http://www.popmatters.com...r-at-25/P0

It's a long read but pretty amazing stuff.

I recall being first introduced to Tina when "Let's Stay Together" was released here in the states back in '84. I was 13 years old at the time and was completely floored when I first heard her soul-drenched reading of the song. I became a huge fan instantly!

I read it the week it came out. It's amazing how in 1983, 1984, Tina still had to battle racism to get ahead in the business and not to mention sexism and ageism and her Ike Turner ties. She triumphed in a way few artists ever did when facing adversity. God bless her.

Timmy84 said:

I read it the week it came out. It's amazing how in 1983, 1984, Tina still had to battle racism to get ahead in the business and not to mention sexism and ageism and her Ike Turner ties. She triumphed in a way few artists ever did when facing adversity. God bless her.

Yeah I read this special story when it first came out and it was so fascinating. Tina had virtually become an obscure act after her split from Ike and before the release of this album. It is amazing how people, young and old, caught on to her as a solo artist when this monster of an album came out. MTV had much to do with it, but the songs were just another story. Certainly one of the greatest comeback stories in the music history, even though Tina really didn't go anywhere before the release of Private Dancer.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

I read it the week it came out. It's amazing how in 1983, 1984, Tina still had to battle racism to get ahead in the business and not to mention sexism and ageism and her Ike Turner ties. She triumphed in a way few artists ever did when facing adversity. God bless her.

Yeah I read this special story when it first came out and it was so fascinating. Tina had virtually become an obscure act after her split from Ike and before the release of this album. It is amazing how people, young and old, caught on to her as a solo artist when this monster of an album came out. MTV had much to do with it, but the songs were just another story. Certainly one of the greatest comeback stories in the music history, even though Tina really didn't go anywhere before the release of Private Dancer.

Yeah Tina was hustling between 1976 and 1984.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I prefer her rendition of "Lets Stay Together" over Al's too. I remember reading in her autobiography that she wasn't exactly thrilled about the "Private Dance" material at first, I love the story where she and her manager went into the studio during the beginning of the album's recording and instead of expecting a rhythm section waiting for her, she found a couple of guys and a computer and how she stood cold in the middle of the recording in confusion for some reason, that tickled the hell outta me.

Harlepolis said:

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I prefer her rendition of "Lets Stay Together" over Al's too. I remember reading in her autobiography that she wasn't exactly thrilled about the "Private Dance" material at first, I love the story where she and her manager went into the studio during the beginning of the album's recording and instead of expecting a rhythm section waiting for her, she found a couple of guys and a computer and how she stood cold in the middle of the recording in confusion for some reason, that tickled the hell outta me.

I thought that was funny too.

Bit of a sidebar.
One of the main ingredients in getting this record done "Carter" (John Carter), passed away on the 10th of this month from cancer.

Informative interview here for those that like to read:
http://www.taxi.com/music...arter.html



Music for adventurous listeners


tA


Tribal Records

kitbradley said:

http://www.popmatters.com...r-at-25/P0

It's a long read but pretty amazing stuff.

I recall being first introduced to Tina when "Let's Stay Together" was released here in the states back in '84. I was 13 years old at the time and was completely floored when I first heard her soul-drenched reading of the song. I became a huge fan instantly!

This is a great read. Work is getting in the way though. Gotta head to a meeting and there are 2 pages left.

What a riveting and insightful article!

Great article. She was everywhere when that came out and for the next couple of years.

TonyVanDam said:

Incredible cover. Far and away my favourite of hers.

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I prefer her rendition of "Lets Stay Together" over Al's too. I remember reading in her autobiography that she wasn't exactly thrilled about the "Private Dance" material at first, I love the story where she and her manager went into the studio during the beginning of the album's recording and instead of expecting a rhythm section waiting for her, she found a couple of guys and a computer and how she stood cold in the middle of the recording in confusion for some reason, that tickled the hell outta me.

I thought that was funny too.

I think also as a side topic, this album, was part of a really HUGE album decade, and im not talking sales, im talking singles and attention that it got, we can all name a huge record from this time and people knew it, most of the population knew it because that was the focus. I mean "Lets Stay Together" didnt set any records in sales, didnt top the Hot 100, but everyone knew it, now the talk would be "flop" or "how many did it sell" then you could have a slow burn, but like they say, that was then and this is now, different things mattered.

I think it's still amazing she achieved this success though. I don't remember too many people pass the age of 40 having as much success as Tina or Cher or even Bette Midler at this point. Tina's success inspired Aretha, Patti and 'em too (Aretha was able to have some crossover success mixing dance music with rock with soul in the '80s and Patti stuck with the adult contemporary because she seemed to sell better with that genre post-New Attitude) even if that success didn't necessarily last long.

As this point in time, I don't care if another artist over 40 gets a chart hit because, as you said, it was a different time lol and I loved that it was. Makes Tina's triumph even more amazing.

Timmy84 said:

I think it's still amazing she achieved this success though. I don't remember too many people pass the age of 40 having as much success as Tina or Cher or even Bette Midler at this point. Tina's success inspired Aretha, Patti and 'em too (Aretha was able to have some crossover success mixing dance music with rock with soul in the '80s and Patti stuck with the adult contemporary because she seemed to sell better with that genre post-New Attitude) even if that success didn't necessarily last long.

As this point in time, I don't care if another artist over 40 gets a chart hit because, as you said, it was a different time lol and I loved that it was. Makes Tina's triumph even more amazing.

well thats a good point if this album was now it would be nothing, forgotten, no play thats for sure, no 40+year old is gonna get that play have singles and media time, so it really has nothing to do with the quality of a record now.