Tina Turns The Country On is Tina’s very first solo album while she was still married with Ike and a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. All songs are cover versions from different artists, recorded at Ike’s Bolic Sound studios in June, 1974. Tina recorded twenty songs, but only a selection of ten made it to this album. The remaining tracks were released for the first time in 1979 on the album Good Hearted Woman. The only song Tina performed live in her concerts was „Help Me Make It Through The Night,“ available on the Wild Lady Of Rock home video from 1984. The track „Bayou Song“ was performed live from Ike & Tina at the TV-Show Midnight Special in 1975 as well as „I’m Movin On“ at the De Van Speyk Show in 1974 for promotion. The album didn’t charted, but was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975. Unfortunately, it's still waiting for a release on compact disc.
Producer: Tom Thacker
Photographer: David Alexander
Design: Bob Cato
Release: August 1974
Label: United Artists
Format: Vinyl / Cartridge / Cassette
Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (Nomination 1975)
Billboard - 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 it’s softest to it’s 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.
Billboard - September 28, 1974
The Writers: B. Dylan, G. White, J. Taylor, H. Snow, K. Kristofferson, J. Rostilli, P.J. Morse, D. Parton, F. Karlin/M. Karlin The Songs: Don’t Talk Now, There’ll Always Be Music, Help Me Make It Through The Night, If You Love Me (Let Me Know), Bayou Song, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, He Belongs To Me, Long Long Time, I’m Moving On, The Love That Lights Our Way The Voice: TINA TURNER - "Tina Turns The Country On" On United Artists Records & Tapes