Tina Turner - Simply The Best - Album

Simply The Best

Album / Singles / Video (1991)

Simply The Best is Tina’s first and very successful greatest hits album with four single releases. In England it's her most successful album to date and stayed in the charts for over two years. Beside Tina’s most popular hits, it features also three previously unreleased songs, as well as a re-recorded dance version of the classic track Nutbush City Limits and a remastered version of River Deep - Mountain High. The European version differs from the American and Australian version in the order and two tracks.

A limited edition Box Set was released 1992 in Europe, which includes the original European CD, VHS video, six postcards and a booklet with the lyrics. In Australia, a two disc edition was released in 1992 with a different cover art, featuring the duet Simply The Best with Jimmy Barnes and some additional tracks.

Photographer: Herb Ritts / Bruce Weber
Release: September 1991 / Reissue: 2002, 2008, 2019
Label: Capitol / EMI / Rhino
Format: 2 Vinyl / CD / Cassette / MiniDisc / Digital
Charts: UK: #2 / Germany: #4 / Europe: #4 / Australia: #12 / New Zealand: #1
Certifications: UK: 8x Platinum / Germany: 3x Gold, 1x Platinum / USA: 1x Platinum

Tina Turner - Simply The Best - Album

Tracks

  1. The Best (Edit) 4:08
    2. From the album 'Foreign Affair'
  2. What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:48
    3. From the album 'Private Dancer'
  3. I Can’t Stand The Rain 3:42
    4. From the album 'Private Dancer'
  4. I Don’t Wanna Lose You 4:18
    5. From the album 'Foreign Affair'
  5. Nutbush City Limits (The 90’s Version) 3:42
    6. Previously Unreleased
  6. Let’s Stay Together (Edit) 3:39
    7. From the album 'Private Dancer'
  7. Private Dancer (Edit) 4:00
    8. From the album 'Private Dancer'
  8. We Don’t Need Another Hero 4:14
    9. From the 'Mad Max' soundtrack
  9. Better Be Good To Me (Edit) 3:38
    10. From the album 'Private Dancer'
  10. River Deep, Mountain High (Digitaly Remastered) 3:38
    11. From the Ike & Tina Turner album 'River Deep, Mountain High'
  11. Steamy Windows 4:03
    12. From the album 'Foreign Affair'
  12. Typical Male 4:15
    13. From the album 'Break Every Rule'
  13. It Takes Two 4:11
    14. From the Rod Stewart album 'Vagabond Heart'
  14. Addicted To Love (Live) 5:03
    15. Only on the European and Australian version / From the album 'Live In Europe'
  15. Be Tender With Me Baby 4:16
    16. Only on the European version / From the album 'Foreign Affair'
  16. Look Me In The Heart 3:43
    17. Only on the US and Australian version / From the album 'Foreign Affair'
  17. What You Get Is What You See 4:26
    18. Only on the US and Australian version / From the album 'Break Every Rule'
  18. I Want You Near Me 3:52
    19. Previously Unreleased / Written by Terry Britten, Graham Lyle
  19. Way Of The World 4:24
    20. Previously Unreleased / Written by Albert Hammond, Graham Lyle
  20. Love Thing 4:27
    21. Previously Unreleased / Written by Holly Knight, Albert Hammond

Nutbush City Limits

was originally a hit single from Ike & Tina Turner in 1973. This mix is an updated version of Tina’s self written song about her hometown and the first single from the album in Europe, but it was not released in America.

The music video shows Tina in the studio in front of a microphone with her 'old' lion mane as well as dancing around for the first time with her new look with short hairs. In between, we can see pictures of her hometown Nutbush and some old footage from the Ike & Tina period.

Writer: Tina Turner
Producer: C.J. Mackintosh, Dave Dorrell
Photographer: Bruce Weber
Release: September 1991
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl / 5“ CD / Cassette
Charts: UK: #23 / Germany: #25 / Europe: #31 / Australia: #16
Music Video: 3:39 / Michael Bay & Chris Cowey (Director) / A. Crofts, M. Bodnarczuk (Producer)

Tracks
  1. Nutbush City Limits (The 90’s Version) 3:44
    2. From all single releases
  2. Nutbush City Limits ('91) 4:17
    3. From the 5" & 12" single
  3. Nutbush City Limits (Nutbush City '91) 6:07
    4. From the 12" single
  4. Nutbush City Limits (A Little Bit O'Bush) 5:01
  5. Nutbush City Limits (Simply The Beats) 5:14
    6. From the 12" promotional record
    Additional tracks:
  1. The Best (Edit) 4:10
    2. From all single releases
  2. Addicted To Love (Live) 5:04
    3. From the 5" single

Love Thing

was the first single in America and the third one in Europe. It’s a very powerful rock song, which remained unreleased from the Foreign Affair recording session. As a special bonus, the UK single was released with a poster cover. The single was reviewed in Billboard magazine in it’s issue from October 12, 1991.

The music video shows Tina and two female models (one of them Tyra Banks) on a catwalk, posing for a photoshot. At the end, Tina drives away on a motorcycle together with the photographer. The version from the music video is slightly different, because the intro is a little bit longer.

Release: October 1991 (USA) / February 1992 (Europe)
Format: 7“ Vinyl, 12“ Vinyl, 5“ CD, Cassette
Charts: UK: #29 / Germany: #67, Europe: #10, #18 (Airplay) / Australia: #62
Music Video: 4:26 / Michael Bay (Director) / Mike Bodnarczuk (Producer)

Tracks
  1. Love Thing 4:28
    2. Writer: Holly Knight, Albert Hammond / Producer: Chris Lord-Alge, Tina Turner and Roger Davies
    Additional tracks:
  1. Foreign Affair 4:28
    2. From the American release
  2. Steamy Windows 4:03
    3. From the American & Australian release
  3. Nutbush City Limits (’91) 4:17
    4. From the European release
  4. I’m A Lady 3:24
    5. Previously Unreleased / From the European release / Written by Terry Britten, Graham Lyle / Produced by Terry Britten, Chris Lord-Alge

Way Of The World

is a wonderful ballad, released as the second single. Tina promoted it at several TV-Shows in Europe and performed it live at the charts show Top of the Pops in England.

The music video was released in two slightly different versions for the American and European market, directed by the famous photographer Herb Ritts and filmed in black and white. It shows an absolutely gorgeous looking Tina between scenes of a man and a woman, lying in water, walking outside of some buildings in 'Bauhaus' style and playing around in a desert. The video received a Goldene Kamera award 1992 in Germany.

Release: November 1991 (Europe) / January 1992 (USA)
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl / 5“ CD / Cassette  
Charts: UK: #13 / Europe: #31, #5 (Airplay) / Germany: #33
Music Video: 4:20 / Herb Ritts (Director) / Mick Kleber (Producer) /  David Williams (Re-Edit)

Tracks
  1. Way Of The World 4:25
    2. Writer: Albert Hammond, Graham Lyle / Producer: Chris Lord-Alge, Albert Hammond, Graham Lyle, Roger Davies
    Additional tracks:
  1. I Don’t Wanna Lose You 4:21
  2. Foreign Affair 4:27
    3. From the European release
  3. You Know Who (Is Doing You Know What) 3:46
    4. From the American release
  4. Undercover Agent For The Blues 5:19
    5. From the Australian release

I Want You Near Me

is a pop ballad and the last European single from this album, but was not released in America. The CD digipack from England contains two picture discs with some live songs, taken from the album Live In Europe.

The music video is very sexy and shows Tina at a beach, wearing a red mini dress and playing around with a whip. Some shirtless men with white trousers are lying in the waves and do acrobatic exercises, while some women in bikinis are dancing at the beach.

Photographer: Herb Ritts
Release: April 1992
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl / 5“ CD / Cassette
Charts: UK: #22 / Germany: #53
Music Video: 3:47 / Paula Walker (Director)

Tracks
  1. I Want You Near Me 3:53
    2. Writer: Terry Britten, Graham Lyle / Producer: Terry Britten
    Additional tracks:
  1. Steamy Windows 4:06
  2. What's Love Got To Do With It 3:48
  3. We Don’t Need Another Hero 4:14
    4. From the European release
  4. Let's Stay Together (Edit) 3:37
    5. From the UK release
  5. Let's Stay Together 5:16
  6. Tonight (Live Tina & David Bowie) 4:15
  7. Let's Dance (Live Tina & David Bowie) 3:27
  8. Land Of 1.000 Dances (Live) 3:06
  9. In The Midnight Hour (Live) 3:32
  10. 634-5789 (Live Tina & Robert Cray) 3:06
    11. From the UK digipack

The Video Collection

is the associated home video with many of Tina's music videos from her last albums as well as duets with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart and from her current singles. Unfortunately, some of them are only available on the LaserDisc or Video-CD version and two have been replaced with live versions. This video sampler is until now the only official video collection from Tina Turner. In Germany it was re-issued in 2004 with a different cover picture.

Release: November 1991 / 1994 (Video-CD) / 2002 (DVD) / 2004 (Reissue)
Label: Capitol / EMI
Format: VHS / LaserDisc / Video-CD / DVD
Certifications: Germany: 1x Gold
Time: 90 Min. (VHS, DVD) / 97 Min. (Video-CD) / 102 Min. (LaserDisc)

Tracklist
  1. The Best 4:10
    2. Director: Lexi Godfrey / Producer: Lol Creme
  2. Better Be Good To Me 4:05
    3. Director: Brian Grant / Producer: Adrian Irving
  3. I Can’t Stand The Rain (Live in Rio) 3:35
    4. Director: Roberto Talmo / Producer: Globo TV Granada
  4. What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:48
    5. Director: Mark Robinson / Producer: John Caldwell
  5. Typcial Male (Live in Barcelona) 4:45
    6. Director: Marijke Klasema / Producer: Egbert Van Hees
  6. Private Dancer (Short Version) 4:23
    7. Director: Brian Grant / Producer: Pam James
  7. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Live in Barcelona) 4:49
    8. Director: Marijke Klasema / Producer: Egbert Van Hees
  8. What You Get Is What You See 4.09
    9. Director: Peter Care / Producer: Alastair Bates
  9. I Don’t Wanna Lose You 4:21
    10. Director: Aris McGary / Producer: Dominic Sena
  10. Look Me In The Heart 3:34
    11. Director: Line Postmyr / Producer: Paula Walker
  11. Addicted To Love (Live) 6:01
    12. Director: David Mallet / Producer: Jacqui Byford
  12. Way Of The World (U.S. Version) 4:20
    13. Director: Herb Ritts / Producer: Mick Kleber / LaserDisc only
  13. Steamy Windows 4:05
    14. Director: Luc Roeg / Producer: Andy Morahan
  14. Break Every Rule 4:51
    15. Director: Andy Morahan / Producer: Luc Roeg
  15. Foreign Affair 4:02
    16. Director: Natalie Hill / Producer: Paula Walker
  16. Tonight (Live Tina & David Bowie) 3:48
    17. Director: David Mallet / Producer: Jacqui Byford / Recorded in Birmingham 1985
  17. Let’s Stay Together 3:38
    18. Director: David Mallet / Producer: Pam James
  18. Be Tender With Me Baby (Live) 4:35
    19. Director: Nick Frye / Producer: Roger Davies, M.B. Kleber / Recorded in Woburn Abbey 1990
  19. It Takes Two (Tina & Rod Stewart) 4:08
    20. Director: David Hogan / Producer: Simon Straker
  20. Nutbush City Limits (The 90’s Version) 3:41
    21. Director: Michael Bay & Chris Cowey / Producer: A. Crofts, M. Bodnarczuk
  21. Love Thing 4:26
    22. Director: Michael Bay / Producer: Mike Bodnarczuk
  22. I Want You Near Me 3:47
    23. Director: Paula Walker / LaserDisc only
  23. Way Of The World (Anglo Cut) 4:20
    24. Director: Herb Ritts / Producer: Mick Kleber, David Williams (Re Edit) / LaserDisc only
  24. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Secret Version) 3:48
    25. Director: Bud Schaetzle / Producer: Bud Schaetzle
  25. I Don’t Wanna Fight 4:18
    26. Director: Peter Care / Producer: Howard Woffingden / Video-CD only
  26. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight 3:27
    27. Director: Peter Care / Producer: Howard Woffingden / Video-CD only
Tina Turner - Simply The Best - Album

Promotion

Pepsi promoted the album and launched a major advertising campaign with radio and television commercials, press material and instore merchandise. In Germany, a special version of the gatefold cover was released for promotion, including infos about the campaign. Additionally, a collector’s edition of Pepsi cans and bottles were available with pictures from Tina and infos about her greatest hits.

October 26, 1991

It's a long road from star to superstar but Tina Turner has made it look easy. Four multi-platinum albums, including 1984’s Grammy-winning Record of the Year 'Private Dancer'. Worldwide record sales over 25 million. Two #1 singles. And the #1 international tour of 1990.

Now Tina brings you Simply The Best. Fifteen of her greatest hits featuring 'What's Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancer, River Deep-Mountain High' and a fresh version of her classic 'Nutbush City Limits,' plus three brand-new tracks including the first single and video 'Love Thing' and 'I Want You Near Me.' A total of eighteen songs, over 70 minutes of music.

And it doesn't stop there. Look for the companion home video, Simply The Best: The Video Collection, available on Capitol Home Video November 19. Tina gives you nothing less than Simply The Best…

Tina Turner - Simply The Best - TV-Appearances

Wetten Dass..? / Domenica in / Euro Disney

TV-Appearances

Germany: Wetten Dass…?: Way of the World (November 02, 1991) UK: Top of the Pops: Way of the World (November 14, 1991) / Des O'Connor Tonight: Way of the World  (November 27, 1991) / Wogan: Way of the World (February 21, 1992) Italy: Fantastico: Way of the World, Interview  (1991) / Domenica in: O Sole Mio, Way of the World (1992) France: Sacrée Soirée: Way of the World, Interview (1991) / Euro Disney: The Best (April 11, 1992)

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