"Up In Heah" is a song written by

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer o ...

and

Leon Ware Leon Ware (February 16, 1940 – February 23, 2017) was an American songwriter, producer, composer, and singer. Besides a solo career as a performer, Ware was best known for producing hits for other artists including Michael Jackson, Quincy ...

. It was released as a single by R&B duo

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocal ...

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 1959, ...

in 1972.

Background and release

After a period which Ike & Tina Turner recorded mostly cover songs, Tina Turner began honing her writing skills in the early 1970s with the establishment of the duo's

Bolic Sound Bolic Sound Studios was a recording studio complex in Inglewood, California. It was built by musician Ike Turner in 1970, and remained in operation until it burned down in 1981. History As a young bandleader, Ike Turner had grown skeptical of the ...

recording studio. She wrote nine out of the ten songs on the 1972 album ''Feel Good''. "Up In Heah," penned by Tina Turner and Leon Ware, was recorded at Bolic Sound in December 1971. It was arranged by

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 1 ...

and produced by

Gerhard Augustin Gerhard Augustin (7 September 1941 – 17 March 2021) was a German music producer. He was the first professional disc jockey in Germany and co-founder of the music program ''Beat-Club''. Augustin helped generate a shift in German culture by intro ...

. The

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

, "Doo Wah Ditty (Got To Get Ta)," was written by Ike & Tina Turner's road manager Rhonda Graam. The single was released as a non-album track in February 1972. It reached No. 83 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and peaked at No. 47 on the

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...

. "Up In Heah" was reissued on the compilation albums '' Proud Mary: The Best of Ike & Tina Turner'' (1991) and '' The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960–1975'' (2007).

Critical reception

''Cash Box'' (February 12, 1972): "Pair has the PA circuit constantly screaming for more, but have been looking for the super follow-up to 'Proud Mary.' Here 'tis: Top 40's and r&b's, get it while it's sizzlin'." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' (February 12, 1972): "Tina herself wrote this song of sin and redemption and sings it with characteristic fervor. Dig Ike's incredible bass vocal."

Track listing

Chart performance

References

{{Ike & Tina Turner 1971 songs 1972 singles Ike & Tina Turner songs United Artists Records singles Songs written by Leon Ware Songs written by Tina Turner