The story of Tina Turner is filled with heartbreak, triumph, and, most of all, defiance. Born with a golden voice, many recognized her as an R&B and Soul singer through the early ’60s into the middle part of the ‘70s, when she stood in the shadows of her musician partner and husband, Ike Turner. Physical and emotionally exhausted from the treatment of Ike, she finally drew the line in 1976, leaving in the dark of night with not a dollar in her pocket but only the hope of finding a better place.
A tragedy, Tina Turner was far from defended because what was to come was something far greater and more artistically gratifying. Eager to get out and sing again, Turner went out solo, performing wherever she could, and released four albums post-Ike & Tina from 1974’s Tina Turns the Country On! through to the end of the decade with 1979’s Love Explosion. All but one failing to chart, Turner was ready to take on an entirely new identity in the 1980s as a bonified Rock-n-Roll star.
What some may call as improbable considering her significant association with R&B and Soul, Turner was determined to be a leading lady in Rock music like The Rolling Stones, selling out massive arenas. It was a big dream, and if it was going to be someone, it would be Turner, who was proving more and more that she was a lady of tenancy. First, she showed off her reinvented image with a simply impassioned take on Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” in 1983 with a Synthpop texture shaped by the production of Greg Walsh and Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware. Charting big around the world, next came her simply outstanding take on The Beatles’ “Help!” early in 1984.
Stirring up interest, it was clear something major was brewing for Tina Turner, which was ready to explode with the release of Private Dancer. Arriving on May 29, 1984, Private Dancer found Turner morphing her sound from R&B to more uptempo tracks that unified modern Pop textures and Rock-n-Roll styling. Galvanized by her voice, which was honestly always built for Rock-n-Roll, she belted out one powerful, raw, and gritty note after another on Private Dancer.
Almost immediately a worldwide hit, it sold millions of copies, topped charts everywhere, and was the winner of numerous awards, including four of six Grammy awards. Anchored by seven singles, historically, it has been “What’s Love Got to Do with It, “Better Be Good to Me,” and “Private Dancer,” which have received extended airplay. Only part of the magic of Private Dancer, the album led to massive world touring, selling out massive arenas, collaborations with Bryan Adams and David Bowie, and a leading role alongside Mel Gibson in 1985’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
An inspiring turn of events, Private Dancer is considered one of the biggest comebacks of all time. Still, in Turner’s heart, it was not a comeback but more an affirmation of herself arriving after years of hard work. With so many reasons to celebrate the album, countless publications have praised it throughout the years. This includes the critically acclaimed 2021 documentary Tina, which highlights it, but moving into 2025, an epic 40th anniversary celebration commences.
Put together by Parlophone Records, the 40th anniversary edition of Private Dancer arrives on March 21, 2025, as either a two-CD set, one LP pearl vinyl, one LP picture vinyl, or a spectacular five CD/Blu-ray box set. All fantastic options; the boldest aspect of these releases is the five CD/Blu-ray sets, which offer the entire original album in the 2015 remastered format, B-sides, single edits, extension versions of songs, plus previously unreleased and rare recordings.
There is a lot to take in, but perhaps one of the crown jewels of this is the never-before-heard recording of “Hot For You Baby.” Recorded during the Private Dancer sessions but not making it on the record, it is an essential hard-rocking track that showcases Tina Turner at her best.
There is also Tina Turner’s take on The Motels’ “Total Control,” an extra sultry version of “Private Dancer,” plus non-album tracks like “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and Turner’s cool take on The Temptation’s “Ball of Confusion” remixed with B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation) which featured Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh.
Beyond this, there is also a disc of an entire live set from the World Tour ’84 recorded in Chicago, plus a simply marvelous booklet featuring engaging backstory with quotes from those who knew Turner, rare images, and more.
If this was not enough, the Blu-ray portion of the set includes an outstanding restoration of Tina Turner’s Nec, Birmingham concert recorded in March of 1985, which includes onstage performances with both David Bowie and Bryan Adams. This in itself is a gift, considering the clarification of the imagery, superb sound, and context of the concert, where you can see how and hear Turner’s exhilaration. Coupled with the Blu-ray disc, you also get five music videos restored in stunning 4K Ultra HD.
Lastly, it all comes together in a solidly built box with individual sleeves for each of the discs. Everything put together, it is hard to find one flaw in this expansive 40th anniversary release of Tina Turner’s Private Dancer, so Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment