River Deep, Mountain High


Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain High






Performer: Ike & Tina Turner

Title: River Deep, Mountain High


Track Listing:


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

River Deep, Mountain High   (Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector, Jeff Barry) - 3:38

I Idolize You   (Ike Turner)  - 3:46

A Love Like Yours (Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland)  - 3:05

A Fool in Love  (Ike Turner)  - 3:13

Make 'Em Wait   (Ike Turner)  - 2:22

Hold on Baby (Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector, Jeff Barry)  - 2:59

I'll Never Need You More Than This  (Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector, Jeff Barry)  - 3:33

Save the Last Dance for Me  (Mort Shuman, Doc Pomus)  - 3:02

Oh Baby!  (K. Harris)  2:46

Every Day I Have to Cry  (Arthur Alexander)  - 2:40

Such a Fool for You  (Ike Turner)  - 2:48

It's Gonna Work Out Fine   (J. Micheal Lee, Joe Seneca)  - 3:14


Notes:


The single was among the first recordings that Ike & Tina Turner did for Phil Spector's Philles Records. Spector was aware of Ike Turner's controlling attitude in the studio, and resultantly drew up an unusual contract: the River Deep - Mountain High album and single would be credited to "Ike & Tina Turner", but Ike was not to be allowed in the studio, and only Tina Turner's vocals would be used on record.


The terms were agreed to, and Spector began recording the LP, brandishing his full "Wall of Sound" production technique to support Tina's strong voice. "River Deep - Mountain High" cost a then-unheard of USD 22,000, and required two dozen session musicians and background vocalists. Written by Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, "River Deep - Mountain High" compared a woman's love to the love that a child feels for a doll, or a puppy feels for his master. Tina Turner promises to "love [her man] just the way I loved that rag doll", and to love her man just like the puppy he had as a child did.


When the single and album were finally released, however, the public did not quite know what to make of it. "River Deep - Mountain High" was considered "too black for white radio, but too white for black radio". The single stalled out at #88 on the pop charts, effectively crushing Spector's spirit and causing him to shut the label down.


The single had better fortune in the UK, however, peaking at #3 in the singles charts on first release. It was only held off the #1 spot by singles from The Beatles and The Kinks. George Harrison declared that it was "a perfect record from start to finish". UK Chart Run: 33-12-8-4-{3}-3-4-9-11-18-31-35-44->13weeks in the Top75.


Rolling Stone put it at #33 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


Details:

 

Ike & Tina Turner (Main Performer), Tina Turner (Performer), Phil Spector (Producer), Larry Levine (Engineer), Dennis Hopper (Photography), Tony Hall (Liner Notes)


Webmaster: Jos Megroedt

Website: http://www.josmegroedt.com/

This site is hosted by: http://www.hostingphotography.com/