TINA: Single

What’s Love Got To Do With It (1984)

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Single

What’s Love Got To Do With It is a pop song and Tina’s first number one hit in America. It was released as the first single to promote her upcoming album Private Dancer while she was on tour with Lionel Richie. Tina promoted the song at several TV-Shows in Europe and America and performed it live at every concert tour. Live versions are available on the album Live In Europe from 1988 and TINA Live from 2009. Both b-side tracks were previously unreleased, already recorded and produced by John Carter in 1982. The song won two Grammy Awards in 1985 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1993, it was used as the title for the biographical movie What’s Love Got To Do With about Tina’s life story and in 2018, a special Symphonic Version was released digitally, taken from the album 80’s Symphonic. In 2020, the Norwegian DJ Kygo released a remix as a digital single which topped the iTunes charts in many countries.

PhotographerPeter Ashworth
Design: Shot That Tiger!
Release
: May '84 (USA) / June '84 (UK) / Juli '84 (Germany) / 2010 (Digital)
Label: Capitol / EMI
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl (Picture) / Digital
Charts: USA: #1 / Australia: #1 / Canada: #1 / UK: #3 / Germany: #7 / Europe: #9, #2 (Airplay)
Certifications: USA: 1x Gold / UK: 1x Silver
Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance Female / Record of the Year (1985)
American Music Award: Favorite Soul/R&B Single / Favorite Pop/Rock Single (Nominated 1985)
AlbumPrivate Dancer

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Single
  1. What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:48
  2. From the 7" record / Writer: Terry Britten, Graham Lyle / Producer: Terry Britten / Engineered and Mixed by John Hudson / Recorded at Mayfair Studios, London (England) / Keyboards: Nick Glennie-Smith, Billy Livsey / Drums: Graham Jarvis / Percussion: Simon Morton / Guitar: Terry Britten / Backing Vocals: Tessa Niles, Terry Britten
  3. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Extended Version) 5:45
  4. From the 12" record
  5. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Karaoke Version) 3:51
  6. Digital download (2010)
  7. What’s Love Got To Do With It (2016 DJ Edit) 5:11
  8. From the DMC sampler 'Commercial Collection 405' from October 2016 / Mix by Kevin Sweeney / BMP 98.5
  9. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Ken@Work Jackin’ Mix) 5:03
  10. From the DMC sampler 'Producer Mixes Ken@Work Vol. 4 - The 80s' from September 2022 / Mix by Ken@Work / BMP 120
    Additional tracks:
  1. Don’t Rush The Good Things 3:45
  2. From the European release / Previously Unreleased / Written by Neil Gammack / Produced by John Carter
  3. Rock’n Roll Widow 4:45
  4. From the American release / Previously Unreleased / Written by Tom Snow / Produced by John Carter
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Single

The first music video, filmed in black & white in the S&A studios in Los Angeles, is very artistically with an absolutely gorgeous looking Tina, but it is also a little bit melancholic. Most of the time we see only Tina’s face in close-up and her bare shoulders, with scenes of several couples having problems with each other in between. At the end, Tina goes up a spiral staircase in a leather dress and her eyes are shown in close-up. Because Tina was not so happy with this video, it was rarely shown on television.

The second video is totally different and much more positive, filmed live in New York City with Tina in a black mini skirt and a jeans jacket. She is looking at the East River with a ferry and comes later from a tube station, walking down the streets and interacting with different peoples. At the end, she stops at a chalk drawing of the Private Dancer cover. This video features also Pamela Springsteen, the sister of Bruce Springsteen as a street dancer. It was originally released on the Private Dancer EP on VHS and won a MTV Video Music Award in 1985. Both videos are available also on the Simply The Best video collection on DVD.

Director: Mark Robinson
Producer: John Caldwell
Release: Private Dancer EP / Simply The Best / YouTube
MTV Video Music Award: Best Female Video (1985)
Time: 3:47

Secret Version (b/w)
Director / Producer
: Bud Schaetzle
ReleaseSimply The Best / YouTube
Time: 3:50

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Music Video

CashBox - May 26, 1984

Tina Turner's second single from her soon-to-be-released LP „Private Dancer“ is highlighted by the tantalizing production of British songster Terry Britten. Turner’s voice has never been stronger as is evidenced by her smash remake of Al Greens „Let’s Stay Together“ and this 7“ „What’s Love Got To Do With It.“ The upbeat reggae chours is a choice melody and the bridge harmonica solo adds a nice texture. Clearly hit material for both pop and A/C playlists.

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Single

Billboard - September 01, 1984

Previous: Help (1984)

Back to: Singles

Next: Better Be Good To Me (1984)