Ike and Tina Turner

What comes to mind when you hear the name, Ike and Tina Turner?

Is it Abuse? How about "Eat the cake Anna Mae"?


Well, I am 17 years old...and I love the music of Ike and Tina Turner! I am so tired of seeing youtube comments posted on their videos saying "OMG...her lip is swollen!" or "You can tell she just got beat."

I believe Ike did abuse Tina...no doubt about that. But Ike apologized, and Tina forgave him. So why can't we forgive him? The world can be a cruel place. I don't justify spousal abuse at all, but leaving comments on the internet telling Ike to burn in hell doens't help the situation either. The past is the past and there is nothing anyone can do to change it.

Instead of cursing him for his abusive ways, why can't we just appreciate some of his music? This is impossible for many. I just don't understand why so many people who have not even personally met (or survived in an abusive relationship for 16 years with) this man have so much anger and hatred stored up inside against Ike Turner.

Once again, I don't support abusive behavior. I just want to share some good music with people. What can this man do to be forgiven by America? In my opinion, I think before anyone watches the movie, they should read the book. The book has more details and is much more accurate. I like the idea of "What's Love Got to Do With It", but some things in the movie did not line up with reality. For example:

- Ike did not rape Tina. Tina Turner said that sex was like rape while she was married to Ike.

- In the movie, Tina's first child was by Ike born in 1960. NOT TRUE. Her first child was by Ike's sax player, Raymond Hill in 1958.

- Proud Mary was performed in 1968 in the movie. The Turners' took Proud Mary from the band CCR, who released the song in 1969.

Aside from the Turners' hidden turmoil, they have created (and covered) some wonderful songs. We've all heard of "Proud Mary". Most have heard "River Deep Mountain High" and "Nutbush City Limits". I have many favorite Ike and Tina Turner songs. I will name my top twenty favorites.


TONI'S TOP TWENTY TURNER TUNES!


20. Stagger Lee and Billy

This song was covered by Ike and Tina Turner. Tina has strong vocals. I have no clue who wrote the original song. This song can be found on the album "The Sensational Ike and Tina Turner."

--"Stagger Lee, he shot Billy. Oh he shot that poor boy so bad, till the bullet came through Billy and it broke the bartenders glass"--


19. It's Gonna Work Out Fine

This is one of Ike and Tina's original songs, written in 1961. I like the brief call and response between Ike and Tina. This was played in the movie also. I think Ike is a great guitarist. This is on the album "It's Gonna Work Out Fine". You can see the dynamic duo perform this on Youtube."

--"Tina: Ikey, I've been to see the preacherman.
Ike: The preacherman? You must be losing your mind."---


18. Fool in Love

I have never heard anyone sing this song stronger than Tina Turner herself. The beggining sends chills down my spine. This song was recorded in 1960 after the man who was supposed to record it didn't show up. So Ike asked Tina to record the song. Waalah!

--Ways of action, speaks louder than word. The truest saying that I ever heard. I trust my man and all that he do and I'll do anything he wants me to."---



17. Shake A Tailfeather

This song was covered by Ike and Tina sometimes in the 60's. I believe Ray Charles wrote it, but I am not sure. Whenever this song comes on, I just have to dance!!! This song was also in the movie. (Remember, Ike playing the guitar with his Beatles wig?)

--"Bend over let me see ya shake a tailfeather!"


16. I'll Never Need More Than This

This song is from the River Deep Mountain High LP. It is a very classy love song, but doesn't come close to River Deep Mountain High. I just discovered the song recently and I fell in love with it.

--"And you'll never know, the way I feel inside. I can only say, that I'm all filled up with pride loving you."---


15. I Want to Take You Higher

Ike and Tina covered this dance song in 1970...or 71. They took Sly and the Family Stones' song and added some dance steps and Tina's voice. Can't ruin a song if you do that. Since Sly's version was funky and upbeat, I can't say it was much better. This is recorded on the Turner's album, "I Want to Take You Higher".

--"Boom shaka laka laka, boom shaka la, boom ka boom!"--


14. A Love Like Yours

This song was also from the LP River Deep Mountain High. I like the audio recording, but it doesn't come close to the live version.

--"You make my life life complete, so now I know, I'm gonna love you, all my life. You can believe me, I'm gonna hold on tight"---

13. Contact High

This is a rare song. It's all about Tina Turner at a party...getting high. The guitar is the best part of the song. It's fast and upbeat. I like the music, but the lyrics are strange. This is the entire song...

--"I told them at first that I didn`t wanna smoke
But they reached in the sack and pulled out some coke
and I said OH!
Don`t do that, don`t do that I got stoned"---

12. You Got What You Wanted

I feel in love with this song the first time I heard it. She belted the notes out as if it was nothing in the short clip of her performing on the Hollywood Palace in '68. This is a song many people can relate to.

--"I guess you thought I'd be....somthing I'm not. You got what you wanted, now you don't want what you got."

11. I Smell Trouble

This is a blues song, and honestly, I hate the blues. But Ike and Tina manage to add funk and soul to this song. Ike's guitar solo is flawless.

--"People talk about me, I know they talk about me night and day, but I say Lord please forgive them, and I go the other way."--

10. Proud Mary


Yea, it ranks as number 10 on my list. Just because I like Ike and Tina doesn't mean my favorite song is Proud Mary. It's a good dance song released in 1971. The original song is by CCR. The original reocording is on the record "Workin' Together".


--"So were gonna take the beginning of this song...And do it easy....Then were gonna do the finish rough. This is the way we do proud mary"--




9. Come Together


This is a slow, smooth song...alot calmer than the usual Ike and Tina songs. The original song is by the Beatles. Ike and Tina have covered a few songs by the Beatles (Get Back, A Little Help from My Friends...etc). I love seeing this song performed live.


--"He say one and one and one is three, got to be good looking cause he so hard too see."--




8. I've Been Loving You Too Long


This song was recorded on the album "Outta Season". This Otis Redding song is very intense and emotional...but the song takes a turn for the worst. The song would have been perfect if Ike and Tina hadn't added a sex dialogue at the end. This ruined the song, but the beginning is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.


--"You are tired, and you love is growing cold. But my love is growing stronger as our affair grows old."--




7. Feel Good


This is a 1972 song on the album "Feel Good". Ike plays piano just as well as the guitar, and Tina puts every ounce of feeling into the song as the backup singers support her.


--"I got my good side on...turned my bad side off."--




6. Baby, Get It On


This is one of the last songs Ike and Tina recorded in 1975. I heard that Marc Bolan wrote the guitar part (which is too awesome for life). It is rare that Ike sings with Tina. This is on the album "Acid Queen".


--"You the finest girl I ever saw in my life. I wanna stick to you like white on rice."--

5. Bold Soul Sister

Ike Turner actually wrote this song ( I guess), but they took the tune from Sly and the Family Stones "Sing a Simple Song". The song is really unique. Tina sings with full force while backup sings..."DO WHAT YOU WANNA WHEN YOU WANNA HOW YOU WANNA NOW, DO YA THANG BOLD SISTA!!!"

--"Sock it to me biscuit! Bring it on down to the bone. Clean em like big boys with hairy backs Hey Hey!"--

4. Nutbush City Limits


I love this song. Tina Turner wrote this song about her hometown in Nutbush Tennesse. The song has simple lyrics and a great guitar beat. The song was released in 1973.


--"Church house gin house, school house outhouse. On highway number 19, the people keep the city clean."--




3. Bayou Song


The Bayou Song is a country song about a woman who is tired of working day and night in the Bayou. The song was released in 1975 on the album "Tina Turns the Country On". One of my favorites ever.


--"I been out workin in the long cold night, I'm too tired to eat, to hungry to fight."--




2. He Belongs to Me


Ike and Tina covered Bob Dylan's song "She Belongs to Me". This was also on the album "Tina Turns the Country On." This song is so beautiful and peaceful. It's rare and many people don't know about it.




--"ON Halloween by him a trumpet, but for Christmas, by him a gun."--




1. River Deep Mountain High


The best song in the world!!! Written by Phil Spector in 1966. It didn't sell well in America but the Europeans loved it. This song was in the movie. This song doesn't get the credit it deserves, but it ranked number 33 on the Rolling Stone Magazine "Greatest Songs of All Times."





ARE YOU CURIOUS TO HEAR ANY OF THE SONGS ON THIS LIST? I WILL GIVE YOUTUBE LINKS FOR EACH OF THE SONGS.


MY YOUTUBE PAGE IS http://www.youtube.com/user/veryboredchild



20. Stagger Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCb9eAUFNk

19. It's Gonna Work Out Fine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as2JvEHMroo

18. Fool In Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwaxT7zL7kA

17. Shake A Tailfeather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVqILRsoiQY

16. I'll Never Need More Than This
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAyH1jujQJY

15. I Want to Take You Higher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lHtYsMGuVU

14. A Love Like Yours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIgPhKE9x9Q

13. Contact High
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPRUaDYPUq4

12. You Got What You Wanted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZjS5YOrrKA

11. I Smell Trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdM_5FaZb9c

10. Proud Mary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDQlekag24&feature=related

9. Come Together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsYievNNITE

8. I've Been Loving You Too Long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilpVhUu27KM&feature=related

7. Feel Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNidCqGw8rA

6. Baby, Get It On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5H6Bu5_K3w

5. Bold Soul Sister
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCtnYsqBp6A

4. Nutbush City Limits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipOz_k9zvzo

3. The Bayou Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAlpBB_EbqQ

2. He Belongs to Me
(Look above at video)

1. River Deep Mountain High
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KkMSkmx7sM

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