Proud Mary (1971)

Proud Mary was originally a hit song from the band Creedence Clearwater Revivial in 1969. Ike & Tina Turner covered it for their live shows and released a studio version as the second single from their album Workin Together, which became Ike & Tina's biggest hit in America. The duo promoted the song at several TV-Shows and performed it live at every concert. Live versions are available on the album What You Hear Is What You Get from 1971 and the home video Live In '71 from 2004. A previously unreleased „Funky Version“ with lead vocals from Ike was released in 1991 on the rarities sampler Good Old Times and a very rare long version from the b-side track „Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter“, which was written by Tina’s sister Alline, is available on the Australian Nutbush City Limits maxi single. Proud Mary is one of the few Ike & Tina songs which Tina continuously performed live in her solo concerts and it became one of her most recognizable signature song. In 1993, Tina re-recorded the track in the studio with guest vocals by Timmy Cappello for the soundtrack album What’s Love Got To Do With It. The song won a Grammy Award in 1972 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003. A remixed version of the title track is available on the digital album Reworked Versions.

Producer: Ike Turner
Release: January 1971
Label: Liberty
Format: 7“ Vinyl
Charts: USA: #4 (Pop) / #5 (R&B) / Germany: #21
Certifications: USA: 1x Gold
Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (1972) / Hall of Fame (2003)
Album: Workin’ Together

Jon Landau in ROLLING STONE

"…John Fogerty hasn’t heard a thing until  he hears Tina do 'Proud Mary.‘ The spoken introduction done over guitar and Ike singing the song in the background is perfect. The pick-up from the slow portion of their arrangement to the up-tempo one is done with precision and flash." This is the single that’s causing all the uproar.

Blues & Soul - January 22, 1971

Issued to coincide with Ike and Tina's two dates in Britain next month, Liberty have decided against the most recent American single, "Workin' Together", and decided to go with the Creedence hit, "Proud Mary". No doubt, they will be performing this one during their dates and this will certainly stimulate sales. As with every uptempo Ike & Tina recording, there is a tremendous verve to the music and a fantastic depth of excitement that few acts can even equal. The flip is more of the same thing with Tina in fine voice on both occasions. Incidentally, both tracks are from their upcoming "Workin’ Together" album. ***