Workin' Together is Ike & Tina’s most successful studio album, which reached gold status in America. It features also the most successful single of the duo with Proud Mary, a rock styled cover version, originally released from the band Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song Funkier Than A Mosquita's Tweeter was written by Tina’s sister Alline and was later covered by Nina Simone. Some of the songs were credited to Eki Renrut, which is Ike Turner’s name in backwards. For promotion, Liberty released a vinyl promo single, featuring two different Radio Spots. The album was reissued several times, among others in 2011 on the double CD Workin’ Together / Let Me Touch Your Mind.
Producer: Ike Turner
Recorded: A Bolic Sound
Photographer: Herb Kravitz
Release: December 1970 / Various (Reissue)
Label: Liberty / Various (Reissue)
Format: Vinyl (Colored) / Cartridge / Reel Tape / Cassette / CD
Charts: USA: #3 (R&B), #25 (Pop) / Germany: #12
Certifications: USA: 1x Gold
Radio Promo
Tracks
- Workin’ Together 3:35
- (As Long As I Can) Get You When I Want You 2:24
- Get Back 3:05
- The Way You Love Me 2:40
- You Can Have It 3:30
- Game Of Love 2:48
- Funkier Than A Mosquitas Tweeter 2:35
- Ooh Poo Pah Doo 3:36
- Proud Mary 4:57
- Goodbye, So Long 1:57
- Let It Be 3:11
Singles
The title track Workin' Together was the first single, promoted live at the TV-Show American Bandstand on January 16, 1971. The songtext is very unusual for Ike & Tina Turner, because it’s very politically and describes the problems in the world. Unfortunately, the message of the song is still very present - more than ever! An extended play single with four tracks was released in Mexico.
Proud Mary was originally a hit song from the band Creedence Clearwater Revivial in 1969. Ike & Tina covered it for their live shows and released a studio version as the second single, which became Ike & Tina's biggest hit in America. They promoted it at several TV-Shows and performed it live at every concert. Live versions are available on the album What You Hear Is What You Get and the home video Live In '71. A previously unreleased Funky Version with lead vocals from Ike was released in 1991 on the rarities sampler Good Old Times and a very rare long version from the b-side track Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter, written by Tina’s sister Alline, is available on the Australian Nutbush City Limits 12" single. Proud Mary is one of the few Ike & Tina songs which Tina continuously performed live in her solo concerts and it became one of her most recognizable signature song. In 1993, she re-recorded the track in the studio for the soundtrack album What’s Love Got To Do With It. The song won a Grammy Award in 1972 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.
Ooh Poo Pah Doo is a cover from Jessie Hill. Ike & Tina performed the song since the mid sixties in their concerts and released a live version under the slightly different title Ooh Poop A Doo in 1964. The version on the single is a little bit shorter than on the album, because it has a shorter intro. Also the b-side track I Wanna Jump is an edited version, which was already a single in 1969. Live versions of the title track are available on the album What You Hear Is What You Get.
Workin’ Together: October 1970 / USA: #41 (R&B)
Proud Mary: January 1971 / USA: #4 (Pop) / #5 (R&B) / Germany: #21 / USA: 1x Gold / Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (1972) / Grammy Hall of Fame (2003)
Ooh Poo Pah Doo: April 1971 (USA) / June 1971 (Europe)
"… John Fogerty hasn’t heard a thing until he hears Tina do 'Proud Mary.' The spoken introduction done over guitar and Ike singing the song in the background is perfect. The pick-up from the slow portion of their arrangement to the up-tempo one is done with precision and flash."
Jon Landau in Rolling Stone