She may well have retired from the concert circuit four years ago, but Tina Turner simply wont go away. Barely in her teens, Anna Mae Bullock the daughter of a black church deacon and part native -American mother, was in the recording studio testing herself as a singer. Eventually she teamed up and married Ike Turner performing as the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. As a live singer she gained a formidable reputation, which lasted her entire career. Their first hit River Deep Mountain High and last, Nutbush City Limits (thankfully not the dreadful re recording) make a welcome inclusion. When she left Ike in 1976, it took some time and hardship until she got back on the scene, opening tours for the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart. Over the next few years she persevered gaining a contract with Capitol in 1983 which totally resurrected her life and career. Then came hit albums like Private Dancer selling 11 million copies, which spawned What Love Got to Do With It, Better Be Good For Me both winning Grammy awards are explored.
Her next non album songs were from Mel Gibsons flick Mad Max : Beyond Thunderdome in which she appeared. With We Dont Need Another Hero and One Of The Living the success continued, proving to be some of her most outstanding work. Another album, Foreign Affair gave us Typical Male, Two People and What You Get Is What You See.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams duets on Its Only Love, as does Rod Stewart on It Takes Two showing shes in good company.
A James Bond film opener Golden Eye lets the diva lap it up at her sultry best.
Just for good measure two live takes are thrown in a raucous Addicted To Love recorded in London in 1988, and Cose Della Vita with Eros Ramazoti.
Released on 1 November, as a double disc, All The Best is Tina at her rock star best. Thirty three tracks presenting sensual, soulful vocals that have been part of modern rock culture for over four decades.
Its not all retrospective as theres three new songs Open Arms ( not to be confused with Journeys song of the same title ) Complicated Disaster and Something Special. Best tracks ? All of them. For all her achievements, Grammys, sell out tours, she never had a number one in the UK. Thats show business for you !
The single Open Arms is out 25 October 2004 on EMI Records.