Tuesday's Flashback

She made one of the biggest comebacks in rock music history. Tina Turner, who ruled in the sixties and early seventies with her ex-husband Ike, becoming legendary for hits like Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, and Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine, spent several years in obscurity after the break up of her marriage and the duo's act. Then, in the early 80's, she met manager Rodger Davies and the two set out to make history. Davies knew some of the most influential and talented producers and writers on the scene. He hooked Tina up with a London based techno wunderkind who proceeded to produce a cover of Al Green's Lets Stay Together for Tina. And this was the song that relaunched her career.

Number One in Europe for weeks, the single soon began pouring into New York via import copies and Capitol Records rush released it in the States. With Tina's scorching vocals still as pristine as ever, and with that elegantly captivating arrangement, Lets Stay Together was a natural for the Top Ten. What followed this success made Tina an icon and one of the most successful singers in history.

Shot on the "quick and cheap" in London, the video for Lets Stay Together immediately went into heavy rotation on MTV. The song was such a success that Tina was suddenly everywhere and it set the stage for the release of her first album in five years, Private Dancer.

Every time I hear this track, I feel like I'm 16 all over again, riding down the road in my first car, listening to KZ-106 out of Chattanooga, and falling in love with Ms. Turner for the very first time. It is an affair that continues to this day.