Great Rock Albums of 1988: Tina Turner- Tina Live in Europe

I apologize in advance for my poor planning. It is clear to me that I shouldn’t have posted a 28 song, two hour long double live album at a time when I had so many other things going on. Full time work and supply teaching has eaten up a lot of time, plus some of the other side projects I’ve been working on. I’ve been writing my chapter for Mikeladano’s continuing adventures of Tee-Bone Man and Superdekes. In fact, I may miss a post so I can complete it. Besides that, if any of you follow me on Facebook or read my Peaceful Rampage blog, then you will know that I have been writing scripts for women’s wrestling matches. The one I wrote fully and one I part wrote should be available on their website soon. When it is, I will post a link if any of you want to purchase and view.

As a result of all of this, Tina Turner’s “Tina Live in Europe” album didn’t get the full attention it truly deserves but rest assured, I have listened to it. After listening to it the one time, Tina Turner is yet another artists I regret not seeing live. Even listening to it sitting at the computer, the energy just bounces off and I can surely feel it. One must consider that Tina was 47 at the time she performed the album and she produces an energy that persons half that age couldn’t replicate.

Being 1988, many of the songs come from her two albums “Private Dancer” and “Break Every Rule.” On her performance of “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” she gets the ladies and gentlemen in the audience to sing different parts. She also includes her big hit from the “Mad Max 3” soundtrack, “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and it sounds cool too as the other songs from those albums she performs live on this record.

What makes this album for me is the covers and guest collaborations. I have always loved Tina’s version of the CCR classic “Proud Mary” and she just knocks this one out of the park. However, the most intriguing cover is that of the Beatles classic, “Help.” It starts out as a ballad and then it rocks a little in the middle before coming to an gospel choir like end. Yes, it all sounds very contradictory but it really works! There is also her big song with Ike, “Nutbush City Limits” and the energy she puts into that song is similar to when she first sang it in 1973.

Guest collaborations are with such as Eric Clapton, David Bowie and Bryan Adams. Yes, the Bryan one is the duet they had a big hit form, “It’s Only Love” but they still rock. Eric cranks a cool solo, especially as the song begins like it’s going to be “Cocaine.” With David, she sings “Tonight” and “Let’s Dance” and again, I wish I was there.

Track Listing:

Disc One:

1. What You Get is What You See
2. Break Every Rule
3. I Can’t Stand the Rain
4. Two People
5. Girls
6. Typical Male
7. Back Where You Started
8. Better Be Good to Me
9. Addicted to Love
10. Private Dancer
11. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
12. What’s Love Got to Do With It?
13. Let’s Stay Together
14. Show Some Respect

Disc Two:

1. Land of 1000 Dances
2. In the Midnight Hour
3. 634-5789- with Robert Cray
4. A Change is Gonna Come
5. River Deep
6. Tearing Us Apart- with Eric Clapton
7. Proud Mary
8. Help
9. Tonight- with David Bowie
10. Let’s Dance- with David Bowie
11. Overnight Sensation
12. It’s Only Love- with Bryan Adams
13. Nutbush City Limits
14. Paradise Is Here

Tina Turner

Tina Turner- vocals

Jamie Ralston- guitar, vocals

Laurie Wisefield- guitar

Bob Feit- bass, vocals

Jack Bruno- drums

Stevie Scales- percussion

John Miles- keyboards, vocals

Ollie Marland- keyboards, vocals

Deric Dyer- saxophone, keyboards

Additional Musicians:

Jamie West-Oram- guitar, backing vocals

Don Snow- keyboards, vocals

Tim Cappello- keyboards, saxophone

Alan Clarke- keyboards

Kenny Moore- keyboards

Gary Barnacle- saxophone

I’m a little surprised Steve Lukather didn’t play on the album.

The disadvantage of being so heavy metal focused back in the 1980s was that great live albums like “Tina Live in Europe” didn’t get the full appreciation from me it should have. I’m making up for it now. She could have been a great metal singer the way she rocks on this album.

Next post: Bonnie Tyler- Hide Your Heart

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