Reviews (page 3 of 10)
On one hand Tina Turner has a great voice. On the other hand a lot of these songs are boring.
All of these reviews praising her voice? Does it really shine thru here? Shes basically speaking thru half of the album. I think her live performances and more powerful tunes might be clouding judgment. I realize im not the target audience, however this is just a big miss. The production and arrangements are horrendous, and too many covers.
i have no opinion on this its fine ig jus saw the cat on the cover and now i like it little more
Better Be Good to Me is one of my favorite 80's tunes. And so many of the songs on this album that aren't hits have that unmistakable cheesy 80's soundtrack sound that I can't help but love, being a child of the 80's. RIP Tina. 4.75
5 stars- RIP Tina
It was weird to listen to this and hear some newer artists she's influenced. Specifically, Lady Gaga. Very dated in sound, tho. 3/5
What a voice. The hits are hits. Not my genre, but I remember what's love got to do with it on the radio.
This album is right in my wheelhouse. I was there for her rise into superstardom, at least solo superstardom. I just assumed she was always a superstar, but after she got away from Ike Turner, the poster boy for abusive husbands, her solo career went nowhere. But fate wanted Tina Turner to win, and along comes this rocketship called Private Dancer. Private Dancer came out in 1984. I was 10 years old that year, so I wasn’t fully into my metal years. I was still a dumb kid who listened to pop radio, or more likely country radio, at that time. However, you couldn’t escape Tina Turner and the singles off this album. I’m just hoping that hearing all those songs over and over in my formative years doesn’t squelch my enjoyment of listening to them today. Let’s see. Track 1 is I Might Have Been Queen and it sounds like the 80s, but it’s funky. It kind of sounds like the Eurythmics music. I like it. Very 1980s inspirational music playing in the chorus. Not a bad way to open the album. Track 2 is What’s Love Got To Do With It, a song I feel like I’ve heard 100,000 times. This was the first U.S. single issued from the album. There were seven singles in all released from the album, though three were just released in the United Kingdom and one was released in all of Europe. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t eventually end up on U.S. radio or MTV. This song is a good song, very reggae-sounding. It has the same 80s sound that track 1 did. I've heard it so much that it is what it is by this point. Track 3 is Show Some Respect and it sounds a little more like her stuff with Ike Turner. However, the music is being played with 80s instruments, so you have the weird synth sounds and electronic drums. The guitar does sound nice and mean, assuming it too isn’t a synth. I’m disgusted with myself as I feel like I’m getting into this song the longer it plays. I have no idea why. It’s a good song, I guess. Kids today want to talk about rizz? Tina Turner had rizz. She has so much, she’s making me like this song. Track 4 is I Can’t Stand the Rain and yes, it’s the song from the Missy Elliot song, though not this particular version. The song was originally recorded by Ann Peebles in 1973. I guess Tina’s producers thought they needed to update a song with all of the goofy electric instruments they had in the studio. Again, if it wasn’t Tina Turner, I’d quit listening to this song and possibly this album. It’s a shame Tina Turner couldn’t sell records without resorting to the current sound on the radio in 1984. Track 5 is Better Be Good To Me. It was the fourth single off the album. It was a top 5 song in the U.S. It starts out with machines making the sound of machines. I assume this song is about Ike? Maybe not, it wasn’t written by Tina. I’m not sure Tina was a songwriter. She has no writing credits on the album. Again, Tina’s charisma, down to her adlibs, really elevates the music on this album and especially this song. Track 6 is Let’s Stay Together and I’m sure you’ve heard this song, and if you haven’t, stop reading and go find Al Green’s version. You’ll thank me. Why anyone would want to remake a classic, perfect song is beyond me. But maybe Tina and her producers found a new angle. Ugh. They essentially turned it into elevator music. I hate this so much. Tina sounds fine, but the music has taken what was soulful out of the song and replaced it with what I assume satan uses to torture souls in hell. It’s so bland and just gross. I’m skipping ahead. Track 7 is 1984, and I must admit, I just want to quit listening to this album. 1984 was written by David Bowie, who loved Tina snf helped her in her solo endeavors. This song sounds like the time period, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Tina is singing the hell out of this song. Damn, I really like this song. I think they could’ve released it as a single. It sounded more like a rock song, and Tina sang it that way. May be the best song on the album. But it was a Bowie song, so, of course, it would be great. Track 8 is Steel Claw, and it has a bit of a rock sound. It gives me Jim Steinman vibes, you know, the songwriter for Meatloaf. This sounds like that 1980s Bryan Adams, Loverboy type hard rock. I think this could have been a rock hit if released as a single. Just when I was ready to trash this album, I got back-to-back, really interesting songs. Track 9 is Private Dancer, and it’s seven minutes long. I assume the one I heard all those years ago was a radio edit. This song doesn’t start so in your face with the 80s production. It’s very tasteful with a beautiful piano as the lead instrument. This song, while it sounds like the 80s, mutes the overblown production and it's quite a good song. Fun fact: Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straits, wrote the song, and guitar god Jeff Beck played the guitar solo in the song. Is your mind blown? Mine was. Damn, that was a great solo by Beck. This song is probably the best on the album, though I loved 1984 and Steel Claw a lot. It’s just a solid song with no frills. If you’re an 80s music fan, you’ll probably dig this album, but…wait a minute. I’m listening to the 30th anniversary edition, and Tina recorded a cover of The Beatles’ Help. This is a great cover version. It’s slowed down and sung more as an R&B jam. It’s a sad song now, rather than an upbeat, fun pop song. Just a gospel piano and some bad-sounding drums with a choir helping Tina with the vocals. This album is so weird. Now here comes the sitcom theme song music saxophone to play a solo. This song is going off the rails now. Don’t listen to this album, it’s not worth the three, maybe four decent songs. I assume this is on the list because of her commendable escape from Ike Turner and her career resurrection. I love Tina Turner, but this album can kick rocks.
Queen shit
low 3. Algumas composições são legais mas não gosto tanto do vocal da Tina, e a produção me soa um pouco datada. Quando vai mais para a vertente de rock eu acho que é quando mais funciona.
She had some really fucking cool songs did Tina. Not fully my thing but did enjoy this, such a mishmash of different styles coming together. Real kitchen sink pop. And Tina is quite a cool front to it all. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: Ball Of Confusion (Shoutout to Sister Act 2)
Some big bangers on here, some less big bangers as well. What a voice, what a woman
"I Might Have Been Queen" might be the utter distillation of the 80's pop sound. Every snare sounds like it's heading for the stratosphere. Jangly guitar tones. And then in the middle of all this mess, there's Tina, singing her damned heart out. Some good stuff here, but largely for nostalgia. I'm glad that she left ol' Ike behind before she put this together, but I miss the actual soul. This was inescapable when I was in high school.
I was already familiar with Tina Turner and many of the tracks on this album. It's a very good album. It showcases her great vocals, and the songwriting and instrumentation are top-notch. I would listen to this album again for sure.
It's OK.
Tina Turner had an amazing voice. I had heard the hits. This is one of those albums that I'm not going out of my way to listen to, but I'm glad I've heard the whole thing. Yup, will admit, Tina Turner was bad as fuck.
Tina’s got a great voice but this one is just completely buried in 80’s overproduction
An old favorite from a legend.
Tina Turner gives all the sensuality combined with the maturity of a woman in the complex tangles of love
If you like it nice....and rough, you'll like this album.
Yeah she’s a powerhouse. Legend. This is super poppy - not like her early stuff but hey it was the time. This was huge back in the day. I liked it for the most part. I’ll even give it 4 stars.
Really good even if long
lets stay together saved this for me, and respect to tina turner
ha zerst denkt sie singt it might have been queen über d band. ähm. coole song irgendwie aber au weirdi lyrics und chraaank cheesy. whats love got to do with it kenni latürnlich. finds witzig wie de song mega laud back isch aber sie beltet mega. kontrast wo funktioniert aber. gitarre isch geil, scho ufem letste. wer spieeelt? ok s sind irgendwie vier produzente wo immer es paar tracks gmacht hend ufem album mit jewiils ere komplett ustuuschte band. lustig. i cant stand the rain recht geil. mega synthi time. aber die hyper-80er-ification nimmt au chli lebe us de songs findi. wow private dancer isch meeega en dire straits song. und isch au chli weniger hyper synthi-production. s sind au d dire straits ohni de mark knopfler wo spieled. yes i enjoy coole song, sie singten geil cool ja nice. aaah lets stay together halt en classic aber bringts de covere? fazit: nöd unbedingt. better be good to me fangt guet ah. big 80er drums aber au cooli giti.
weiss nöd wie ready ich bin😭 en bowie song UND es beatles Cover? I might have been queen isch no en cool refrain, voll zum mitsinge hahaha was isch denn das füren funny synthi?? sie chan ebe schona singe show some respect isch jz nöd so min fall, chli z vill 80er ich lieb das ihre ex-maa ike heisst private dancer slappt na?? so zerst de refrain mitere tüfere stimm und ener low energy und DENN IIII'M YOUR PRIVATE DANCEEER au fast scho wieder e karikatur mitem sax aber finds na cool omg wie funny, private dancer isch als dire straits song denkt gsi?? let's stay together isch auchli en banger hahaha fühls album iwie meh alsi denkt han?? help isch WEIRDIBAFFI cool, dass sies zu ihrem eigete song gmacht het aber finds nödso guet drum machine isch eifach nöd so min fründ literally 1984 ischmer wieder zu aggressiv 80er (bgvs sind aber cool) bin chli verwirrt vom album, aber s hetmer sicher besser gfalle als ich erwartet han! isches weg dem es 4i? ich weiss es nöd vlt passis ah aber es isch mal es 3
It was okay a couple great songs!
first woman #nooticing wow i had no idea whats love got to do with it was her song let's stay together is kinda nice def not anywhere as messy/noisy as the rest but not at all for me so i have to rate it low soz
This mid eighties production and recording style is very jarring to my taste. The album has a lot of mid covers, mid production, some hits, but really don't understand why this album is essential in any way to experience. Tina is a legend and i'm not familiar with her full discography, but i'm looking forward to listening to something much better than this.
Tina Turner's comeback record may have been a huge success back in the day, this album hasn't exactly aged well. The production here feels dated and artificial. Turner has an objectively good voice, but her constant vocalisations do get grating. As impressive as some of those notes are, hearing her strain her vocal cords to the limit every other songs gets old quick. The covers are a mixed bag. While her Al Green cover of 'Let's Stay Together' is a serviceable attempt at bringing that song into the next decade, her take on 'Help!' is rotten. She strips the urgency away from the Beatles original and turns it into a soppy piano ballad with zero bite. The big singles such as 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' and the title track are enjoyable slices of pop cheese. Good for her for getting out of Ike's shadow, but I don't think I will ever feel the need to revisit this.
Not my preferred style of music but undeniably a must listen
She's an icon. I know. This is peak mid 80s suburb rock. Couldn't do it then and I can't do it now. Extra star for not having as much sax as I figured it would.
"I'm a new pair of eyes every time I am born And original mind because I just died But I'm scanning the horizon for someone recognizing That I might've been queen For every sun that sets, there is a new one dawning "For every empire crushed, there is a brand new nation Let the waters rise, I have ridden each tide From the gates of the city where the firstborn died" That is a metal way of opening an album. The rest of the album doesn't quite live up to it, unfortunately, but it's still pretty good. The opening track with the above lyrics, "I Might Have Been Queen" is an 80s banger. "What's Love Got To Do With It?", "Private Dancer" and "Better Be Good To Me" are solid radio friendly earworms, "Steel Claw" and "1984" are Tina doing her version of hard rock and it's hard to mess up "Let's Stay Together." The rest of the tracks aren't as good, including a cover of "Can't Stand The Rain" which is too laden with 80s synths and drum machines and a sloggy version of the Beatles "Help" but overall, this was better than I thought it would be.
I love Tina Turner and enjoyed listening to this. Some of it hasn’t aged that well (like the title track). The production is super eighties and a little too much for. Her voice is raspy and beautiful. The stand out for me was her cover of Ann Peebles’ I can’t stand the rain, which i had to immediately listen to three more times.
Skipped a lot, not for me
Absolutely awful. Painful, grating, cheesy, overdone. That help cover isn't getting nearly enough hate.
Surprisingly good. not my usual kettle of fish but a quality album, with some cool covers in there, like Bowies 1984 and Pebbles I can't stand the rain
to put it simply, this record is such a vibe. i wasn’t really familiar with much of tina’s work, but i really do understand why she is such an icon. the listening experience is like transcending to a different decade and is filled with so much power and raw emotion. each track is bursting with character and storytelling, it’s so dramatic (in the most positive way possible)
another case of this is objectively excellent stuff but just not my taste. The covers were not her strongest work admittedly but she is a powerhouse
More of a snoozer than I expected. Still enjoyable though.
4/5
Not bad for a pop production. Some iconic songs on here, mostly helped by bringing in soul/R&B vibes. It even had a little bit of rock mixed in, which at its best felt like a Springsteen/Motley Crue mix and at its worst felt like Meatloaf. The album was really carried by Turner's voice (which is to be expected from a solo album, I guess), but there really is no hiding that this is an 80s record. Pretty crazy how identifiable the decade is in its sound. Notable negatives for me were the covers, with 1984 being my least favorite track. It was worsened by Turner not writing any of the songs on the album herself. That's often a main problem I have with these pop albums. Much like those others, this one feels a bit too manufactured for me. Gonna take away a few points for that. As a whole, I'd say this was fine-to-good. I enjoyed parts of this album, mainly the recognizable songs. But the rest weren't all that impressive to me. Not sure I'll come back to this one other than to revisit the few songs I liked. Overall: 2.8/5
tina turner out of all artists to listen to. i'm honestly a little surprised. compared to all the other albums, this one is just straight pop... tina turner is hailed as the queen of rock and roll, but a lot of her discography sounds like dance pop. it's a pretty alright album! i mean there's really only so much i can realistically say about these 80s pop tunes. all i know is that these songs will make you want to move your feet, and miss turner exerts her mind, body and SOUL when she sings. she's full of personality and it really oozes out from the speakers. hope you don't mind the dx7, chorused guitars and tinny drum machines.
This album honestly exceeded my expectations. Not that I expected it to be bad. I like Tina Turner after all, but I’ve never listened to a full album of hers. This completely blew me away. I knew it would be good, but this was phenomenal. Her voice was great, there was a good mix of ballads and fun songs, and she got to show off so many different sides of her talent. I think “I Wrote A Letter” should have been included in the album and not just as a bonus track. I usually don’t listen to the bonus tracks, but this one caught my ear from the first note and ended up possibly being my favorite song, though there were a lot of good ones. Also remembering this was her comeback at age 45, and my god this album is just amazing in so many ways.
it was fine. i dont think i'll listen again. but most of the songs were decent.
I don't get the complaints that it 'sounds like the 80's'. Of course it does.... an icon MADE an album in the 80's??
Day803 - what’s love got to do with it was my first introduction to tina turner on mtv. this isn’t my favorite album of hers but she’s such an icon. her cover of i can’t stand the rain is one of my favorite version of that song
muy bien pero muy largo
I might Have Been Queen is not getting this album off to a good start, too new wave-y. She has a sexy voice. She's like R&B Kathleen Turner. This is like classic 60s Tina Turner mixed with new wave 80s Thunderdome Tina Turner...the songs have alternated so far and are a classic reminder that new wave music sucks. Missy Elliot's favorite Tina Turner song. Better Be Good to Me is a great pop song. I hate when there's no way to find the original album release on streaming. Brittany Howard sounds like Tina Turner in some songs, that's a flattering comparison for both of them. This cover of Let's Stay Together feels unnecessary. The new wave songs could be the soundtrack to a terrible 80s movie. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Private Dancer is the greatest song about strippers ever.
Tina Turner was a powerful singer, but she alone could not justify this album.
Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Not for me - It starts off OK but not particularly interesting. I Can't Stand The Rain is alright and then it's just pretty bland until the end. Even the Beatles cover can't save it.
At first it just sounded like Kiss with a better singer, but it kicks on after about 4 songs to a more well rounded album. Thank you bastille for covering the title track, you did it better kings
Amazing dance pop some original some from other artists nevertheless great overall
Tina Turner clearly has a lot of talent as a singer and performer, but this music just sounded so dated I couldn't get past that. That and the relentless shouting made it a slog to get through.
Her style is nice and her voice is strong, but it's all so aggressively 80's
Classic album from my youth….it was nice to listen to this again now, not sure that I would ever choose to listen to it but the nostalgia factor was cool. 2.5
Private Dancer de Tina Turner es la máxima expresión de actitud: rock con sentimiento, resiliencia y el inicio de la reivindicación de una reina. Fue el álbum que le permitió a Tina, una mujer en sus cuarenta, formar parte de la banda sonora de generaciones más jóvenes en los años 80, y desde entonces para toda la eternidad. Es el gran disco de la reina del rock. Un álbum donde prácticamente todas las canciones resultan familiares; seguramente alguna vez escuchaste varias de ellas. Y lo curioso es que, aunque no es un álbum de grandes éxitos, podría serlo perfectamente. Un clásico de clásicos.
I enjoyed this lucky dip of genres and styles despite the aggressively 80s backing music.
can’t handle this much tina in one go
Good 80s stuff. I don't know why everybody is complaining. I had a fun time, the Beatles cover was a bit meh though
Tina's vocals are immense on this solid pop-rock album. The tracks are rather repetitive, and the title track is especially egregious.
Bailed at Help! I thought I liked Tina Turner, I definitely like what I've seen of her in the late 60's, but this was horrific. Really sounded like a cat being strangled. I watched some documentary about her and was so moved and held her in such high regard but now I'm very confused as to why. The modern documentary are just really good advertisements I guess. I'll chalk it up to a bad album. Still team Tina.
My 80s hate can wait. This album has a few great moments. Love seeing an artist rebirth at 45 years old I love the way Turners voice fits this genre. The covers are really solid too. I Cant Stand The Rain has been covered at least 2 times on our journey. The Help cover sounded similar to Joe Cockers. All that said, there are a few BAD songs on here. Show Some Respect was a joke 😂 Favorites: whats love, better be good to me, lets stay together
Vibeeeee she is a queen
fun vibes
Love her down and there are good songs on this album, its just not really my vibe hahah I feel the vibe. I see why people love, but my love just goes to a few of her songs. Also the album is so long lmao and it all sounds sooo similar
I didn't think I would enjoy it that much. Very 80s but fucking fun
Perhaps this is because this is the first genuine female popstar I've had on this list, perhaps its because its one of the greatest comebacks in pop, perhaps her voice is just one of the best we've ever had. It's five stars. Any album whose title track is that good is five stars.
I'm young. I never listened to Tina Turner's songs besides the most commercial ones. Expected this to feel like the 80s and it does, feels old, but Tina's performance is grappin and the synths are kinda cool. Full on energetic from top to bottom.
Highlights: I Might Have Been Queen, What's Love Got to Do with It, Show Some Respect, I Can't Stand the Rain, Private Dancer It started strong with a bunch of club friendly tracks which I really liked. Yeah, they did sound like stereotypical 80s pop, but I like that style. The hits are definitely overplayed so I kinda liked some of the lesser known tracks from the first half a bit more. Then the record took a nosedive at Let's Stay Together. She butchered that track and I got worried that all the other covers are gonna suck too. The following tracks didn't fix that sentiment. I was really disappointed with the monotonous take on Help. I checked the anniversary release and saw that there were even more omitted covers. I have to say that there were some better decisions to be made about the final selection of the covers... For instance I really liked Ball of Confusion and the Prince cover. They are a better fit for the pop energy of the first half of the record. Overall I won't be revisiting the record as a while, but the highlights will remain in rotation on all sorts of 80s focused playlists.
> the Beatles
I really respect this album and Tina but this wasn't for me. From a certain time and place that is clearly not for a person like me. Still probably deseves it's spot on a list like this which isn't something I can say for everything on here. 4/10
Me gustó
This poor band sounds so bored. There was what, 4 covers on this? None of them can stand up to the original.
The whole Tina Turner story is amazing. I was a teenage through this period, when she went from 'aging has been' to 'pop/rock royalty'. Nobody deserved it more, she had been through wars (almost literally) for decades. She also has a voice that can smooth the edges off granite, in a good way, and oozes charm, warmth and character! The good tracks are What's Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancer and the covers of Let's Stay Together, I Can't Stand The Rain. The rest of the tracks are, sadly, instantly forgettable.
Queen.
Too long. Good songs but an hour and a half is insane. Cut the album in half and it would be amazing.
Incredible voice, incredibly 80's especially 1984
pretty fun and an iconic 80's pop album. she's got a cool as hell voice and the instrumentation SCREAM 80's in a nice way.
I will start this review by saying that she is a complete icon. Her sound is instantly recognisable. Unlike a lot of people, I actually really appreciate the production, as I'm a fan of the mainstream synth pop sound. I feel like there can be too much of her, as her powerful voice can be a tad much for me. Enjoyable listen though.
Turner delivers outstanding performance after outstanding performance
Funny one, this. It's unmistakeably Tina Turner, and it's also unmistakeably mid-80s. She has got a terrific voice, but I've never been a big fan either - and the two covers I specifically recognise, Let's Stay Together and Help, are just plain weird. While I'm not a fan of recording covers that are identical to the original, I don't like these arrangements at all. Won't be bothering to listen again.
Probably the only artist who gives Aretha Franklin a challenge for the title of Greatest Female Rock Performer of all time. Even beyond the vocal performances, she has all of those moves that she taught to Jagger. Watch videos or live performances of these songs when possible to get the full effect!
I never could get into this. Tina is an amazing artist but this is not my thing.
Good album, very listenable, just would never listen to it casually by myself. Still looking for an album that I well and truly gravitate towards.
Feels a bit dated. Maybe heard it to much when I was young.
Golden
Tina’s got a greatest of pipes. Musically not the best though Rain and Dancer are great tracks. Dancer stands out as being different from the rest, then you find out Mark Knopfler wrote it and it all makes sense
Her fifth album. Pop / Rock. What a voice ! Tina Turner's vocals are about as powerful and bold as you can get. The 80s production on this, by contrast, is pretty fucking awful. Even What's Love Got To Do With It is ruined by the production. Cliche 80s sounds and beats. The 3 that I am giving this album is all down to Tina Turner's voice.
Very 80s powerbalads but better than I expected.
This was less good than I'd hoped. It's difficult to hear this great voice and not think about where the US music industry was at when this album was released. On the one hand it's good that a black female artist could become a global superstar but on the other hand I can't help associating this music with the era that has very efficiently commodified talent based on massive sales, sell out stadium tours, image control, etc.... Just can't hear her voice without thinking about all that stuff.
This was just so painfully ’80s. That’s just my personal taste, though, so I won’t be too harsh. Objectively, it wasn’t bad at all, and Turner’s voice is great.
A bunch of covers! She has a great voice but it felt uninspired, perfectly mid/dull. 2.5 rounding to 2
Not gonna deny her vocal talents, this is just very much not my thing.
the 80s were not a good time for rnb, to say the least. you had Prince and Michael, but things definitely trended towards the safe and dull. i don't intrinsically dislike it. but the deck is stacked against it. it has to either excel at songwriting and performance to break past the crude plastic sheen, or embrace it in cutting edge ways. this doesn't do either really. Tina Turner's heavy voice does not pair well with the production at all. deserves to be one of the 1001?
Album of bangers… Tina’s voice is something else, the music doesn’t live up to her vocie I get that. But it’s all about her. Isn’t that the point? Great listen. Great song list. Can’t really knock it. Great for a one off listen.
Some great rocking tunes on this ! I mean cmon it’s Tina Turner an icon , I remember some of these tunes from old Videos my parents used to tape the series The young ones , and had what’s love got to do with it on top of the pops with the music video on such n iconic video ! so grew up listening to some of her classics on this What’s love got to do with it is a great arrangement liked the little synth lines and the builds are great, she’s got so much power yet so much soul to her voice Private dancer is a staple Tina turner track you always seem to hear this track to this day , very sleazy , sort of sets the scene in the lyrics takes a while to build , looked up and Jeff beck got hired to play the solo on this and when I listen to it it’s signature beck , heard he got roped in off a helicopter , straight into studio because he’s Jeff Beck Better be good to me I loved just a hooky feel good pop song The covers on this record Help , and the al Green classic let’s stay together we’re so well arranged and beautifully sung she put an amazing spin on the phrasing of the words All in all great album It oozes the 80s it’s a strong vocal on every track Tina seems to really draw you in on every song the musicians are tight some really good writers and song tempo changes , loved the synths and the little swells and instrumental breaks 4 all the way
Tina has a great voice, that's undeniable but I just can't get into this album. The production is just flat 80s overcompressed, and the arrangements are just a bit bland for me. Shes done better stuff than this, unsure why this one was picked!
I mean there's a reason you don't see this album in online music discourses
One of the albums I most identify with the background sound of my childhood (along with Thunderdome).
Gran album!
The Al Green and Ann Peebles covers are not bad. What's Love Got To Do With It and Private Dancer were probably the big hits from this album, but Better Be Good To Me is the one that stood out for me. Pretty good album. +1 for her just being a f'ing survivor after what Ike put her through.
iIdidnt listen, but I like the nutbush so.
Sorry nothing against the album I just hate 80s music
Not a bad album, just one I don't have much interest in
Would never have listened to this had it not been for the mission to get through this list. Absolute banger. The best thing about it is you can tell she had so much fun making this album. 5 - a near-perfect album
Not gonna lie, I had fun listening to this. Stand-outs - I Might Have Been Queen - Show Some Respect - When I Was Young
Icon
Favorite Track: What’s Love Got to Do with It
It didn’t rlly stand out to me too much but I did like some of the songs
WHY DID I SLEEP ON TINA TURNER!? What a badass album.
if this was released in any other decade I think I would've loved this, but the 80s make this album sound like it was edited with star wipes and written in comic sans. Her voice is a 5/5 but the music accompanying her brings this down to a 2. Oh ya, and those 80s sax solos can F right off.
Surprising, wasnt expecting such a powerful album. It seemed like a best of… compilation as I was listening. Most of the classics I already knew, but now I have the full context of the album they sound even stronger. Great & surprising listen
Pretty good. Very 80s feel
The production is a bit 80s-tastic, but “Let’s Stay Tigether” heals all wounds.
mudpie: “This album was an absolute celebration of all the very worst aspects of 80s music production.” me: “The songs on this album barely exist.” Truly unbearable.
An absolute celebration of all the very worst aspects of 80 music production.
Tina’s talent shines through here on an album that contains a few bangers. A few signs of the 80s era not aging brilliantly but overall a good listen
Amazing synths. I can't stand the rain was a favorite.
The best part about this album is definitely Turner's vocal performances, which are powerful to say the least. While a couple songs were enjoyable, this was largely unmemorable, and some of the instrumentals were honestly unpleasant to listen to (e.g. I Can't Stand The Rain... what is with those horn blasts?). Maybe this just isn't meant for me. Favorites: Private Dancer, Better Be Good to Me
Much respect to Tina and that powerhouse of a voice, but the 80s production and sound is not my cup of tea to say the least. An incredible singer singing along to what sounds like midi backing tracks.
Has some great songs but incredibly dated and overdone 80s production brings down the album significantly.
Never noticed the cat on the album cover. How cute! Some good covers but not something I would listen to again. I don't really understand the hype around "What's Love Got to do with It". Favorite track: I Might Have Been Queen
Nope
Short & sweet
bodishi fexebze mekida
Very 80s album, my gosh. It has this fun feel to it, some songs are absolutely anthems (see Highlight Songs below for examples.) I thought the first half (except for first song) wasn't really good, but starting at the b-side it drastically improved in quality, like SERIOUSLY IMPROVED. Definitely a high 3/5, but not high enough to be rounded up to 4/5. Highlight Song/s: "I Might’ve Been Queen" (Soul Survivor), "Let's Stay Together" and "Steel Claw"
Didn't feel it, these kind of production isn't my cup of tea
6/10 en cuanto a gusto personal. Me gusta la voz y la melodia de algunas canciones. Lo volveria a escuchar, aprobado.
About what I expected
I think that Tina Turner embodies a quiet female empowerment that she is rarely credited with in her music. She is a black woman in rock. I and of itself this is an achievement. But add to this that she has a powerful, gravelly and soulful voice that I never tire of hearing. Tina is the queen of the cover version with three of them on this album "I Cant Stand The Rain", "Lets Stay Together" and "Help!". All of which sound entirely like Tina's own version of these songs. Add another two absolutely massive hits to the mix, "Whats Love Got To Do With It?" and "Private Dancer" and you have a classic album. Its smooth and soulful with a good balance between piano bar and 80s synth infused rock. One of the albums that I could put on when I don’t know what I want to listen to, because I will always want to listen to this. (3.600)
Really enjoyed this as my first Tina Turner album listen!
So so very 80’s. If you like that then this is a terrific album. Tina’s voice is timeless, it’s a shame the music behind her isn’t.
Ehh I didn't really enjoy this one. I like Tina, but this is dripping with those '80's synths I really despise. I can't explain it better than that.
6/10 - proper 80s pop here
This was very good. I especially like the covers on the extended edition version I listened too. Very different takes on some songs. The beatles song I almost didnt even realize was a beatles song at first.
Tina's voice is one of the most soulful I've ever heard. Raw and real. I still prefer her older material better but this album is pretty good. Her version of I Can't Stand the Rain sends chills down my spine.
Tina’s voice is great the problem is the music sounds like a parody of itself. Terrible synths.
Amazing! Banger after banger. No notes.
OH MY GOD TINA TURNER.............. she is so fantastically good. Like I knew she was famous and obviously had heard "What's Love Got To Do With It" before but I had no idea what I was missing out on. Private Dancer itself is, of course, legendary, and I LOVE I Can't Stand The Rain........all the naysayers in the reviews saying this is "too eighties" have no joy and whimsy in their heart. That's part of what makes it so fun! Literally just tell me you hate fun and having a good time. The keyboard instrumental breaks...the saxophone instrumental breaks...the electric guitar instrumental breaks......... Why is no one talking about Steel Claw????? Banger! Absolute banger! This album bangs, guys! love the plinky piano in 1984........the electronic banging in Ball of Confusion......... OH MY GOD TINA TURNER AND DAVID BOWIE DID A SONG TOGETHER?!?!?!?? O hvmyg,od.........
So 80s sounding, I can enjoy this but only in small doses
Tops 3: I can't stand the rain Better be good to me Help
I really like the instrumentals but I don't love her voice. Songs I saved: Show some respect Steel claw
I Might Have Been Queen (Soul Survivor) - 3.5/5 What's Love Got to Do With It - 4/5 Show Some Respect - 2.5/5 I Can't Stand the Rain - 2/5 Better Be Good to Me - 2/5 Let's Stay Together - 2.5/5 1984 - 2.5/5 Steel Claw - 2.5/5 Private Dancer - 2.5/5 Tina Turner has an incredible voice. Unfortunately, that's not the only instrument on this album, since the rest of the production feels stuck in the 80's and in a bad way. This probably could have been a bit more well-received when it came out, but 40 years later it's really dated. Overall: 2/5 Favorites: What's Love Got to Do With It
Сложно. В пятый раз я таки дослушал до конца, и мне даже понравилось, но до этого выключал аж 4 раза. И это было невыносимо скучно. У Тины раздражающий голос, но вайб танцев и активности она выдает крутой.
Such a fun album! We both really enjoyed this one, Tina has a really great voice and know how to use it, and the music itself is very easy and fun to listen. I see why she was / is so popular for so many years!
Listen this is good. I haven't even heard it but it's private dancer by Tina mf Turner like come on. It's good. Like this IS the 80s. I didn't even have to be there I can experience them through this album. What has love got to do with it huh? Second fucking hand emotion. Who does need a heart. Ms. Turner you tell em. Nothing. That's what loves got to do with it. Like this was the moment this is the moment it will continue to be the moment. Loving this but why is it still going. Ms. Turner I do get the idea. It's enough. I'm good. Favourite: What's Love Got To Do With It Least favourite: Steel Claw
No. 114 I'd never heard the album as a whole before, but I'd heard almost all the tracks as singles. It's fire!
One of the greatest artists of all time with an iconic voice. This album isn't new to me but I will gladly listen through it at least once today anyways!
Extremely 80s sound, but boy does Tina have a great voice and such presence!
Pretty solid. Can see why she was one of the big ones of the era.
Noice
Great songs all around. Some absolute classics here.
For me, Tina Turner is one of those artists you hear on classic hits radio, and I mostly know her through her singles, with "Private Dancer" being my favourite. I can't say the full album disappointed me, but I'll still mostly stick to the singles.
Ah, the 80s. This album sounds like cocaine, expensive scotch, shouldpads and a huge studio budget. There are some good songs buried here, but not enough, and it just sounds all so contrived.
Not really a Tina fan tbh
Steel Claw has the absolute worst guitar solos ever recorded. It sounded like a cat dying. Tina is a phenomenal talent but this album is such a product of the 80’s it doesn’t have a timeless feel. It wears it 80’s ness like a boat anchor.
Un buen ejemplo de lo que eran los hitazos en los early 80s. La voz de Turner es única y su energía se siente en cada canción. No es un disco que ame pero nunca voy a rechazar escuchar algo de Tina.
01) I Might Have Been Queen - 8,0 02) What's Love Got to Do with It - 10,0 03) Show Some Respect - 8,5 04) I Can't Stand the Rain - 10,0 05) Private Dancer - 10,0 06) Let's Stay Together - 10,0 07) Better Be Good to Me - 8,5 08) Steel Claw - 8,0 09) Help! - 10,0 10) 1984 - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,15 (92/100) Current ranking: 50/826
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One of the most iconic singers of all time really puts out everything she has on this album. Perfectly crafted, every song offers new and exciting tunes and a mix of styles that still harmonize with Turners unconventional voice. The rough sound makes it all the more charming and catapults this album to its status as an all-time classic. And then there is the issue of the version I heard. All of the above I would wholeheartedly state about the original 10-song album, which is perfect from beginning to end. But that is not the version you can find on YouTube. That is the 30th anniversary edition. And while I can appreciate that this version was made for fans of the original, who will love remastered versions of the classics and additional live songs, the difference was extremely jarring to me. Not only was the difference in style and recording quality evident from the start, the additional songs didn't really do it for me. It is more Tina Turner - if that is better or worse depends on your perspective. For me, it felt bloated but for others it might be a second serving of their favorite dish. Best songs (aside from the titular song and the (slightly overrated) What's Love Got To Do With It) are I Can't Stand The Rain and 1984. 10/10 for the original, (7/10 for the 30th anniversary), a timeless piece from the lady with the charming vocal chords.
Some killer tracks but not the whole album
Not my bag
I'm an idiot and anyone who is also reading this without having listened to a Tina Turner album before is also an idiot. What a waste of 39 years before hearing this. I think I had probably focused on her earlier output (which for some reviewers seems to be what they prefer but which I think is just not my thing). I like that there's been a handful of albums on this list that I've never heard before that just start and make me feel "this is going to be a 5". It was tight, but this was one. The first track was amazing. What's Love Got to Do With It (the only song I knew), is massive - those three descending notes on the pre-chorus somehow send shivers. Show Some Respect, Steer Claw and the cover of 1984 are huge. The Help! cover and the title track are weaker, but frankly, don't hold back the energy. Her voice is obviously phenomenal, but I love the instrumentation too given I'm an 80s nerd. When I started I didn't think I'd bother with the bonus tracks, but here I am massively enjoying I Wrote a Letter and When I Was Young. Queen of Rock and Roll indeed.
Wanted to give this 4 starts because it started in credible, but just lost a bit of momentum for me
Hmmm. Tina's voice is incredible, some of these tracks really showcase her. But I'm really not into the 80s production, sounds like someone trying to make a cut-price Quincy Jones album... Oh it was part produced by heaven 17, that would do it. Let's stay together was pretty great. I preferred the backing on better be good to me, but the song isn't as good as some of the covers. Steel claw sounds like a meatloaf track, not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Oh, help is an interesting interpretation... Oh god the saxophone and the squeaky synth backing. I'm not sure a pop sax solo is really giving the same feel as the self deprecating desperate begging Lennon lyrics. Feels a bit of a miss hit. I dunno. Tina's vocals are out of this world, but beyond a few tracks I can't say I've enjoyed this. Probably has to be a 3.
What's Love Got to Do with It - what a track! Both a defining moment from the 80's but also standing the test of time and still sounding amazing in 2026 I was struggling with what rating to give this, and then Better Be Good to Me started, and it was clear this really is a 5-star collection - Enjoy!
Once Tina sings a song it's her song
It's a fine 80s pop record. 2.75/5.
Un peu trop typé 80’s pour Clara
7/10 but I rounded down because the songs started sounding pretty similar after a while
Pretty good not really my specific love but there’s definitely some inspirations here as well as funk, jazz, and r&b all in one. Liked some songs (I might have been queen, help!, and 1984 better than others).
Her singing was great, but everything else was a kind of bad. It might just due to how old the album is, mixing wasn't exactly great in a lot of 80s albums.
Het enige album van Tina in de lijst, 't is nog nie te geleuve?! Maar dan wel die ene met de grootste hits, ook wel eens fijn. Plus wat geinige covers van de groten, zoals Bowie, de Beatles en Al Green. Het klinkt allemaal retestrak, d'r staat geen nootje teveel op. Toch even gecheckt: toen ik 'Private dancer' in de jaren tachtig hoorde, dacht ik altijd dat het door een oud omaatje werd gezongen. Over bijzonder stemgeluid gesproken. Maar het blijkt dat Tina toen nog (lang) geen oma was, zo zie je maar weer. Ik ga mijn 4,5 voor dit album lekker naar boven afronden.
Ik heb het album nooit eerder gehoord, maar bijna elk nummer op dit album ken ik al wel vrij goed. Dan heb je toch iets neergezet. Het is een typisch jaren '80 geluid, met I can't stand the rain als extreme daarin. Toch valt het ook wel mee. De muziek begeleidt bij de meeste nummers vooral haar zang. Dat is dan ook haar troef. Tiny laat dan ook wel voelen dat ze kan uithalen. Maar ze lijkt volwassen genoeg om het niet te overdrijven. Haar stem lijkt hierin niet beperkend, maar de lading die het nummer nodig heeft bepaalt de uithalen. Dat is wel te waarderen. De enorme hit "What's love got to do with it" was denk ik niet zo'n grote hit geweest als ze hier een schepje bovenop had gedaan. Binnen de grenzen van het decennium is het album vrij gevarieerd. Natuurlijk door de gebruikelijke afwisseling met een powerplaat hier en een ingetogen nummer daar. Maar vooral door de klankkleur. Wat googlen leert dat dit bereikt is door de keuze voor meerdere producers en wisselende muzikanten. Wellicht een luxe om die mogelijkheid te hebben. Maar dat gun ik eigenlijk elke zanger wel.
Je weet precies wat je krijgt, dit is hoogtijdagen 80s. Toen ze van een succesvolle cd gewoon alle nummers als single uitbrachten. Dat heeft nu als voordeel dat je bijna alle nummers herkent en dat is ergens ook wel prettig. Ik hoef hier niet actief naar te luisteren, maar het kan lekker op de achtergrond. En dan is het prima doorkomen. Een album dat absoluut in de snoblijst hoort, want er zijn joekelveel exemplaren van verkocht. Vandaag geen tijd voor uitgebreid onderzoek door de wiki. Al weet ik al wel dat ze werd geslagen door haar voormalige echtgenoot en ze zal vast ook wel eens een snuifje hier of daar genomen hebben. Ik geef gewoon 3 sterretjes en daarmee klaar.
7/10 – Good
not really my style but i respect tina turner
Not what I'd normally listen to, but there are some proper bangers on this It would be criminal to rate it less than a 3
Two days is a row. I really cannot stand 80s pop. No disrespect to Tina but this is such tepid garbage, very tinny beats, not much bass. What's Love cannot save this from what I must do...1/5
I'll always give Tina Turner a kudos for having an incredible singing voice, but this album reminds me of a 1980s VHS at-home workout video. Favorite Track: "Private Dancer".
What’s love go to do with it 😍
I knew TT was a legend for a reason, but sometimes you don't take the time to stop and smell the hairspray; today I did, and what a glorious scent it is! Turner originated this quintessentially 80s sound, the gee-tars, the synth, the funk and obviously, she does it the best. I wouldn't say this is a genre I usually gravitate to, but there is such a sensuality and genuine-ness to this album that Tina has seduced - nay - private danced (!) me into a true fan. Too late, don't try and stop me, my hair is already teased nice and up! There's heart, there's heartbreak, there's danceability. WHO NEEDS A HEART WHEN A HEART CAN BROKEN (sashays sadly). Exactly.
Lots and lots of fun! Bangers galore and Tina Turner is just such a charismatic vocalist - a lil bit unhinged sometimes but in the best way. mid-80s pop is probably the best pop and that's proved here. A feeeew too many weird filler covers in here for it to be a true classic but a very enjoyable one nonetheless
Always loved Mrs. Turner since I was a kid, loved having a reason to listen to this album fully! It’s such a good groovy, funky album, pretty much every song is a bop!
That is such a great album
This record has a lot of powerful vocal performances, and I appreciate the significance it plays in Turner’s life and career. That being said, it exemplifies a mid-80’s production style that I really don’t enjoy. Saccharine synths and excessive use of novelty sound effects. Flat sounding drum machines mixed with tom-toms tuned like they’re about to record for Hawaii Five-O. There were definitely some bright spots, like the dreamy “Let’s Stay Together” or the playful key change in “Help!” but I might not seek out the rest of the album in the future.
Pretty good release for Tina Turner to get the credit that her talent deserves. "What's Love Got to Do With It" is a great song. Represents the era really well. "I Can't Stand the Rain" and "Help!" are two covers I really enjoyed. Everything else was "so-so" and the title track was a sleeper.
Enjoyed listening to this! Her powerful voice is iconic.
She's an icon but I didn't love this album. Feels a bit 80s-by-the-numbers
Hit na hit na hit na hit na hit. Vet
Nice and varied, not all of the songs were there. The production was sometimes conspicuous
Hard not to like Tina. Unfortunately this album feels like a relic from a lost decade.
Man this album rocks. Tina Turner is so talented she can take a song like "Let's Stay Together" and somehow almost take it away from the already legendary Al Green. Seriously powerful, emotive performance. I hung onto every word. Turner seems to be showing off just how easily she can command your attention, whether it be rocking the fuck out of a sincere ballad. The choruses all hit. "Help" might be the only weak spot but even that song is insanely good, for Beatle cover standards at least. Walked away from this album wondering why it's not in rotation more, what a banger.
bardzo fajnyyy:3
not really my jam but i enjoyed it all the same
Good
I can't stand the raiiiiin
Damn she be laying on the 80s cheese thick
After 3 days of soulf from 70's finally something I can actually listen to
Smash hit after smash hit!
Highlights: What's Love Got to Do, I Can't Stand the Rain
I didn’t listen to the whole album as I got a little disinterested a couple of songs in, however the woman is an icon so was probably an issue with my mood at the time
Enjoyable listen
This was actually a banger. Yet another artist I've needed to listen to. Even though the album was long, I didn't really mind the extra versions of songs since they kept things fresh.
норм, кілька пісень піде в плейлист ✨️танцюльки✨️
I like her cat
What’s Love Got To Do With It is of course iconic and a great song (though I think it would have probably sounded better with a sax solo instead of the harmonica synth). The rest of the album is pretty solid, though there’s nothing close to as catchy as the lead single, and some of it’s a bit cheesy and dated, especially all of the synths and drum machines. But she’s a good enough singer to breathe life into the most mediocre sings, so the album is still worth a listen the whole way through. 3.5/5, rounding up.
5/10
It’s hard to judge this album because it has such a legendary history from her fall from grace as an R&B Queen to surviving a hostile marriage to being a single mother trying to feed her kids by whatever means to being rediscovered by Bowie and rocketing into the deserved status of R&B Queen for the next generation. What’s Love Got to Do With It was my involuntary soundtrack in elementary school because you could not escape it. Luckily, it was also a great song. Steel Claw is a throwback to her funky days with a modern(well, ‘80s modern) swing. What makes the album great is her lyrical journey and strength of her story telling. This is a more mature, more confident Tina. The bad part is this album feels dated in the production, though the sultry tenor saxophone calling reminds me of the days hitting on the ladies at recess for sure. Because it has always been part of my life I have a hard time objectively critiquing it.
Random thoughts: * While I would say Tina Turner is an R&B artist, this album was more standard 80s rock. It wasn't bad but I was just surprised it was more rock than R&B. * "What's Love Got To Do With It" is an all-time song. I enjoyed the flashback to this one. * Some interesting cover choices on this album: "Cant' Stand the Rain", "Let's Stay Together", and "Help". I liked the first 2 and thought "Help" was particularly bad. But I'm also lean towards you can improve on perfection when it comes to the Beatles. * There were a few interesting songs on here: "Private Dancer" and Rock n Roll Widow" * This was nice to listen to but I'll just stick to "What's Love Got To Do With It".
I respect Tina so goddamn much. She left Ike, her abuser, who legally owned their name and recordings. She had nothing. She recorded four solo albums that went nowhere. And then this, her fifth, in her 40s, which was washed up back then… and bam. Mega comeback. Mega phoenix rise. It’s glorious. I love a couple of the tracks - I Can’t Stand the Rain and Better Be Good To Me. But the album to me suffers from the ‘80s production and the reliance on covers. I’m also not a fan of the big hits, What’s Love and Private Dancer. A reluctant, if high and respectful, 3.
Funky, powerful, popy..is what's love one of the best songs ever written, of course! Some feel a bit drawn out, the title track as the perfect example. But the sould of tina doesnt get better.
Solid 80s bangers
Me encantó la voz de Tina Turner, lamentablemente no es un álbum que me enganchará, en ningún momento sentí mucho interés por seguir escuchandolo. Solo por su voz le doy un 3
A very damn good slice of 80's pop. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. This is the most ‘80s-sounding ‘80s album there could possibly be. That is a dealbreaker for some people & a selling point for others; thankfully, I’m “others”. Yes, it’s absolutely over the top at points, overblown on occasion, deeply overdramatic at times, and constantly feels like it’s an instrumental break away from being in a Rocky training montage, but part of that weird adrenaline is what sells ‘80s production like this for me. Somehow, this feels like a blend of Prince’s pop sensibilities for the time with a touch of Depeche Mode involved, and with Tina Turner’s 45-year-old vocals belting out with a sort of feminine anger that can only be wrought upon from her history with Ike, the entire album’s bombast works hand in hand, where you can tell it’s really cheesy at points, yet done so earnestly you can’t help but play along with it. Of course, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” plays itself more subtly (& with the least subtle fake harmonica put to tape in the decade), and perhaps that’s why it was the biggest hit on the album. Either that, or it’s just legitimately that catchy with the slight reggae groove & it endured for that very reason. (It is that catchy, by the way.) Every other track hits that slight bombast, and while a lot of them do crash into a “really stale outro” wall because of it, the variety of the album saves it from ever feeling like a big issue, at least for me. Ultimately, I do think the enjoyment here boils down to “how much do you like ‘80s production?”, and if you like it a lot, you’ll like this album a lot, even if it’s reliant on covers for the entire back half, due to the refreshed ‘80s bombast on them. “Let’s Stay Together” might be a little egregious, & “Help!” might be a bit overdramatic, but the rest work well. If you don’t like ‘80s production, you will probably not like this, since Tina Turner’s vocals will feel “wasted” on crummy drum machines that remind you too much of Sussudio & have you yearning for real pop/soul music like Aretha Franklin. (This is where I would recommend looking up Aretha Franklin’s 1980 cover of “What A Fool Believes”, which is incredible.) I think it’s a good album, and while it certainly has flaws, something about the weird adrenaline rush of ‘80s production just appeals to me in an infectious way. It’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump to a 5.
Now this is whiy I enjoy this project.. never would have thought twic e about this record...when I heard I realise what a blockbuster it was..also I didnt relaise that Private Dancer was written By Mark Knopfler.. dude could have retired from the royalities of that alone. Respect
A pop - rock album by Tina Turner. As expected, not bad, nothi spectacular either.
Pure 80s
4.2/5 Stars Top Songs: What's Love Got To Do With It, I Can't Stand the Rain, Steel Claw
Tuna Turner you fishy little beauty. I really enjoyed this a lot for what is, at heart, a polished dance pop record. The big hits - especially the title track and What's Love Got To Do With It - absolutely bop, and she has a marvellous voice. The covers were pretty nice too, or at least Let's Stay Together was. Her version of Help (possibly not on the original record) is a pretty paint by numbers affair. Anyway, well done Tina, you duck-walking wonder.
It’s okay
3.5
Looking at the wikipedia article there are so many different versions of this album... not sure what Spotify has, but I'll just review the international edition that seems to end with '1984'. While on the subject, the amount of different writers for this is quite staggering. Almost reminds me of a Beyonce record we had on this list that had like 4 different names per song. But I digress. Having never heard this record, I was excited since I know Tina has some banger songs to her name. And I was not disappointed. This is a stellar album that really stands out among the recent drought on the this list. Tina's voice is obviously one of a kind with her almost distorted quality to it. But that isn't the only thing good with the record, the orchestrations are really solid with cool arrangements and some funky 80s synths. The mix sounds really good too. 'What's Love Got To Do With It' is the star of the show, and the only track I think I've heard before. But almost all other tracks are really strong as well, with standout tracks in 'Show Some Respect', 'I Can't Stand The Rain', 'Private Dancer', and 'Let's Stay Together'. The album lost a bit of its oomph in the last tracks, but didn't fall through completely. I really enjoyed this album and it's one of the better ones in recent times. Feeling it was a mistake to not give 'Songs From The Big Chair' a 5 star so will make up for my cowardliness by gifting this a 5.
I’ve always felt quite ambivalent about Tina Turner. I know she’s a huge star, but the only song I could think of that she’d done was “The Best.” I was proven wrong when I listened to this album. The album starts off quite strong with “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” It’s a great song that shows her range, and while the beat is laid back, it really packs a punch. Then there’s the iconic cover of “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” I’m not sure it’s my favourite version of the song, but the main riff really grabs you compared to the original. I also have to admit that the version I’ve heard the most is the sample in Missy Elliott’s “The Rain.” Then there’s maybe my favourite song on the album, “Private Dancer.” It might be a tad long, but I still really enjoyed it. Sadly, I thought the covers on the latter half of the record were subpar. “Let’s Stay Together” felt like a strictly worse version of the song by Al Green. “Help!” was the same story, but I can respect the attempt. Overall: good vocals, quite a few strong singles, and a few subpar covers. 4 stars from me — a good album!
'80's soft rock at it's best, which in of itself isn't say much, but there are a few good songs on this one. It's definitely targeted to the divorcee boomer crowd though. I always felt that her voice was really rough in this recording. Like she had been screaming before she recorded it.
What's Love Got to Do with It Private Dancer Let's Stay Together Better Be Good to Me
I really like the way she sings, very energetic and adds so much character. I Wrote A Letter and Hot For You Baby were the ones that stood out to me, but mostly because of the guitar parts which I liked. Definitely an 80s sounding album, but not the kind of music I'd seek out really. 5.9/10
my parents loved her, i see why. funky groovy and she bad
NOTE: Only listened to tracks from the original edition. Queen of Rock N' Roll. Think this was one of the few Rock N' Roll albums I enjoyed. Even though all the songs were solid I saved: - Show some respect - Let's stay together - Private dancer - 1984
Not for me
Tina is always a mood!
VERY dated somewhat repetitive Turners voice is great the most 80s album we've listened to for sure
I liked the funk and disco and occasional rock to this album but ultimately it wasn’t for me.
This was a nice listen recognized a few songs and was vocally amazing. Not my style but enjoyed it
What a voice, just wish I liked the music more.
25 song album… damn it's fun.. shes a party girl she can really sing but i think 80s music is hit or miss with me
J'ai aimé! C'est le son 80s avec lequel j'ai plus de misère (le son mainstream avec les sons cheaps de brass ou même d'harmonica faits avec un clavier casio genre, c'en est drôle) et qui vieillit mal, mais hey quand les tounes sont bonnes, c'est bon! Et la voix de Tina Turner c'est un powerhouse, cette femme a du chien J'ai eu du plaisir à écouter ça
Fun listen some songs too repetitive
not really my thing
Queen
It was fine. Didn't massively do it for me. Didn't hate or love it
it was good! but didn't really trigger anything in me to be higher than a 3, just one of them
85
Album 93. Private Dancer — Tina Turner (1984) All background sounds in this album are a distraction from Tina's powerful voice. Her voice is a powertrain and other elements are a carriage. That's why despite many covers and repetitive sounds in the album, it works all too well. Good music, good covers (Bowie, Beatles, Al Green and more). But don’t wanna add it to my playlist. 3/5 —————————————— No liked songs
Love the 80s vibe. Good album. 80s started in 1984. Best track: Private Dancer
She rocked. Also... every once in a while I heard the sax guy (Tim Cappello...the guy from The Lost Boys - 'I Still Believe') and that's always a treat.
Get it Tina. Made me want to do the 80s workout videos.
Oh yeah! Tina! So 80s but in a good way. And the power of the voice. Yes the production creaks a bit these days but couldn't you just listen to her sing all day long?
It’s obviously an album from the 80s and it just gets a bit obnoxious after the 5th song, I feel like I’m staring in to fluroescent lights and can smell the tiles of a shopping mall right after leaving the movie theater after having watched terminator
Some surprise covers and a few notable singles. Enjoyable.
Private Dancer was quite the enjoyable album. I am pretty familiar with a fair bit of Tina Turner's discography with seeing Proud Mary in Just Dance 2 and also hearing an additional five songs from her from using Spotify's AI DJ feature a bit after she had died but i don't think any of those songs from what i remember were from this album. It is a shame since this album is a really good one. It is a very 80s album (which makes sense, its from 1984 after all) with a lot of that 80s bass, synths galore but Tina's voice did give it some uniqueness. A few of the songs were pretty unmemorable but overall, I really enjoyed this album. Best Song: 1984 Worst Song: Better Be Good To Me
Patrząc na to co dostaje od pewnego czasu na tej stronie daje większą ocenie Tinie. Może nie jest to muzyka, do której często wracam, to zostawiła mnie z dużo przyjemniejszym uczuciem, niż reszta płyt
3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/tina-turner/private-dancer/ All completely fine songs, but nothing more than that. None of the covers are even remotely better than the originals (as far as I know them). Private Dancer and What's Love Got to Do with It, however, are obviously great. Also, the album cover has a black cat on it to truly it's 5/5.
Great album, Tina wiped the floor with this one. Would have been a straight 5 but the Beatles and Bowie covers smack a little of lack of confidence. Saying that I prefer Tinas version of help
Top tier voice although lowkirkenuinley sounds like they’re all primary school singing assembly songs. Maybe just me
Iconic. Ich glaube I can’t stand the rain ist einer meiner Top Songs ever
2/5
Solid album, some real bops
This isn't necessarily my type of music, and I have a bit of an issue with performers who don't participate in the writing of the music they're performing. This is essentially a glorified covers album. Tina can sing, and the band can play. I don't love it though.
Incredible voice, some songs are very powerful (I.e. I Wrote A Letter). I didn’t vibe with every song but I did enjoy the listen all the way through.
Great at what sh3 does awesome greavelly voice , some top tunes on this album and a nice easy listen
Not crazy about this one!
Goosebumps
The first half of this thing flies out of the gate. By the midway point it starts to lose me. Bar one or two exceptions, the songs become less memorable, the instrumentation too dated. Tina's voice is an absolute force throughout
не мой форматик
Very 80’s but was a lot better than I anticipated
Not my thing. Gave up on it.
Private Dancer is a singles heavy album with a fair share of filler, including some cover songs of dubious quality. However, context is important, and the aforementioned singles are absolute smash hits that revitalized Turner's career and cemented her legacy as one of the all time greats. That being said, I've got zero tolerance for filler and it's reflected in my rating.
Classic 80's
Awful album. Artistically empty cash cow.
my car is covered in road salt
Definitely a 3.5, some absolute classics on here but I don’t care much for the other songs on the first listen.
It's more like a 3.5. I don't even know what to say. There is a reason Tina Turner is considered a legend and icon. Admittedly there's a couple skips that I personally didn't like as much, but it doesn't erase the fact that this is a fantastic album.
**Tina Turner – *Private Dancer* (1984)** _In-depth review: lyrics, music, production, themes & influence_ --- ### **1. Context & Legacy** Released in May 1984, *Private Dancer* was Turner’s **comeback-solo breakthrough** after years of Ike & Tina baggage and industry neglect. - **Global sales**: 12 million+ - **Grammys**: 3 wins (Record, Song, Female Pop Vocal for “What’s Love Got to Do with It”) - **Influence**: Re-defined how a 44-year-old Black woman could re-enter the MTV-era pop market and become a stadium rocker. It set the template for later “legacy” comebacks (Cher, Bonnie Raitt, Santana) and proved that **vocal authority + smart A&R + modern production** could trump youth marketing. --- ### **2. Lyric Landscape** Turner is **not** the principal writer; the album is a **curated set** from British & American songwriters. Lyrics therefore **mirror** rather than **chronicle** her life, but the **song-selection** is autobiographical in spirit: | Track | Core Theme | Lyrical Angle | |---|---|---| | **What’s Love Got to Do with It** | Cynical romantic detachment | “Second-hand emotion” – distrust as survival mechanism after abusive past. | | **Private Dancer** | Sex-work metaphor for showbiz | Mark Knopfler’s words become a **meta-commentary** on Turner’s own commodification; the stripper is also the performer who’s “dancing for the money.” | | **Better Be Good to Me** | Defiant ultimatum | Anthem of **new boundaries**—directly read as Turner’s post-Ike manifesto. | | **I Might Have Been Queen** | Mythic self-empowerment | Rewrites the “tragic woman” trope into **urban-fantasy royalty**—a sonic coronation. | | **Steel Claw** | Class & gender warfare | Lines like “It’s a rich man’s world, you’re a poor man’s wife” give the record **societal bite** often missed amid the pop sheen. | **Weak spot**: The Beatles cover **“Help”** is re-harmonised into a soul ballad, but the lyric’s youthful panic feels **misaligned** with Turner’s worldly timbre. --- ### **3. Music & Arrangements** Genre **mosaic**: new-wave synth-pop, reggae-tinged pop, Memphis soul covers, AOR rock, proto-power-ballad. | Song | Musical Signature | Notable Players | |---|---|---| | **Let’s Stay Together** | Heaven 17-style Linn-Drum & synth-bass, 10-second **vocal sustain** that became a sampler classic. | Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh | | **What’s Love…** | Off-beat **electric piano** hook + talk-box guitar = perfect MTV ear-candy. | Terry Britten (gtr/producer) | | **Private Dancer** | Dire Straits chemistry: **Jeff Beck**’s “2nd-ugliest guitar solo” (Knopfler’s words) adds **blues ache** to the glossy bed. | Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler | | **Steel Claw** | **Hi-NRG rock**; 8th-note hi-hat & power-chords pre-date Heart’s 80s phase. | | | **I Can’t Stand the Rain** | **Simulated rain-drop synth**, gated snare & sax = textbook 80s excess, but Turner’s **grit** keeps it earthy. | **Pros**: - Each track tailored to **her rasp-to-velvet range**; producers **leave space** for ad-libs (the “Yeah-yeah!” in “Better Be Good to Me” still raises neck-hair). - **Live drum & guitar overdubs** on top of drum-machines prevent the dated “all-synth” curse. **Cons**: - **Period-specific drums**—gated reverb & Linn crashes—can feel **cartoonish** to post-90s ears. - **Key-choice fatigue**: many songs sit in **A-flat/E-flat**, optimised for radio but blurring individuality when heard back-to-back. --- ### **4. Production Architecture** **Multi-producer strategy** (unusual in 1984): - Capitol farmed tracks to **five different teams** so Turner could **pick winners**. - Result: **no sonic cohesion**, yet **every song is single-ready**—a **mixtape approach** that foreshadows modern play-list culture. | Producer(s) | Signature | Tracks | |---|---|---| | **Terry Britten** | Tight, radio-rock | “What’s Love…”, “Better Be Good to Me” | | **Rupert Hine** | Atmospheric, synth-layered | “I Might Have Been Queen” | | **Martyn Ware** (Heaven 17) | Brit-soul electro | “Let’s Stay Together”, “1984” | | **Mark Knopfler** | Live-band blues | “Private Dancer” | | **Bob Clearmountain** (mix) | Glossy, punchy drums | most tracks | **Studio lore**: Turner cut **lead vocals in one-or-two takes** to preserve rasp; **no Auto-Tune** (didn’t exist) → slight imperfections (e.g., flat tail on “Help” bridge) left in, adding humanity. --- ### **5. Thematic Cohesion** Despite the **patch-work** origins, a **narrative arc** emerges: 1. **Survivor intro** (“I Might Have Been Queen”) 2. **Cynical heart** (“What’s Love…”) 3. **Demand for respect** (“Show Some Respect”, “Better Be Good to Me”) 4. **Vulnerability & commodification** (“Private Dancer”) 5. **Rain/cleansing metaphor** (“I Can’t Stand the Rain”) 6. **Closing uplift** (“Keep Me Hanging On” – bonus track on CD) Thus the album quietly **mirrors** Turner’s **emancipation timeline** without needing confessional songwriting. --- ### **6. Influence & Afterlife** - **Vocal blueprint**: Beyoncé, Pink, Janelle Monáe cite Turner’s **raspy-yet-precision** delivery on this record as **the** reference for **power-pop-soul**. - **Visual template**: The **spiked wigs**, leather-minis and **stocking-belt combo** debuted here → still copied by arena-divas. - **Sample fodder**: – “I Can’t Stand the Rain” → Missy Elliott’s **“Beep Me 911”** (1997). – Drum intro of “Let’s Stay Together” → **“Straight Outta Compton”** (1988) interpolation. - **Catalogue uplift**: Turners’ 1988/93 tours used **Private Dancer** songs as **cornerstones**, cementing her as **stadium-level** rather than oldies act. --- ### **7. Pros & Cons at a Glance** | Pros | Cons | |---|---| | Turner’s **vocal authority** elevates every cut—sells even the schmaltz. | **Heavy reliance on covers** → less personal songwriting perspective. | | **Song-by-song excellence**; 5 enduring hits out of 10 tracks. | **80s production tropes** (gated snare, DX7 e-piano) date several cuts. | | **Multi-genre showcase** proves versatility and sets template for later diva comebacks. | **Flow disrupted** by stark style shifts (reggae-pop to synth-rock to blues ballad). | | **Lyric themes of autonomy** resonate as proto-feminist anthems. | **“1984”** and **“Help”** are divisive; some listeners find them forced or melodramatic. | | **Guitar cameos** (Beck, Knopfler) add organic credibility. | **CD reissues** pad runtime with weaker B-sides, diluting the tight 40-min original. | --- ### **Verdict** *Private Dancer* is **not** a flawless **album-statement**, but it is a **perfect pop artifact**: a survival story told through **other people’s songs**, **cutting-edge 80s craft**, and **one irrepressible voice**. Its **influence** lies less in sonic innovation than in **business-model & persona reboot**: prove you can **own the moment**, age be damned. Four decades on, the **best moments** still crackle with **steel-claw charisma**; the filler merely reminds you how high the bar was set.
didn’t finish bc it’s 3 hours??? but took me back to my days in dance class where our recital one year was to proud mary
one of the best voices out there
It's fun but I'm not about repeat any of these.
Some good songs here. But this definitely dated.
First half was stronger and got definetly carried by nostalgia of the songs What's Love Got to Do with It and Private Dancer. Second half the energy seemed to die a bit and I started spacing out of focus.
Pretty sure that cat on the album cover is the one from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Tina has a really powerful voice, super soulful and incredible range but the tone isn't my favourite, little bit too shouty maybe. I do like the slightly growly undertone, I think this gives her voice a nice edge that carries real emotional weight. The tracks themselves don't do a huge amount for me. None of them struck me as actively bad, but none of them massively stood out to me either. Tina's voice is the main feature, the instrumentation is largely extremely generic drum tracks with unexciting bass/guitar riffs. Solid 3. Wouldn't skip if it came on a playlist, wouldn't add it.
Obviously heard 'What's Love Got To Do With It' before. I prefer when I hear it through a public radio, when you really listen to it on headphones Tina feels like she's straining her voice to compensate for the stripped back instrumental and it's just unpleasant to listen to. Her intensity blends much better in the anthemic tracks like the title track and "Let's Stay Together" which are the 2 clear highlights for me.
No thoughts. It was fine. I can't name you a single song and I didn't particularly enjoy the album. There's no experimentation in any of the instrumentation. It's almost like it was made to highlight her voice which is very powerful but I didn't care about any of the lyrics either. The most this album has going for it is the cat on the cover. High 2/Low 3
There are cool songs but the album feels too long. 3,75/5.
Tina is the immortal queen
Classic Tina bonus points for Bowie cover
One man enter, one man with a slight headache leave.
Ok so first off the voice. I love her singing and passion. But! I really can’t get over the 80’s production schmaltz. Sure “whats love got to do with it” and “private dancer” are the hits here but my favorite was “show some respect” and her cover of Al Green’s “let’s stay together”. I prefer earlier Tina because this instrumentation does zero for me.
Never listened to Tina Turner, but man she sounds great!! Liked quite a few songs off this album, will have to checkout more of her stuff
luv
I mean, what do you want me to say? It’s Tina Turner. This is amazing. Of course it is. 4.5 stars easy.
DNF
“You don’t think of them as human You don’t think of them at all You keep your mind on the money Keeping your eyes on the wall” Fun, groovy, and a voice that lives up to the legendary status her name carries. “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” is the track that caught the imagination of the public and has stood the test of time, but there is plenty more to enjoy than just that. The title track is a powerful ballad that gives us the inner monologue of an exotic dancer rationalising her motivation for her work. Tina Turner’s voice is tremendously powerful and the song is captivating. Her reimagining of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” is entertaining and entirely unique from the original. The cover of “Help” is a little strange but intriguing enough to be worth listening to. A great listen front to back and happy to have finally heard a full length album from one of the best (no pun intended).
i already heard this once before using this site to track my 1001 albums progress. i can't remember what i thought of it, so it probably didn't leave much of an impact on me I Might Have Been Queen (Soul Survivor) - 3/5 What's Love Got to Do With It - 5/5 Show Some Respect - 4/5 I Can't Stand the Rain - 4/5 Better Be Good to Me - 3/5 Let's Stay Together - 3/5 1984 - 2/5 Steel Claw - 4/5 Private Dancer - 2/5 Average score: 3.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It feels strange listening to more than one Tina Turner song at a time, this can’t go on
Iconic
Listening session: january 18th, while going for a walk Listened to before: not really, but heard two songs before Thoughts: the fact that I only listened to the original tracklist and not to the entire 30th anniversary version on Spotify says enough Favourite track: Private Dancer
Mark Knopfler wrote Private Dancer? Talented guy
whatever
Not my bag. Sorry!