Search - Tina Turner :: Private Dancer

Ultimate Private Dancer.

Javier Lopez | Peru | 02/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the new and enhanced version of Tina's 1984 "PRIVATE DANCER" album. Through the years this album has been changing because of the big demand and great selling history. The original version from 1984 only included 9 tracks and then when cd's came out, "HELP" was added. Now with this ultimate version you can enjoy 4 bonus tracks ("I WROTE A LETTER", "ROCK N' ROLL WINDOW", "DON'T RUSH THE GOOD THINGS" and "WHEN I WAS YOUNG"). This songs are from Tina's comeback effort in the early 80's. The songs are ok but I think that they're kinda weak for such a great album, but well as bonus tracks they pass (I mean this because if you know much about Tina you can see that she still doesn't find herself very much as a rock singer, this is the period where she moves from soul, r&b and a bit of rock to just rock, where Tina didn't stay 100% because she's more a pop/rock singer). Then within the additional tracks you can find 3 remixes from "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT", "BETTER BE GOOD TO ME" and "I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN". Now this additionals are great.

The booklet has also been enhanced with new great pictures but there's also one thing that I regret. That, the original cover photo from this production, the one where Tina appears seated in some kind of sparkled platinum hillock showing her whole fantastic legs (but well that photo appears inside the booklet. If you see it I'm more than sure that you'll agree with me), has been changed sience the late 80's to the one where she appears with a cat.

Well I had commented what I didn't like very much from this new version but I also have to tell what makes this album so great and famous. This was the best-selling album of 1984-85 in the world with sales of 15 million, it brought Tina back in the spotlight, brought her 6 Grammy nominations (she won 4), made Grammy history when she was nominated for 3 Grammys in 3 different music categories for Best Female Vocal Performance in Rock for "BETTER BE GOOD TO ME", Pop for "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT" and R&B for "LET'S STAY TOGETHER". Brought Tina her first #1 hit with "WHAT'S LOVE" (which was also chosen by Billboard as the #1 song of 1984), it also brought her 4 Top 10 hits in the U.S ("LET'S STAY TOGETHER", "BETTER BE GOOD TO ME", "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT" and "PRIVATE DANCER") and it Europe got 5 Top 10 hits (the named and "I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN"). "I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN" wasn't released in America, when the fifth single was to come out at that time, Capitol chose "SHOW SOME RESPECT" for America and "I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN" for Europe.

This production is very special because it shows a big difference in Tina's performances if you compare it with her early solo productions and her productions with Ike. The song that opens the album, "I MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUEEN" is a great track and I find it very hard to believe that it wasn't a single, then track 8, "STEEL CLAW" is Tina's most rock n' roll track ever.

I think that this album is a must have, even if you have Tina's 2005 biggest hits compilation "ALL THE BEST", you can find here amazing songs that you won't find there. I'd also recommend you her 1989 album "FOREIGN AFFAIR" (that's my Tina's favorite).

"

EXTENDED CLASSIC

Pieter | Johannesburg | 06/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tina Turner's classic album from 1984 has been substantially enhanced with the addition of seven tracks, including wonderful extended versions of What's Love Gotta Do With It, Better Be Good To Me and I Can't Stand The Rain. This makes Private Dancer even more of an essential album as it remains Turner's masterpiece from the eighties, an album of brilliant material
exquisitely interpreted. It's a concept album loosely based on a stripper's life and it amply showcases Tina Turner's multifaceted talents. The bitter What's Love Got To Do With It and the melancholy title track, both passionate ballads, were massive hits. Better Be Good To Me and Steel Claw are scorching rockers while she really adds a new dimension to her covers of Help and Let's Stay Together, another top 10 hit. I love Tina's interpretation of the Anne Peebles song I Can't Stand The Rain which was also a hit for Eruption way back in 1978. Private Dancer is a triumph of epic proportions, not only Turner's comeback album but a timeless masterpiece of exceptional songs infused with enough raunch to please her hardcore fans from the early days and enough pop appeal for the mainstream. Never before had her voice been wrapped around such quality but accessible and melodic material as on Private Dancer, making for a consistently enjoyable album with broad appeal. This reissue with the extra tracks is superb value for money - get it!"

Private Dancer Is Tina Turner At Her Best

m.hierl@eudoramail.com | Small Town | 02/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She Had Tons Of Hit's With Ike. She Was One Of The Most Respected Female Singers In The World. Then She Was Gone From The Spotlight In The Late 70's After A Divorce From Ike. With The Release Of Private Dancer, She Proved To The World That She Didn't Need Ike, Because She Was Simply The Best. This Album Is A Classic And Everyone Should Have This In Their Collection. The Opening Song Of I Might Have Been Queen Sets The Tone Of Tina In Control Really. There Isn't One Bad Song On The Whole Album. The Hits, What's Love Got To With It, Private Dancer & Better Be Good To Me. With Covers Of Al Green's Let's Stay Together, David Bowie's 1984 And A Soulful Rendition Of The Beatles Help, This Is An Amazing Album. But The Bonus Tracks Are An Added Bonus, The Extended Versions Of Her Hits Are Wonderful. This Is Tina Turner At Her Best"