It is Simply The Best by Tina Turner

On November 29thin the year 1939, a girl was born in America. Her parents named her Anna Mae Bullock but in a fifty year span since her 17th birthday, the American singing legend is better known to her fans as Tina Turner, the ex-wife of not-so-legendish Ike Turner. Much to her sister and mother’s extreme opposition to enjoying the nightlife in clubs of St. Louis, Anna who had been choir-schooled in the presentation of voice, wanted to show off her singing talents to a member of the band called ‘Kings of Rhythm’, Ike Turner.

Averse to the idea of letting a minor sing back-up in the band, during intermission of one of their shows, she sang and impressed Ike. It was not permanent nor would she be upfront and if touring and becoming popular was to be, she could not be Anna Bullock, so like little Nell, now Ann is ‘Little Ann’. They were both met in appreciation of her vocals by owner of Sue Records, and a duo was created but now she was Tina Turner, as in turning a new leaf and being a front-runner alongside Ike whom she neither thought was handsome nor a candidate for her heartfelt affections. It just wasn’t hip with the two of them, romantically.

Anyway, this duo eventually did make a marriage (legalizing them as husband and wife in 1962), hold but it was abusive both psychologically, emotionally and physically and finally they divorced and for thirty years until his death, they never spoke. Ike Turner passed on December 12th, 2007; while Tina resides in Switzerland since 1994 with a beau who treats her as she states in ‘better be good to me‘. She is an awarded actress, singer, performer and beneficial contributor to the musicianship of this planet.

I love her music from early days and more recent recordings. This particular album titled ‘Simply The Best by Tina Turner ’ features some of my favorites, not all, and if I were to choose a really BEST-BESTest album, this probably would be it. There are three actual versions of this album, but I am concentrating on the one issued for the US release on October 22nd of 1991.

Now on with my review . . .

|| Artwork & Appearance ||

An attractive well-endowed sultry thick-lipped black woman surrounded by white wearing a stretch tank top, is all you get on the front of Simply The Best by Tina Turner besides the title; while the back printed in medium black lettering is the title to each song and how long it plays, as well as who wrote it.

|| Awards ||

From a post comeback perspective, all but hyped up Nutbush City Limits, the album sparkles and while 2/3rds of the album is Private Dancer material, this album deserves recognition yet gets no actual award.

However, the performer does deserve a Grammy this year for Lifetime Achievement, we’ll see . . .

|| The Genre ||

Her music is a combination of sultry ballads, slow seductive tempos and even dialogue in which questions become hopeful answers to queries posed at the audience listening. The pop, rock and R&B melding is one of musical genius as the guitars, bells, percussions, beats and melodies entice you to sing or move along to the rhythm.

|| NEGATIVES ||

I cannot find anything besides a possible repetition of beats persistent throughout the first five songs that might be classified as a negative from this album, Simply The Best by Tina Turner. If you don’t like rock fused with pop and sultry dashes of R&B with vigor and hype, Tina may not be for you.

|| POSITIVES ||

As the pop, rock and R&B genre has been inundated with scores of hard and soft lyrics, by performers who want to entertain beyond the musical journey, sometimes other peoples words do not always display messages of hope or survival; yet Tina Turner has always personified real with her emotionally-tugging harmonies married to melodies in which words are just the icing on the cake.

This actress, author, dancer, and singer rocks, emphasizing sultry and typifies sexy who will down right woos anyone into feeling better than they felt before they heard her belt out any of these tunes. I see why, based on positions on the various country chart billboard statistics, these songs were picked for her very first compilation album.

There is no advisory warning nor parental stipulations on what she has recorded between early 1970’s to the late 1980’s to early 1990’s, before this was released October 1992.

|| THE SONG(s), in general ||

1. “(Simply) The Best” 4:10 ***

2. “Better Be Good To Me” 3:40 ****

3. “I Can‘t Stand The Rain” 3:44 ****

4. “What‘s Love Got To Do With It” 3:50 *****

5. “I Don‘t Want To Lose You” 4:18 ***

6. “Nutbush City Limits” 3:44 ****

7. “What You Get Is What You See” 4:28 **

8. “Let‘s Stay Together” 3:39 **** 1983

9. “River Deep- Mountain High” 3:37 *** 1966, Ike & Tina

10. “Steamy Windows” 4:02 *****

11. “Typically Male” 4:14 ***

12. “We Don‘t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (7 inch edit) ”4:14 *** 1985

13. “Private Dancer (7 inch edit)” 4:01 ****

14. “Look Me In The Heart” 3:41 **

15. “It Takes Two (duet with Rod Stewart)” 4:13 ***

16. “I Want You Near Me” 3:53 ***

17. “Way Of The World” 4:19 ***

18. “Love Thing” 4:28 ***

All of these songs were recorded at earlier times with a slew of talented musicians. As there are several to list just to name a few are: Chapman, Knight, Bryant, Miller, Peebles, Lyle, Green, Jackson, Chinn, Barry, Greenwich, Spector, Knopfler, Kelly, Moy, Stevenson, Steinberg, Britten and Hammond.

#2 is a favorite of mine because what she demands is pertinent to anyone women just expecting to recieve reciprocal respect without spelling it out like Aretha did. This song was one I carried into my heart and still hold true that is you want me, "You better be good to me' . . .

#4 is also a very important song as for me, love has everything to do with 'it' and I mean in a good, solid relationship loving oneself will bring the right person to love you and although Tina was not love-less of herself when she met Ike, she knew deep down inside #4 would never melt his cold heart and the way she sings it, we get that.

|| STATS ||

Rolling Stone hailed this great lady of music, “one of the greatest singers of all time” because of successful single and album sales reaching the 180 million mark, and of course because her voice is matched by no other in her genre.

|| OVERALL RECOMMENDATION ||

The slow beats and the harmonic chorus accompanied by pizzazz, hype, sexy costumes, built body, and impeccable voice Tina Turner is one NOT to be ignored in your musical listening pleasure. If you own nothing else by Tina, then having this will encourage to feel out all her other material in both music performing and movie acting ability.

I had the rare opportunity of seeing Tina Turner perform over a decade ago and dad Ron was highly impressed with her vocal range, high-kicking dance moves and svelte body at her age which was almost 58. She entertained visually and with an incredible audible covering, on this album (although not live) still catapults you into an arena where thousands flock to hear her sing. The sound is incredible, the songs worthy.

I rate this entire album a **** ½ star achievement, with the ½ star assigned only because Nutbush is different and faster on this album, then its original.

Thank you for listening and reading,

Enjoy !

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