Let’s Stay Together is a soul song from Al Green and was produced by Martyn Ware and Greg Walsh, the same team behind the previous single Ball Of Confusion and was released before the recording of the album Private Dancer. It was a big hit in Europe and became the best selling 12“ record in America in 1984. It was first reviewed in Billboard magazine in it’s issue from January 21, 1984 and received a Grammy nomination in 1985. Because the cover picture from Norman Seeff was controversial in America, they reversed the front and back pictures for the American release. An officially never released Alternative radio Mix with a different instrumental background and solo, an intro from Heaven 17 and additional vocal parts from Tina, was only available on a promo single in England.
The music video was filmed in October 1983 in London. It shows Tina first alone and later together with her female dancers Ann Behringer and Lejune Richardson dancing in a spotlight and in a second scene with fire in the background.
Writer: Al Green, Willie Mitchel, Al Jackson Jr. Producer: Martyn Ware & Greg Walsh Photographer: Norman Seeff Release: November 1983 (Europe) / January 1984 (USA) Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl (Picture), Cassette Charts: UK: #6 / Germany: #18 / USA: #26 (Pop), #1 (Club Play) Certifications: 1x Silver (UK) Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (Nomination 1985) Music Video: 3:38 / David Mallet (Director), Pam James (Producer) Album: Private Dancer
Alternative radio Mix
Grammy Awards
are presented since 1952 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize achievements in the music industry. Tina Turner won her first Grammy in 1971 as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue for Proud Mary and her first solo Grammy in 1985 for What’s Love Got To To With It. In total she won 8 Grammys from 25 nominations and received also 3 Hall of Fame Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ike Turner solo won his first Grammy in 2007 for the album Risin’ With The Blues, after he was first nominated in 1970 for the album A Black Man’s Soul.
Norman Seeff
is a photographer and filmmaker, born 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since he moved to the United States, he has documented over 500 sessions with artists of many disciplines including musicians, actors, writers and politicians including Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Steve Jobs, Steve Martin as well as Ike & Tina Turner and Tina Turner solo.
In 1983, he was asked to take a series of images of Tina as she rebuilt her career, resulting in the cover for her single Let's Stay Together. The photo session with Tina was also filmed and featured spontaneous live performances.
„Working with Tina is like being exposed to a nuclear reactor. She exudes a primordial energy that comes from the muse of her creativity. I was shooting so fast to keep up with her that I blew my strobe. Tina just kept going and we got the most amazing footage on video. Every shot was stunning and at the end of the session, Tina asked me to dance with her. Well, she ‘danced me’... I felt as though I was teleporting!“
Tracks
Let’s Stay Together (Edit) 3:39
From the 7" single
Let’s Stay Together (Full Length Version) 5:16
From the 12" single
Let’s Stay Together (Alternative radio Mix) 3:46
From the 7" promotional record
Let’s Stay Together (Remix) 9:27
From the DJ sampler 'Hot Tracks (Series 3, Issue 2)' from 1984 / Instrumental by Zino / Synthesizers by Brian Soares / BPM 108
Let’s Stay Together (Extended Edit) 7:31
From the DJ sampler 'Disconet (Volume 6, Program 8)' from 1984 & 'Dance Classics 6' from 2009 / BPM 107
Additional track:
I Wrote A Letter 3:25
Previously Unreleased / Written by Inga Rumpf / Produced by John Carter already in 1982