''Tina Turns the Country On!'' is the debut solo

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

, released in September 1974 on the

United Artists Records United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B. History Genres In 1958 ...

. Released while Turner was still a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, it was an attempt by her husband,

Ike Turner Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and ...

, to expose her to a wider audience. Although the album did not chart, it earned Turner a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nomination in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female" category.

Recording and release

''Tina Turns the Country On!'' was recorded at Turner's recording studio, Bolic Sound in

Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city had a population of 107,762. ...

. It was produced by Nashville producer Tom Thacker. The album is made up of mostly covers by various country and folk artists, including

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

Olivia Newton-John Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British and Australian singer and actress. With over 100 million records sold, Newton-John was one of the List of best-selling music artists#100 million to 119 million record ...

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

and

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

. The track "Bayou Song" is an original song written for Turner by Peter-John Morse. There were no singles released from the album. In November 2023, the album was made available on streaming services and as a digital download, marking its first release in any digital format. The album was re-issued on LP and CD on November 15, 2024.

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews. ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' magazine stated, "Tina continues to be the performer that has turned on countless thousands." ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' magazine (September 14, 1974):

Fine mix of country, folky and soft rock tunes done in Tina's inimitable style. On this effort she flexes her voice from its softest to its usual rough tone and molds it perfectly around each cut. Drawing from a wide range of composers from Dylan to Dolly Parton to Kris Kristofferson to Hank Snow. Ms. Turner should gain easy soul and pop play and possibly some country play. Surprisingly effective are the slow cuts, and Tina proves just as adept an interpreter of other's material as she is a singer of original songs.

Awards and nominations

The album garnered Turner a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the

17th Annual Grammy Awards The 17th Annual Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1975, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1974. Performers * The Spinners (American group), The Spinners - "Mighty Love ...

Track listing

Personnel

*Tina Turner – vocals, backing vocals *

Clydie King Clydie Mae King (August 21, 1943 – January 7, 2019) was an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist. King also recorded solo under her name. In the 1970s, she recorded as Brown Sugar, and her single "Loneliness ( ...

– backing vocals * Merry Clayton – backing vocals *Pat Hodges – backing vocals * Jessie Smith – backing vocals *Mark Creamer – electric and acoustic guitar *

James Burton James Edward Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Dubberly, Louisiana, United States) is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 (his induction speech was given by longtime fan Keith Richards), Burton has also ...

– electric guitar *J. D. Maness – steel guitar * Glen Hardin – piano *John Hammond – piano *Joe Lamano – bass guitar *

Mike Botts Michael Gene Botts (December 8, 1944 – December 9, 2005) was an American drummer, best known for his work with 1970s soft rock band Bread (band), Bread, and as a session musician. During his career, he recorded with Linda Ronstadt, Karla Bonof ...

– drums * Tom Scott – saxophone, recorder *Terrance Lane – percussion, sound effects Production *Tom Thacker – producer *John Horton – engineer *Mark Creamer – engineer *Fred Borkgren – engineer *Steve Waldman – engineer *D. B. Johnson – engineer *David Alexander – photography *Bob Cato – art direction

Charts

References

{{Authority control Tina Turner albums 1974 debut albums United Artists Records albums Country albums by American artists Albums recorded at Bolic Sound