Thursday, May 25, 2023

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE: River Deep--Mountain High

This is a chapter from my long-threatened book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). It was written well before the passing of Tina Turner, but is offered today in her memory. Simply the best.

An infinite number of tracks can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!


IKE AND TINA TURNER: River Deep--Mountain High

Written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich
Produced by Phil Spector
Single, Philles Records, 1966

Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep--Mountain High" was producer Phil Spector's tour de force. It should have been a chart-topper upon its release in 1966; some point to its disappointing sales in the US (where it peaked at--choke!--a mere # 88 in Billboard's Hot 100) as the direct impetus for Spector's subsequent personal decline. 


Whether that's fair or not, "River Deep--Mountain High" certainly deserved hit status. It's my favorite Ike and Tina Turner track--I was disappointed that Tina Turner didn't include it in her live set when I saw her in the late eighties--and it's one of my favorite Spector tracks. 

As always, Tina Turner soars here, subtly demonstrating the spirit that allowed her to ultimately survive her marriage to Ike. Ike Turner was himself a rock 'n' roll pioneer with immense talent and vision. His darker nature ultimately overshadowed his contributions.

Ike was a key player in "Rocket '88'," a 1951 single credited to Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, a pseudonym for Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. "Rocket '88'" can lay plausible claim to being the first rock 'n' roll record (though I still say it was Amos Milburn's "Down The Road Apiece"). On merit, Ike Turner should be celebrated as one of popular music's most important most artists. 

History does not remember him that way. He had only himself to blame for that. Revelation of his ongoing abuse of Tina when they were married effectively reduced Ike Turner from headliner to deplorable footnote. 

Charles Manson was a frustrated musician and songwriter. O.J. Simpson was a celebrated athlete. Joe MeekGary Glitter. Bill Cosby. It's a long list of the famous and infamous. We celebrate the art. The artist may disappoint us.

Or worse.

And Phil Spector? Before his murder conviction, before pulling a gun on Dee Dee Ramone during the making of the RamonesEnd Of The Century album, before producing John Lennon and Leonard Cohen, before overproducing the Beatles' Let It Be, before flying into a fury when "River Deep--Mountain High" failed to become the massive hit it should have been...well, before any of that, Spector was already a prick. 

But, Spector's many sins and shortcomings notwithstanding, "River Deep--Mountain High" did deserve more fame, more acclaim, and a much, much higher chart position. Ike Turner is not on the record--Spector just needed Tina, not Ike--but it was Ike who suggested that its chart failure was a byproduct of radio segregation; the record was too white for R & B stations, and Tina Turner was too black for pop stations. Like considering "Rocket 88" the first rock 'n' roll record, it too is a plausible claim.

There's a fantastic clip of Ike and Tina Turner performing "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" with the Ikettes (including future star P. P. Arnold) on TV's Shindig! in 1964. It offers no hint of the heartbreak that flourished beyond the glow of the lights. The on-stage interplay between Ike and Tina is playful and light, her seemingly girlish approach bouncing off his practiced machismo. Decades on, the fantasy remains appealing. 

But we know it wasn't real.

Tina was still Anna Mae Bullock, billed as Little Ann, when she began performing and recording with Ike Turner's band in the late '50s. When their recording of "Fool In Love" attracted record label attention in 1960, Ike wanted to maintain control of his singer. He changed her billing to Tina Turner, and then trademarked the name, so she could only use it under his aegis; if Little Ann left Ike, well, he could just get a substitute to be the new Tina Turner.

Bastard.

Tina Turner survived all of that. She even took her name with her. Nothing could stop the voice--and the soul--of Tina Turner. Not river deep, not mountain high. And not Ike Turner, hellbent as he was at squandering his legacy. He became an asterisk to history. 

Tina Turner became a legend.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreonor by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

No comments:

Post a Comment