.) Help Him (Tina Turner) - 3:42 rating: *** star Hum, the thought of either of the dysfunctional Turners handing out marital advice was certainly thought provoking. In hindsight, given Tina's tortuous relationship with Ike, this was one ironic performance. Hard to listen to her singing 'there's no such thing as a perfect man ...' 3.) Up On the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 2:55 rating: ** stars Subjecting a pop classic like 'Up On the Roof ' to the Turner 'rock' treatment was one of those ideas that probably sounded better on paper than in execution. Tina's strangled vocal was very strange and certainly wasn't going to make you forget the original, but the performance certainly had a certain bizarre appeal. 4.) Home Free (J. Berry - D. Black) - 3:28 rating: ** stars While I always liked the song 'Home Free' Tina's harsh vocal did nothing to improve the track. 5.) Heaven Help Us All (R. Miller) - 3:12 rating: ** stars The closer 'Heaven Help Us All' got my choice for worst performance. Tina sounded uncomfortable with the song, turning in an exceptionally ragged performance that was only underscored by the Gospel-tinged chorus. Yech.
© 06/2024 Scott R. Blackerby
|
|
Genre: soul Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The World of Ike & Tina Live! Company: United Artists Catalog: UALA064-G2 Year: 1973 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG / VG Comments: double LP set; gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5257 Price: $20.00
|
While I’m not a gigantic Ike and Tina Turner fan, I picked
this 21 track live double album set up at a central Virginia antique store
given the fact I’d never seen a copy before.
Produced by Jackie Clark, Warren Dawson, Soko Richardson, and Ike
Turner, 1973’s “The World of Ike & Tina
Live!” proved a surprisingly enjoyable early-1970s era
concert set, complete with MC, warm up band, etc.
Musically the album served to showcase the unique and the
schizophrenic marketing niche Ike and Tina had carved out for themselves.
Exemplified by tracks like ‘Dust My Broom’, ‘Let Me Touch Your
Mind’ and ‘Annie Had a Baby’ their roots were clearly in R&B and
soul. Ike in particular seemed
more comfortable with the bluesier material (‘You’re Still My Baby’).
Ironically, by the late-1960s their sales were coming from a rock
(read white) audience with little understanding or interest in those roots.
Those marketing demographics gave the set an odd feel though you had to
respect the Turners for keeping them in the set list.
It also left Tina to handle the rock-oriented numbers.
Accordingly most of the spotlight was on Tina. She was clearly quite a performer, though to my ears her
performances were frequently hyperactive and shrill (check out the two
Beatles covers ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ and ‘Get Back’).
That left Ike's performances as the album's biggest surprise.
Exemplified by ‘If You Love Me like You Say (You Wouldn’t Treat
Me Like You Do)’ (written by Tina) and the Tina duet ‘Games People
Play’ his gruff voice and raw guitar were criminally overlooked.
Ironically, by the late-1960s their sales were coming from a rock audience
with little understanding or interest in those roots.
Sure, the album was probably bolstered by a significant amount of
post-production work (some of the audience sounds seemed dubbed) and some of
the edits were a bit abrupt, but the sound and performances were all pretty
impressive. Doug Johnson’s
stylized cover painting was also nifty. "The World
of Ike and Tina Live!" track listing: 1.) Theme from “Shaft”
(Isaac Hayes) – 2.) I Gotcha (Joe
Tex) – 3.) Intro To Tina 4.) She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
(John Lennon – Paul McCartney) – 5.) You’re Still My Baby
(Chuck. Willis) – 6.) Don’t Fight It
(Wilson Pickett – Steve Cropper) –
(side 2) 1.) Annie Had a Baby
(H Glover – L. Mann) - 2.) With a Little Help From My Friends (John Lennon – Paul McCartney) –
3.) Get Back (John Lennon – Paul McCartney) – 4.) Games People Play (Joe
South) – 5.) Honky Tonk Women
(Mick Jagger – Keith Richards) –
(side 3) 1.) If You Love Me like You Say (You Wouldn’t Treat Me Like
You Do) (Tina Turner) –
2.) I Can’t Turn You Loose
(Otis Redding) – 3.) I Wish It Would Rain
(Barrett Strong – Norman Whitfield – R. Penzabene) – 4.) Just One More Day
(Otis Redding – Steve Cropper – M. Robinson) – 5.) Stand By Me (B.
King – E. Glick)
(side 4) 1.) Dust My Broom (Elmore James) – 2.) River Deep, Mountain High
(Phil Spector – Jeff Barry – Ellie Greenwich) – 3.) Let Me Touch Your Mind
(O. Sain) – 4.) Chopper (Tina
Turner) 5.) 1-2-3 (J.
Mandara – D. White – L. Borisoff)
|
