River Deep - Mountain High is the legendary album from Ike & Tina with six tracks produced by Phil Spector, using his 'Wall of Sound' production technique. Ike Turner produced the remaining tracks, which are essentially superior re-recordings of some of Ike & Tina's earlier hits. The Ikettes, including P.P. Arnold, provided backing vocals on the Turner-produced side of the album. The title track was the first of five singles and a massive hit in Europe.
The album was first released in Europe and Australia in mono and stereo configurations and was supposed to be released in the U.S. as Philles PHLP 4011, but was cancelled after the single did not so well in America. The stereo masters were sold to A&M Records and reissued in 1969 worldwide and for the first time in America, but the original monaural mix by Phil Spector is unique to the 1966 version and not available on compact disc.
The reissue was reviewed in Billboard magazine in it’s issue from September 13, 1969 and substitutes the track „You’re So Fine“ with Spector’s 1967 production of I’ll Never Need More Than This. Also the picture on the back cover is different and the liner notes were slightly updated.
Producer: Phil Spector, Ike Turner
Recorded: Gold Star and United Studios, Los Angeles (March 1966)
Photographer: Dennis Hopper
Release: September 1966 / August 1969
Label: London (1966) / A&M (1969) / Various (Reissue)
Format: Vinyl / Cartridge / Cassette / CD / Digital
Charts 1966: UK: #27
Charts 1969: UK: #33 / USA: #28 (R&B)
"River Deep, Mountain High" is a perfect record from start to finish — you couldn’t improve on it. — George Harrison
Tracks
- River Deep, Mountain High 3:38
- I Idolize You 3:46
- A Love Like Yours (I Come Knocking Every Day) 3:06
- A Fool In Love 3:13
- Make 'Em Wait 2:22
- Hold On Baby 2:59
- I’ll Never Need More Than This 3:30
- Save The Last Dance For Me 3:02
- Oh Baby! (Things Ain’t What They Used To Be) 2:46
- Every Day I Have To Cry 2:40
- Such A Fool For You 2:48
- It’s Gonna Work Out Fine 3:14
- You’re So Fine 2:20
