TINA: Single

Better Be Good To Me (1984)

Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me - Single

Better Be Good To Me is a rock cover song from the US band Spider and the fourth single from the album Private Dancer. Tina promoted it 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. The previously unreleased b-side track is a cover from Eric Burdon and was already recorded and produced by John Carter in 1982. For this vocal performance, Tina won her third solo Grammy Award in 1985.

Photographer: Peter Ashworth
Release: August ’84 (USA) / September '84 (UK) / January '85 (Germany)
Label: Capitol / EMI
Format: 7“ Vinyl (Picture) / 12“ Vinyl / Cassette
Charts: USA: #5 / UK: #45 / Germany: #52 / Australia: #28
Grammy: Best Rock Vocal Performance (1985) / Best Rock Vocal Performance (Nomination 1988)
Album: Private Dancer

Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me - Single
  1. Better Be Good To Me (Edit) 3:40
    2. From the 7" record / Writer: Holly Knight, Mike Chapman / Produced by Rupert Hine for Gestalt / Recorded in England at the Farmyard / Bass, Keyboards, Percussion Programming: Rupert Hine / Guitar: Jamie West-Oram / Acoustic Drums: Trevor Morais / Background Vocals: Tina Turner, Cy Curnin, Rupert Hine
  2. Better Be Good To Me (Extended Version) 7:47
    3. From the 12" record
  3. Better Be Good To Me (Live) 4:36
    4. From the 12" promotional record / Produced by John Carter / Recorded in Chicago on August 2, 1984 / Kenny Moore: Piano, Vocals / James Ralston: Guitar, Vocals / Bob Feit: Bass Guitar / Alan Clark: Keyboards / Hal Lindes: Guitar, Vocals / Henry Spinetti: Drums
  4. Better Be Good To Me (Extended Dance Edit) 8:53
    5. From the DJ sampler 'Hot Tracks (Series 3, Issue 6)' from 1984 / Remix by Steve Algozino
    Additional track:
  1. When I Was Young 3:11
    2. Previously Unreleased / Written by Eric Burdon / Produced by John Carter
Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me - Single

Billboard - 1984

The follow-up smash to her No. 1 GOLD record "What’s Love Got To Do With It.“ From the PLATINUM album, PRIVATE DANCER.

The music video was filmed in June 1984 at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles, while Tina took a day off from her tour with Lionel Richie. It was packed with fans, invited to the venue by advertisements on local radio stations and shows Tina with a black leather jacket and trousers together with her band (including guitarist Jamie West-Oram from the British rock band The Fixx) on stage. Cy Curnin dances the part of Turner's mendacious lover, which was choreographed by Toni Basil. A short version of the clip was originally released on the Private Dancer EP on VHS and later on the Simply The Best video collection on DVD. A longer and officially never released version shows more of Curnin’s special appearance.

The American music magazine CashBox reported on July 07, 1984 about making the video and mentioned in their article, that also a music video for the song „I Might Have Been Queen“ was filmed, although this song was never released as a single.

Director: Brian Grant
Producer: Adrian Irving
Release: YouTube / Private Dancer EP / Simply The Best
MTV Video Music Award: Best Stage Performance (Nominated 1985)
Time: 4:03

Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me - Music Video

CashBox - September 15, 1984

This third single from Tina Turner’s sensational „Private Dancer“ LP for Capitol is certain to become its third hit. Turner’s inimitible rough sassiness is rougher and sassier than ever on this cut, with a gutsiness that illustrates Turner’s uncontested stature as rock's first lady. „Better Be Good To Me“ grinds with a menacing beat that rolls and charges with the energized Turner vocal. A certain CHR winner, it should see chart action to match its strength as a first class rocker.

Previous: What's Love Got To Do With It (1984)

Back to: Singles

Next: Private Dancer (1984)