Search - Ike Turner & Tina :: Nutbush City Limits / Feel Good

Driving Rock Ridden Funk. A must for any Soul diehard.

B. M Peters | Powell River B.C | 12/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is great. Two of Ike and Tina's latter albums that have not been available or some time. The First album is Nutbush City Limits, it opens with the rock infused funk that is one of the Turners most enduring, and original tracks they would ever release. The title track(NBCL) would be Ike and Tina's last top 40 (Pop #22 R&B #11) and would be covered by many artists in the decades to come (Bob Seger covered the tune with similar sucess, less potentcy.)Track 2, on the NBCL album is a unique tune that fuses so many different styles and genres in music. A gospel infused piano is very dominant throughout, along with Tina's funky (Lady James Brown)church girl-gone bad vocal style, a funk bass line and thrashing R&B horns. The lyrics are almost like a prayer, (If one had read "I, Tina" many of the requests made in the song were wishes Tina had growing up as a skinny teenager in Nutbush Tennesee. Track three is an ok cover of the Dobie Gray hit "Drift Away" which was essentially a disappointment. Ike & Tina were famous for their interpretive gifts and they could have done so much more with this track. The High pitched synth sound on the song is border line irritating, almost like nails to a chock board. I think an organ, piano, and traditional R&B instruments could have been more useful. The song already has a gospel feel, and I think Ike and Tina could have churchified it a little more.Track four is one of Poingant beauty and is written by Tina Turner herself."Thats my purpose" is a song of dedication to a persons loved one (significant other, family, or even GOD) Tina (like all the soul greats, Aretha,Gladys, Mavis, and Candi etc)was a gospel singer, before all else.The gospel training is all too clear in this track. The lyrics are so tender and passionate, one can almost feel they are indeed about God. Tina sings "when I close my eyes, let your face be the last I see"so worshipfully dedicated. Tina sings the the fury, passion, and conviction of a gospel singer. She is aggressive but so tender in the same breath. The qualities she shows here are possessed only by the most gifted of soul singers (Ray Charles, Aretha,Lorraine Ellison and Soloman Burke to name a few)Track five is essentially a song of her youth, Ike and Tina wrote and recorded 10 songs here that are odes to their southern youth, one can view them as memoires, or just stories, much in the same fashion that country singers/composers write about their life (Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash to name a few)So picture this as country, with a soul funk twist."Fancie Annie" could very well be a song about herself, (Tina Turners birth name was Anna Mae Bullock)it bears striking resemblance to NBCL, but us slower and more driving, kind of reminds me of a heavy metal riff. Ike and Tina also cover one of their own tunes "River Deep Mountain High" credited by many to being one of the best recorded, and passionate vocal performances ever committed to tape is changed from it's orchestral pop setting and given a funk makeover. "Get it out of your mind" is a selfish tune, but a sexy one as Tina gives a believable performance as a love obsessed girlfriend who demands the best of her man. The track is R&B all the way,sexy and thrilling all the way through.Perhaps one of my favorite tracks on the album is the driving track written by Tina about her bout with Tuberculosis (TB) she sings about her struggles with illness and the inefficiency of the American Medical system. She is not whining in the tune but venting. One knows she is changing, she is singing that she will need more than faith, and a priest to make her better. A sassy and interesting track. Ike made the perfect selections and arrangment for this song.Ike and Tina were good friends of Brother Ray, they toured with him even recorded with him. Although Ike and Tina liked country I am almost certain they got the idea to record "You are my sunshine" from Ray Charles (as I am sure Aretha did too in 1967)Ike and Tina Turner pulled away from the jazz influenced soul of Ray and the Gospel stylings of Aretha, and the old country stylings of the original recording, andmade it a slow driving funk opus.The Club Manhatten is another ode to the Turners youth as they sing about a club they used to frequent and ever perform at. The Influence of NBCL is ever present.

The second half of the cd is equally brilliant.

It opens with a furious funk tune written by Ike and Tina. It has an almost Native American feel, as was the effect the duo were going for, and this song is one mean dance track. Track #12 is perhaps my favorite off all on these two cd's. It is the rock laden "Kay got Laid(Joe got paid)"(KGLJGP) to put it plainly the song is just COOL. Tina starts out singing in a cool, understated way, and then little by little more instruments are introduced, until the song is finally in full throttle, with Tina singing in a rock and roll fury. the Lyrics are oh so right. Tina sings "you're the cream in my coffee, the liquid sugar in my tea" a lyric so cool, sexy, and works just right.No synthisizers in the track make it so refreshing in a time when Ike loved Synthisizers. "KGLJGP" conjurs up immages of Tina working a crowd and performing in her usual brilliant frenzy.The next track, "Feel good" (the title track) has some nice piano work by Ike, with Tina belting out the lyrics as only she can sing'em. A cool groovey soul anthem if there ever was one. "KGLJGP" and Feel Good, could very well have made the charts I am almost certain of it, they are/were cool, unique and had so much potential. "I like it had a James Brown feel, funky, conjures up immages of Tina shimmying and shaking in one of her trademark tassel dresses.Track #15 shows Ike and Tina reviving an old dance standard the Hully Gully, which again is a straight forward R&B/rock track.

Track seventeen is a remake of the Beatles hit "She came in through the bathroom window" Ike and Tina give it a pure soul makeover. Tina belting the lyrics out in the rasping soul style, that would make the Beatles jealous.

The rest of the album is purley original and churchified gospel stylings.

There are a couple of bonus tracks whic are worth a gander as they are amazing recording in them selves. If there had a been a rap grammy in 1973 Tina would have had a a nomination. "Help him" is an ode to woman hood, and is spoken all the way through. Tina is so confident, and cool throughout. Missy, Lil Kim, and Foxy owe Tina big. Ike and Tina re-recorded the b side of their debut hit single "a Fool in the love" on their hit LP "workin together". The track "the way you love me is redone a southern soul opus, and is one Ike and Tinas finest songs. And here it is all for you, if you like soul, then this is the double album on one cd just for you.

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Ike & Tina make you Feel Good!

Bertil Lindblad | New York, NY USA | 01/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally two hot early 70's Ike & Tina albums on CD! Nutbush was of course the final big hit before the split -- but these two albums bring funky, hot and sexy soul (i.e. "Kay Got Laid, Joe Got Paid" and "Fancy Annie") sounds, and many of the songs written by Tina. The band, the Kings of Rhythm -- later Family Vibes -- is in top form, Ike plays the piano and the Ikettes add fabulous soulful harmonies. The outstanding track is "Feel Good" --- one of my favorite Ike & Tina cuts. The rhythm, energy, the piano, Tina giving it all with superb backing by the Ikettes --- yes, makes me Feel Good!!! The Ike & Tina Turner Revue was hot, and there is nothing that even comes close today. A must for all fans! Go on, get it!!!!"

Please more like this

TT | Belgium | 11/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great release. Two original Ike and Tina albums for the price of one. Hope Raven releases all other Ike and Tina original albums from the seventies on CD too !

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