Workin’ Together

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

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. Both songs were written by Ike Turner, but the title song was credited to Eki Renrut, which is the backward spelling of Ike’s name.

Writer: Eki Renrut (Ike Turner)
Producer: Ike Turner
Release: October 1970
Format: 7“ Vinyl
Charts: USA: #41 (R&B)

Working together we can make a change. Working together we can help better things. So let us put our hate aside and let us let love be our guide.

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 remixed version is available on the digital album Reworked Versions. A very rare long version from the b-side track is available on the Australian Nutbush City Limits 12" single. The song won a Grammy Award in 1972 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

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 with guest vocals by Timmy Cappello for the soundtrack album What’s Love Got To Do With It.

Writer: John C. Fogerty
Producer: Ike Turner
Release: January 1971
Format: 7“ Vinyl
Charts: USA: #4 (Pop) / #5 (R&B) / Germany: #21
Certifications: USA: 1x Gold
Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (1972) / Hall of Fame (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 this single is a little bit shorter than on the album, because it has a shorter intro. Also the b-side track 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 and and Live In ’71.

Writer: Jesse Hill
Producer: Ike Turner
Release: April 1971 (USA) / June 1971 (Europe)
Format: 7“ Vinyl

Workin' Together

is an extended play single from Mexico, featuring four songs from the album. It was released with two different picture cover.

Release: 1971
Label: Liberty / United Artists, Gamma
Format: 7“ Vinyl (EP)

Get Back

features both Beatles cover songs from the album. Different versions of the title track were released after the split of Ike & Tina on some rarities albums like 40 Rare Recordings and on the digital album Reworked Versions. A live version is available on the album The World of Ike & Tina from 1973. Ike & Tina promoted the song also at some TV-Shows in Europe and America. The single was only released in Europe and Japan. Tina performed the track repeatedly in her solo concerts and recorded a special version in 2008 as an intro for her 50th Anniversary Tour.

Writer: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Producer: Ike Turner
Release: May 1972
Format: 7“ Vinyl

"… 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