Search - Ike and Tina Turner :: Workin Together

Workin' Together is an anthem for all ages.

michael l anthamatten | broken arrow, ok United States | 07/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Workin' Together is an album with one of the finest 'peace' anthems of the 70's. The title song is a song that is very relevant today, the sound is fresh and very well performed by the famed duo. It especially shows Tina's turn toward the rock music that would support her career for decades. This album also has the electrifying " Get Back ". Tina makes a song all her own like no other. And as far as making a song all her own Tina made history by recording " Proud Mary ". This track shines on this album, it is as hot as ever. The b-side to Proud Mary was a New York club hit "Funkier Than A Mosquita's Tweeter". This brilliantly fun track was an underground hit written by Tina's sister Ailline Bullock. There is still the raw sounds of early Ike & Tina, but the change was on it's way for the leading lady, and it shows. They end the album with a mighty plea for peace and ask us to "Let It Be". Another great turn for Ms. Turner. If you have no other Ike & Tina cd's in your collection I urge you to take full advantage of this offer and get this cd. It is by far one of the finest recordings of the duo. It mostly showcases Tina's love for all music. I can't say enough about this brilliant album. Buy it today."

Probably the best Turner's studio album

Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 08/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The highpoint of Turner's discography and definite entry into big time, "Working Together" marks explosive duo's final step towards white rock audience - besides those early "Sue" singles,they were never really interested in black audience anyway - if they spent 1960s playing "chitlin' circuit", now it was payback time.

In reality,nothing really drastically changed - all those years Ike played mean guitar,Tina always provided those frenzied vocals and Ikettes have always been her Greek chorus in the background - but with support of rock critics and superstars like "The Rolling Stones" who wanted them as opening act for their stadium concerts, Turners successfuly metarmophosed into soul-rock act.

The only difference is that this time they didn't cover black artists like in the past but white rockers and their repertoire - Turnerized versions were inevitably grittier,funkier and somehow dirtier .

Some old favourites are here ("It's All Over","Goodbye So Long"),healthy dose of Ike's usual ham-fisted material is here + several famous cover that brought them Jackpot.

Interesting note: "Proud Mary" is not immediate cover of Creedence but something else - a year before,Phil Spector produced album for Checkamtes Ltd. and that album opened with spectacular soul/symphonic,faster cover of this song. Turners listened,turned it around a bit,added spoken intro and put their own stamp on it.

So it came that Phil Spector did not succeed in ambition to break Tina into big time with "River Deep,Mountain High" but in somehow roundabout way he was responsible for her first "Grammy" and early success nevertheless."