Kubernik: 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' Compilation, Tina Turner 1975 Interview

Photos by Henry Diltz, Courtesy of Gary Strobl at the Diltz Archive

To celebrate 50 years since the start of Tina Turner’s iconic solo career, Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll is a huge compilation of 55 tracks through Rhino Entertainment that compiles an incredible anthology of Turner’s legendary solo career through her singles.

From her cover of “Whole Lotta Love” to the Kygo remix of “What’s Love Got to Do With It” in 2020, this is the first time her singles collection has been released as one set.

It will be released on November 24 as a 3-CD and 5-LP sets and digitally with a cut-back 12-track vinyl version. All configurations come with a foreword from Bryan Adams - her longtime friend and collaborator.

Turner’s first release as a solo artist was the 1974 album Tina Turns The Country On! whilst still touring and releasing albums as the duo Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The album spawned no singles, but in 1975, upon the release of her second album - Acid Queen - her cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” was released, which kicks off this set and goes on to include duets with other legendary performers like David Bowie, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart as well as some of the most unforgettable and celebrated pop and rock singles of all time such as “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Private Dancer,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” “The Best,” “Steamy Windows,” “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Disco Inferno.”

To celebrate the legacy of the undeniable and inimitable Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, this collection also features a new version of “Something Beautiful Remains,” retitled to simply “Something Beautiful.”
The track has been reworked by producer and long-time collaborator of Turner, Terry Britten. It is a fitting final tribute to the power of her legacy that Britten made shortly after her passing. He stated, “Dear Tina, the experience of working with you could never be repeated, but in my heart something beautiful remains. Love, Terry.”

Turner is revered around the world, inspiring millions through her own personal story, her singing, her dancing and beyond; her music legacy is a collection of some of the best-known songs of all time.

Turner has sold over 200 million records and has had 10 UK top-hit singles and nine UK top 10 albums. She was the first female artist to have a top 40 hit in six consecutive decades in the UK. Her albums combined are 20 times platinum in the UK and nine times platinum in the US, whilst also achieving huge sales throughout the rest of the world. She has won eight Grammy® Awards and has been nominated for 25. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and has stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Her 1988 Break Every Rule tour broke the world record for the largest paying audience at a solo concert, with 184,000 at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, and Rolling Stone Magazine named her No. 17 in 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and No. 63 in the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Yet, regardless of all the success and fame throughout her career, Turner remained relatable and adored for the person she was. In Bryan Adam’s personal foreword, he sums up perfectly the effect she has had on him that reflects on so many around the world…

“From obscurity to the stages of the UK and Europe, I credit Tina for changing the course of my life and I’m so grateful to have had some of her precious time. She was a force of nature, no one had her energy or her voice, I suppose it’s fitting to say, it’s only love, and that's all.”

I fondly remember a fall 1975 interview I conducted with Tina Turner for the now defunct Melody Maker around a dinner I had with her at Chasens restaurant near Beverly Hills as she was just embarking on her remarkable solo career.

Clad in white jumpsuit, Tina is sharp, articulate and candid. Tina was impressed when I told her I had lived with my family first in downtown Los Angeles, then in Crenshaw Village and graduated from West Los Angeles College in Culver City, which was very near Inglewood and Bolic Sound Studio, where she recorded with Ike and close by their house at the time in View Park.

Our interview was published in the October 11, 1975 issue of Melody Maker. The headline read Tina Turner: Acid Queen.

"I've talked to a lot of reporters lately because of the Tommy movie and we decided to call the album, Acid Queen, to help capitalize on my role in the movie," suggested Tina Turner in our interview inside Bolic Sound Brownsville, Tennessee, is the birthplace of Tina and she's come a long way since she started her career singing as Annie Mae Bullock in talent shows and the gospel choir in Knoxville. In the mid-Fifties, Annie Mae moved to St. Louis with her sisters, and subsequently met Ike Turner. Tina soon joined Ike's group, the Kings of Rhythm.

In 1959, Ike wrote a number entitled “A Fool in Love” for a singer who never showed up for the recording session. But Tina was familiar with it and stepped in, since studio facilities were paid for in advance. It became a gem on Sue Records.

“River Deep, Mountain High” was a smash hit in England and the Come Together LP, which contained the hit Beatle tune and their cover of “Honky Tonk Woman,” climbed high on the national charts.

Subsequent successes have included the million-selling “Proud Mary” single, a gold album What You Hear Is What You Get (Live At Carnegie Hall), and the hit single and album, Nutbush City Limits.
"We toured for years with all the English groups and I always liked what they were singing about,” enthused Tina, who in 1966 at Colston Hall in Bristol, England in a hallway corridor taught Mick Jagger an interpretation of the sideways pony dance in front of Marianne Faithfull, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards.
"I've wanted to do an album like Acid Queen for some time," she explained. "There's a lot of Mick Jagger's songs that we haven't gotten around to doing. The concept of the album came from my producers, Denny Diante and Spencer Proffer. At first the album was going to be called, The British Album, with the whole album full of British songs.”

Two of the recordings we discussed in our 1975 encounter, “Acid Queen” and “Whole Lotta Love,” are now heard in the 2023 retail offering, Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

"But Ike sent out word that he wanted the album out immediately,” said Tina, “so after I did a commercial for Dr. Pepper, earlier in the day, I did the vocals at nine o'clock in the evening and hardly got a chance to learn the songs.

"The album was a bit rushed, but I've done it this way before. We've done a lot of albums without spending that much time on them. All that was left was for me to cut the vocals 'cause Ike, Denny and Spence got everything else together.

"We were in Seattle a few years ago in a record store and I heard this bass riff opening on ‘Come Together.’ I said ‘I had to do that song,’ the same with 'Proud Mary.’ I've been trying to get Ike for two years to record it. We've always done other people's songs successfully and it's not uncomfortable doing songs by the Who, Led Zeppelin and the Stones.

"Ike and I haven't got the time to develop as songwriters 'cause we spend so much time in the studio and on the road. And there's a lot of good music to be covered."

She's very much a solo force these days, and for the first time there are press kits with pictures of Tina sans Ike. "It's still the Ike and Tina show," she reinforced. "Ike and I are singing a bit more together on stage, and maybe all the Tommy promotion has put a bit more of the focus on myself.

"We've been trying all these years to get to the point where the whole show is sharp. When we went into Las Vegas we changed the show around and the Ikettes added six songs to the repertoire. They're much better now. All these years we've wanted the whole package to be good.

"Ike selects the songs and there's a tremendous amount of preparation for our tours."

Her Tommy cameo appearance seemed to get the most applause from theatre patrons. Ike & Tina's previous celluloid performances. The Big TNT Show, Gimme Shelter, and Soul To Soul, just mirrored the show act.

"Tommy was a whole new trip for me, getting into a room and turning into a mad woman. At first, I didn't want to play the part of a prostitute. But it was a challenge and it called for drama. That's what acting is all about.

"Travelling across the country now people are beginning to know me as the 'Acid Queen.’ The audience is screaming for the song when we perform live."

Sexuality has become a trademark of the Ike and Tina spectacle. Her use of bold expression, unlike most performers, goes beyond the tease category. Some felt the show exploits sex. Whatever, no-one talks when she performs.

The show is toned down for the supper club circuit; a slight degree of hesitation, but there's always a huge amount of suggestiveness.

"I never felt we've used sex as a gimmick in our program. It's important today because, people who pay to see a show want a little of everything.

"The sexual portion of our show isn't planned; it just happens. It works out well visually and it always seems to get the most audience response. Everybody needs an image. There are a million groups out today; flipping, smoke bombs, dancing – fortunately, everybody can't be sexy. We've discussed it a thousand times. The miniskirts and see-through dresses.

“People's minds do wander. We may do a song like 'I've Been Loving You Too Long,’ and work with it. Every time we do it, the song changes. Sometimes I really have a lot of fun with that song because people expect something to happen.

"For years we've gotten reviews that seem to dwell on the sexual aspect of the show. I've never felt people gaining sexuality after seeing our show. But I like them to remember what they have just seen. I've never really thought of our show as being aggressive. Even as wild as I am I know that I maintain my femininity. People have always told me that.”

Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll 5 LP Tracklist

Side 1

1. Whole Lotta Love (1975)
2. Acid Queen (1976)
3. Root, Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller (1978)
4. Viva La Money (1978)
5. Sometimes When We Touch (1979)
6. Music Keeps Me Dancin’ (1979)

Side 2

1. Let’s Stay Together (1983)
2. Help (Edit) (1984)
3. What’s Love Got To Do With It (1984)
4. Better Be Good To Me (1984)
5. Private Dancer (1984)
6. I Can’t Stand The Rain (1985)

Side 3

1. Show Some Respect (1985)
2. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (1985)
3. One Of The Living (1985)
4. It’s Only Love (with Bryan Adams) (1985)
5. Typical Male (1986)
6. Two People (1986)

Side 4

1. What You Get Is What You See (1987)
2. Girls (1987)
3. Break Every Rule (1987)
4. Paradise Is Here (1987)
5. Afterglow (1987)

Side 5

1. Tearing Us Apart (with Eric Clapton)
2. Addicted to Love (Live in Europe) (1988)
3. A Change is Gonna Come (Live in Europe) (1988)
4. Tonight (with David Bowie) (Live in Europe) (1988)
5. River Deep, Mountain High (Live in Europe) (1988)

Side 6

1. The Best (Edit) (1989)
2. Steamy Windows (1989)
3. I Don’t Wanna Lose You (1989)
4. Look Me In The Heart (1990)
5. Foreign Affair (Edit) (1990)

Side 7

1. Be Tender With Me Baby (1990)
2. It Takes Two (with Rod Stewart)
3. Nutbush City Limits (The 90’s Version) (1991)
4. Love Thing (1991)
5. Way Of The World (1991)

Side 8

1. I Want You Near Me (1992)
2. I Don’t Wanna Fight (1993)
3. Disco Inferno (1993)
4. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (1993)
5. Proud Mary (1993)

Side 9

1. Goldeneye (1995)
2. Whatever You Want (1996)
3. On Silent Wings (1996)
4. Missing You (1996)
5. In Your Wildest Dreams (with Barry White) (1996)
6. Cose della Vita (with Eros Ramazzotti)

Side 10

1. When The Heartache Is Over (1999)
2. Whatever You Need (2000)
3. Open Arms (2004)
4. Teach Me Again (with Elisa) (2017)
5. What’s Love Got to Do With It (Kygo remix) (2020)
6. Something Beautiful (2023 Version)

3CD/Digital/Streaming
CD1

1. Whole Lotta Love
2. Acid Queen
3. Root, Toot Undisputable Rock ‘n’ Roller
4. Viva La Money
5. Sometimes When We Touch
6. Music Keeps Me Dancin’
7. Let’s Stay Together
8. Help
9. What’s Love Got To Do With It
10. Better Be Good To Me
11. Private Dancer
12. I Can’t Stand The Rain
13. Show Some Respect
14. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
15. One Of The Living
16. It’s Only Love (with Bryan Adams)
17. Typical Male
18. Two People
19. What You Get Is What You See
20. Girls

CD2

1. Break Every Rule
2. Paradise Is Here
3. Afterglow
4. Tearing Us Apart (with Eric Clapton)
5. Addicted to Love (Live in Europe)
6. A Change is Gonna Come (Live in Europe)
7. Tonight (with David Bowie) (Live in Europe)
8. River Deep, Mountain High (Live in Europe)
9. The Best (Edit)
10. Steamy Windows
11. I Don’t Wanna Lose You
12. Look Me In The Heart
13. Foreign Affair
14. Be Tender With Me Baby
15. It Takes Two (with Rod Stewart)
16. Nutbush City Limits (The 90’s Version)
17. Love Thing
18. Way Of The World

CD3

1. I Want You Near Me
2. I Don’t Wanna Fight
3. Disco Inferno
4. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight?
5. Proud Mary
6. Goldeneye
7. Whatever You Want
8. On Silent Wings
9. Missing You
10. In Your Wildest Dreams (with Barry White)
11. Cose della Vita (with Eros Ramazzotti)
12. When The Heartache Is Over
13. Whatever You Need
14. Open Arms
15. Teach Me Again (with Elisa)
16. What’s Love Got to Do With It (Kygo remix)
17. Something Beautiful (2023 Version)

1LP
Side 1

1. What’s Love Got To Do With It
2. Let’s Stay Together
3. Private Dancer
4. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
5. Nutbush City Limits (The 90s Version)
6. River Deep, Mountain High (Live in Europe)

Side 2

1. Steamy Windows
2. I Don’t Wanna Lose You
3. I Don’t Wanna Fight
4. When The Heartache Is Over
5. Proud Mary
6. The Best

Harvey Kubernik is the author of 15 books, including titles on Leonard Cohen and Neil Young. His 2017 volume, the acclaimed 1967 A Complete Rock History of the Summer of Love waspublished by Sterling/Barnes and Noble.  His Inside Cave Hollywood: The Harvey Kubernik Music InnerViews and InterViews Collection, Vol. 1 was published in December 2017, by Cave Hollywood.  Kubernik’s The Doors Summer’s Gone was published by Other Cottage Industries in March 2018.

    In November 2018, Sterling/Barnes and Noble published Harvey’s book, The Story of The Band From Pig Pink to The Last Waltz, writtenwith his brother Kenneth Kubernik.

    Harvey Kubernik’s 1995 interview, Berry Gordy: A Conversation With Mr. Motown, that initially was published in 1995 in Goldmine and HITS magazines has just been licensed for inclusion in The Pop, Rock & Soul Reader edited by David Brackett to be published in 2019 by Oxford University Press.     

    This century Harvey penned the liner note booklets to the CD re-releases of Carole King’s Tapestry, Allen Ginsberg’s Kaddish, Elvis Presley The ’68 Comeback Special and The Ramones’ End of the Century.

    In November 2006, Harvey Kubernik was a featured speaker discussing audiotape preservation and archiving at special hearings called by The Library of Congress and held in Hollywood, California.