Private Dancer
Encyclopedia
Private Dancer is the fifth solo album by Tina Turner
, released on Capitol Records
in 1984, which became her breakthrough solo album
. Turner's success with the album came after several challenging years of going solo after a public divorce
from husband and performing partner Ike Turner
. It is her best-selling album both in the U.S. and internationally and propelled her back to superstardom during the year of its release.
The album produced a number of highly successful singles including "What's Love Got to Do with It" which went to number one and stayed there for three weeks. At the 1985 Grammy Awards, Private Dancer won four of the six awards for which it was nominated. No less than seven of the album's ten tracks (nine in the U.S.) were released as singles; "Let's Stay Together
" produced by Martyn Ware
and Ian Craig Marsh
of British band Heaven 17
, a UK Top 10 hit and a US Top 20 hit and the first sign of what was to come (1983), "Help
" recorded with The Crusaders
, Graham Lyle and Terry Britten
's reggae-tinged "What's Love Got to Do with It", Holly Knight
and Mike Chapman's "Better Be Good to Me
", Mark Knopfler
's "Private Dancer
" with a guitar solo by Jeff Beck
(1984) and "I Can't Stand the Rain
" and "Show Some Respect
" (1985). The preceding UK single "Ball of Confusion", a cover of The Temptations
song which was Turner's first collaboration with the B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
/Heaven 17
production team and part of their collaborative 1982 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One was not included on the Private Dancer album. A recording of Sam Cooke
's "A Change Is Gonna Come
" from the same sessions would re-appear in remixed form on B.E.F.'s Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two in 1991, and Turner also performed the track with this arrangement on her 1986/1987 Break Every Rule Tour
, and it was later included on her 1988 live album Tina Live in Europe
.
The Private Dancer album was a radical departure from the R&B
and soul music
Turner had performed with her former husband. The songs reflected a more straightforward rock sensibility, but mixed in elements of pop, R&B, and New Wave music
and the album had an overall soundscape with prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines, especially on the tracks produced by Martyn Ware
, Graham Lyle, Terry Britten
and Rupert Hine
.
Following the success of Private Dancer, Turner released four further singles in 1984 and 1985, the first a duet with David Bowie
called "Tonight" from his album of the same name, another duet in 1985 with Bryan Adams
called "It's Only Love" taken from Adams' 1984 album Reckless, followed by two tracks in 1985 from the soundtrack album to the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
in which Turner starred against Mel Gibson
; "We Don't Need Another Hero
" and "One of the Living
". This meant that Turner within the space of some eighteen months had managed to release no less than eleven singles altogether - all commercially successful.
, the parent label of Capitol Records
, released a digitally remastered Centenary Edition of the Private Dancer album on CD, then including four additional demo tracks recorded in late 1983 and early 1984 with the producer John Carter, first released as B-sides to some of the Private Dancer singles, as well as three extended 12" remixes. The album remains the only Tina Turner studio album to have been re-issued in digitally remastered form.
claimed her voice was so hot it "melts vinyl."
In 1989, the album was ranked #46 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s. In 2003, the TV network
VH1
named Private Dancer the 95th greatest album of all time.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, released on Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1984, which became her breakthrough solo album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
. Turner's success with the album came after several challenging years of going solo after a public divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
from husband and performing partner Ike Turner
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
. It is her best-selling album both in the U.S. and internationally and propelled her back to superstardom during the year of its release.
Album history
The album was an outstanding success. Private Dancer has been certified 5 × Platinum (5 million) in the United States and sold around 250,000 each week for 2 months. Worldwide the album has been estimated to have sold over 20 million copies.The album produced a number of highly successful singles including "What's Love Got to Do with It" which went to number one and stayed there for three weeks. At the 1985 Grammy Awards, Private Dancer won four of the six awards for which it was nominated. No less than seven of the album's ten tracks (nine in the U.S.) were released as singles; "Let's Stay Together
Let's Stay Together (song)
"Let's Stay Together" is a song by Al Green on his 1972 album of the same name. Released as a single in 1971, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 16 weeks and also topped Billboards R&B chart for nine weeks. It was ranked the 60th greatest song of all time...
" produced by Martyn Ware
Martyn Ware
Martyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
and Ian Craig Marsh
Ian Craig Marsh
Ian Craig Marsh is a former English musician. He was a founding member of the electronic band The Human League, writing and playing on their first two albums and several singles, until leaving in 1980 to form B.E.F...
of British band Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
, a UK Top 10 hit and a US Top 20 hit and the first sign of what was to come (1983), "Help
Help! (song)
"Help!" is a song by The Beatles that served as the title song for both the 1965 film and its soundtrack album. It was also released as a single, and was number one for three weeks in both the United States and the United Kingdom....
" recorded with The Crusaders
The Crusaders
The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group , 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" .-History:In 1960, following the demise of a...
, Graham Lyle and Terry Britten
Terry Britten
Terry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
's reggae-tinged "What's Love Got to Do with It", Holly Knight
Holly Knight
Holly Knight is a songwriter, vocalist and musician of pop and rock music.- Biography :She was born in New York City and started playing classical piano as a young child. She soon became interested in rock music, and left home at about sixteen to pursue her dreams...
and Mike Chapman's "Better Be Good to Me
Better Be Good to Me
"Better Be Good to Me" is a hit single from Tina Turner's solo album, Private Dancer. The song had originally been released in 1981 by Spider, a band from New York City with co-writer Holly Knight as a member. The Turner version was successful in the United States on the Hot 100 and the US...
", Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
's "Private Dancer
Private Dancer (song)
"Private Dancer" is a hit song recorded by Tina Turner, and written by Mark Knopfler. It is the title track of Tina Turner's most successful album, Private Dancer. The song is viewed from the prospective of a high-class prostitute, and it reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number...
" with a guitar solo by Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
(1984) and "I Can't Stand the Rain
I Can't Stand the Rain (song)
"I Can't Stand the Rain" is a song originally recorded by Ann Peebles, and written by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller & Ann Peebles. The song became Peebles' biggest hit when in 1973 it reached #38 on the US Pop Chart and #6 on the R&B/Black Chart. The single also reached #41 on the UK Pop...
" and "Show Some Respect
Show Some Respect
"Show Some Respect", released in 1985, is the sixth single from pop/rock singer Tina Turner's Private Dancer album. The song was written by Terry Britten and Sue Shifrin. It was not released as a single in Europe. The song found moderate success in the US and minor success in Canada. The B-side to...
" (1985). The preceding UK single "Ball of Confusion", a cover of The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
song which was Turner's first collaboration with the B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
B.E.F. are a band/production company formed by former Human League members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh who later became Heaven 17 .-History:Ware and Marsh's first release as B.E.F...
/Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
production team and part of their collaborative 1982 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One was not included on the Private Dancer album. A recording of Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
's "A Change Is Gonna Come
A Change Is Gonna Come (song)
"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1964 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label shortly after his death in late 1964. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song came to exemplify the...
" from the same sessions would re-appear in remixed form on B.E.F.'s Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two in 1991, and Turner also performed the track with this arrangement on her 1986/1987 Break Every Rule Tour
Break Every Rule Tour
The Break Every Rule Tour is the fourth worldwide concert tour by American singer Tina Turner. The tour supported her second album Break Every Rule. It was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and broke box office records in 13 different countries...
, and it was later included on her 1988 live album Tina Live in Europe
Tina Live in Europe
Tina Live in Europe is the first live album by Tina Turner and was released in 1988.-Overview:This album is compiled of live performances made between the years 1985 and 1987, the majority of which are from Turner's Break Every Rule Tour but also from the 1985 Private Dancer Tour, as well as the...
.
The Private Dancer album was a radical departure from the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
Turner had performed with her former husband. The songs reflected a more straightforward rock sensibility, but mixed in elements of pop, R&B, and New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and the album had an overall soundscape with prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines, especially on the tracks produced by Martyn Ware
Martyn Ware
Martyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
, Graham Lyle, Terry Britten
Terry Britten
Terry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
and Rupert Hine
Rupert Hine
Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
.
Following the success of Private Dancer, Turner released four further singles in 1984 and 1985, the first a duet with David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
called "Tonight" from his album of the same name, another duet in 1985 with Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
called "It's Only Love" taken from Adams' 1984 album Reckless, followed by two tracks in 1985 from the soundtrack album to the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is a 1985 Australian post-apocalyptic film directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie, written by Miller, Doug Mitchell and Terry Hayes, and starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. It is the third installment in the action movie Mad Max franchise...
in which Turner starred against Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
; "We Don't Need Another Hero
We Don't Need Another Hero
"We Don't Need Another Hero " is the hit theme song to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. The single was recorded by Turner, who played Aunty Entity in the movie...
" and "One of the Living
One of the Living
One of the Living is a 1985 song recorded by the American singer Tina Turner. The song was one of two songs Turner recorded for the soundtrack for the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and is played over the film's opening credits....
". This meant that Turner within the space of some eighteen months had managed to release no less than eleven singles altogether - all commercially successful.
Centenary Edition
In 1997, EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, the parent label of Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, released a digitally remastered Centenary Edition of the Private Dancer album on CD, then including four additional demo tracks recorded in late 1983 and early 1984 with the producer John Carter, first released as B-sides to some of the Private Dancer singles, as well as three extended 12" remixes. The album remains the only Tina Turner studio album to have been re-issued in digitally remastered form.
Critical response
The critical reviews of the album were ecstatic. The New York Times declared that the album was a "landmark" in the "evolution of pop-soul music." The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
claimed her voice was so hot it "melts vinyl."
In 1989, the album was ranked #46 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s. In 2003, the TV network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
named Private Dancer the 95th greatest album of all time.
Track listing
B-sides
| Title | Single(s) |
|---|---|
| "I Wrote a Letter" | "Let's Stay Together" |
| "Rock 'n Roll Widow" | "Help!" |
| "Don't Rush the Good Things" | "What's Love Got to Do with It" |
| "When I Was Young" | "Better Be Good to Me" |
| "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" | "Private Dancer" |
| "Let's Pretend We're Married" (Live) | "I Can't Stand the Rain" and "Show Some Respect" |
Musicians
- Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocals - Gary BarnacleGary BarnacleGary Barnacle is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work Gary Barnacle (born 1959, Dover, England) is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work...
– saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Terry BrittenTerry BrittenTerry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
– guitar, vocals, background vocals - Graham BroadGraham BroadGraham Broad is an English drummer who has been playing professionally since the age of fifteen, after attending the Royal College of Music in 1970....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Alex BrownAlex BrownAlex Brown may refer to:*Sandy Brown *Alex Brown , Scottish footballer*Alex Brown , English rugby union player...
– background vocals - Alexandra Brown – vocals
- Bob Carter – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
- Alan ClarkAlan Clark (keyboardist)Alan Clark is an English musician who was the first and main keyboardist for the British rock band Dire Straits.- Biography :...
– percussion, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
– saxophone - David CullenDavid CullenDavid Cullen is a former basketball player who currently assists the organisation Crossover Basketball with its work in Northern Ireland...
– strings - Cy CurninCy CurninCy Curnin is a singer/songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist for the new wave music group, The Fixx. The band became famous with the song "One Thing Leads to Another" in 1983, and remained popular in the United States throughout the 1980s...
– vocals, background vocals - Julian Diggle – percussion
- David ErvinDavid ErvinDavid Ervin is a jazz funk keyboard player.From the age of 10 Ervin grew up in Altadena, California, where he began to take after his musical father DiFosco Ervin, a.k.a. Big Dee Irwin. DiFosco Ervin was a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who led the Doo-Wop singing group "The Pastels"...
– synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Gwen Evans – vocals, background vocals
- Charles Fearing – guitar
- Wilton FelderWilton FelderWilton Lewis Felder is both a saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of The Crusaders, initially called the Jazz Crusaders. Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded the group while in high school in Houston...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, saxophone - Nick Glennie-SmithNick Glennie-SmithNick Glennie-Smith is a film composer whose most prominent work is a collaboration with Hans Zimmer on the score to the 1996 action film The Rock as well as work on the 1993 drama Point of No Return...
– keyboards - Glenn GregoryGlenn GregoryGlenn Gregory is an English musician. A founding member of Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Temptation"....
– vocals, background vocals - Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
– bass, percussion, keyboards, vocals, background vocals - John IllsleyJohn IllsleyJohn Illsley is an English musician who rose to fame as the bass guitarist of the critically acclaimed rock band, Dire Straits...
– bass - Graham JarvisGraham JarvisGraham Jarvis was a Canadian character actor in US films and TV from the 1960s.Born in Toronto, Jarvis attended Williams College before moving to New York to pursue a career in theater...
– drums - Hal LindesHal LindesHal Andrew Lindes is an English-American guitarist and film score composer.In 1980 he began recording a solo album with producer Al Kooper, along with Herbie Flowers on bass and John Bradbury on drums...
– guitar - Billy LivseyBilly LivseyBilly Livsey is an American songwriter, keyboardist, and producer from Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked for many musicians including Tina Turner, Kevin Ayers, 801, Gerry Rafferty, Five Star, and Kenny Rogers.-References:*...
– keyboards - Trevor Morais – drums
- Simon Morton – percussion
- Tessa NilesTessa NilesTessa Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of artists.-Early life and career:Born in Kent, Niles began her professional singing career, as both a lead and a backing vocalist, in 1979...
– vocals, background vocals - Nick Plytas – synthesizer, piano
- Frank RicottiFrank RicottiFrank Ricotti is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.Ricotti played in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra while a teenager, then attended Trinity College of Music...
– percussion - Ray RussellRay RussellRay Russell was an American writer of short stories, novels, and screenplays. In 1991 he received the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement....
– guitar - Joe SampleJoe SampleJoseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an American pianist, keyboard player and composer.He is one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 .- Biography :Sample began playing the piano...
– synthesizer, piano - Nick SmithNick SmithNick Smith may refer to:* Nick Smith , British socialite, designer, author, recording artist, actor and philanthropist* Nick Smith , Labour Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent* Nick Smith Nick Smith may refer to:* Nick Smith (milliner) (born 1981), British socialite, designer, author,...
– keyboards - David T. WalkerDavid T. WalkerDavid T. Walker is an American guitarist born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to numerous session musician duties since the early 1970s, Walker has issued over twelve albums in his own name.-Career:...
– guitar - Greg Walsh – synthesizer
- Martyn WareMartyn WareMartyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
– synthesizer, vocals, background vocals - Jamie West-Oram – guitar
- Terry WilliamsTerry Williams (drummer)Terrence "Terry" Williams is a Welsh rock drummer, whose resume includes work for Dire Straits, B. B. King, and Bob Dylan....
– drums - Richie Zito – guitar
Production
- Producers: Terry BrittenTerry BrittenTerry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
, John Carter, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Wilton FelderWilton FelderWilton Lewis Felder is both a saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of The Crusaders, initially called the Jazz Crusaders. Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded the group while in high school in Houston...
, Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
, Joe SampleJoe SampleJoseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an American pianist, keyboard player and composer.He is one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 .- Biography :Sample began playing the piano...
, Greg Walsh, Martyn WareMartyn WareMartyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"... - Engineers: F. Byron Clark, John HudsonJohn HudsonJohn Hudson may refer to:* John Hudson , older brother of actor William Hudson* John Hudson , former NFL player* John Hudson , former American basketball player...
, Walter SamuelWalter SamuelWalter Adrián Samuel is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Internazionale. Throughout his career he has been regarded as one of football's toughest defenders, with team-mate and Inter captain Javier Zanetti referring to him as the "hardest player" he has played with.Having been gifted...
, Greg Walsh, Stephen W TaylerStephen W TaylerStephen Tayler is a mixing and recording engineer, music producer, composer and sound designer who has contributed this collection of talents to hundreds of world-class albums for artists including Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, Peter Gabriel, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, Howard Jones, Stevie Nicks, Rush,... - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
: John HudsonJohn HudsonJohn Hudson may refer to:* John Hudson , older brother of actor William Hudson* John Hudson , former NFL player* John Hudson , former American basketball player...
, Stephen W TaylerStephen W TaylerStephen Tayler is a mixing and recording engineer, music producer, composer and sound designer who has contributed this collection of talents to hundreds of world-class albums for artists including Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, Peter Gabriel, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, Howard Jones, Stevie Nicks, Rush,... - Remixing: Humberto GaticaHumberto GaticaHumberto Gatica is a Chilean-born American record producer, music mixer, audio engineer anda long-time collaborator with producer David Foster....
- Mastering: Alan Yoshida
- Programming: David ErvinDavid ErvinDavid Ervin is a jazz funk keyboard player.From the age of 10 Ervin grew up in Altadena, California, where he began to take after his musical father DiFosco Ervin, a.k.a. Big Dee Irwin. DiFosco Ervin was a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who led the Doo-Wop singing group "The Pastels"...
, Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
, Greg Walsh - Drum programming: Martyn WareMartyn WareMartyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
- String arrangements: David Cullen
- Arrangers: Greg Walsh, Martyn Ware
- Compilation producer: Akira Taguchi
- Creative director: Sam Gay
- Art direction: Roy Kohara
- Design: John O'Brien
- Photography: Pete Ashworth
Album
| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 1 |
| US R&B Albums | 1 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 2 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 2 |
| German Albums Chart | 2 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 2 |
| UK Albums Chart | 2 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 3 |
| US Billboard 200 | 3 |
| Norweigen Albums Chart | 5 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 7 |
Singles
Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Better Be Good to Me" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 16 |
| 1984 | "Better Be Good to Me" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| 1984 | "Better Be Good to Me" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
| 1984 | "Better Be Good to Me" | Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| 1984 | "Let's Stay Together" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 1 |
| 1984 | "Let's Stay Together" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 3 |
| 1984 | "Let's Stay Together" | Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| 1984 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Adult Contemporary | 8 |
| 1984 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 21 |
| 1984 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 2 |
| 1984 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1985 | "Private Dancer" | Adult Contemporary | 30 |
| 1985 | "Private Dancer" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 3 |
| 1985 | "Private Dancer" | Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| 1985 | "Show Some Respect" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 50 |
| 1985 | "Show Some Respect" | Billboard Hot 100 | 37 |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Better Be Good to Me" | Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre... |
| 1985 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. The award goes to the artist... |
| 1985 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Record of the Year Grammy Award for Record of the Year The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer.... |
| 1985 | "What's Love Got to Do with It?" | Song of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year... |
See also
- List of best-selling albums in Germany
- List of best-selling albums worldwide
- Private Dancer TourPrivate Dancer TourThe Private Dancer Tour is a 1985 concert tour by the American singer Tina Turner. In conjunction with her multi-platinum selling album Private Dancer, the tour helped to establish Turner as a major solo artist and live performer and is often considered one of the best comebacks in music...