River Deep, Mountain High (1966)
River Deep, Mountain High is the legendary album from Ike & Tina with six tracks produced by Phil Spector. The title track was the first of five singles and a massive hit in Europe. Ike Turner produced the remaining tracks which are essentially superior re-recordings of some of Ike & Tina's earlier hits. 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, but the original monaural LP mix and master by Phil Spector is unique to the 1966 LPs. The 1969 A&M version and first American release of the album substitutes „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. The album was reissued several times on CD, among others in 2018 as a mini LP replica with a cardboard sleeve in Japan.
Producer: Phil Spector, Ike Turner
Recorded: Gold Star and United Studios, Los Angeles (March 1966)
Photographer: Dennis Hopper
Release: September 1966 / August 1969 / Various (Reissue)
Label: London (1966) / A&M (1969) / Various (Reissue)
Format: Vinyl / Cartridge / CD
Charts: UK: #27 / USA: #28 (R&B)
- River Deep, Mountain High 3:38
- I Idolize You 3:46
- A Love Like Yours (I Come Knocking Every Day) 3:05
- A Fool In Love 3:13
- Make 'Em Wait 2:22
- 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
Billboard - September 06, 1969
The Ultimate Truth - Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep - Mountain High - Produced by Phil Spector - The First U.S. Release Of England’s Classic Best-Seller
George Harrison
River Deep, Mountain High“ is a perfect record from start to finish — you couldn’t improve on it.
Billboard - September 13, 1969
„River Deep-Mountain High“ is one of Phil Spector's best compositions, and Ike & Tina Turner sing the original 1966 version, since revived by Eric Burdon, Deep Purple and others. A hit album in England, A&M and Phil Spector add this 'historic recording' to the Ike & Tina Turner sweepstakes. With the hits „A Fool in Love,“ „I Idolize You“ and „It's Gonna Work Out Fine,“ this one looks like a big winner.
