Rough is Tina’s first solo album after her divorce from Ike Turner. It contains almost rock songs, with some influences from the disco genre and her first studio recording of Elton John's „The Bitch Is Back,“ which she used as the opening number in her solo shows. On this track and also on four others, the former Ikette Venetta Fields provided the background vocals. In 1991, Tina re-recorded this song for the Elton John tribute album Two Rooms. The album was an indication of the new direction for Tina’s music - combining rock with some pop and R&B elements. The song „Night Time Is The Right Time“ was already recorded by Ike & Tina, but not released until 1991 on the rarities sampler Good Old Times. Neither the album nor the one of the four singles charted. The album was reviewed in Billboard magazine in it’s issue from October 7, 1978 and was reissued in 2024 as part of the 'Tina Turner 74 - 79 Reissues‘, promoted with a lyric video of the song „Funny How Time Slips Away“.
Producer: Bob Monaco
Photographer: Claude Mougin
Release: September 1978 / 1990 (CD) / November 2023 (Digital) / 2024 (Vinyl, CD)
Label: United Artists (UK, USA) / Ariola (Germany) / EMI (CD) / Parlophone (Reissue)
Format: Vinyl (Gatefold) / Cartridge / Cassette / CD / Digital
was the first single, promoted from Tina at several TV-Shows and performed live in her early solo concerts. A live version is available on the Wild Lady of Rock home video from 1979. The b-side track „Night Time Is The Right Time“ was already recorded by Ike & Tina, but was not released before 1991 on the sampler Good Old Times. The Australian single contains an otherwise unreleased edited version of the song.
Writer: G. Jackson
Producer: Bob Monaco
Release: 1978 (Germany) / 1979 (UK)
Label: Ariola / United Artists / Festival
Format: 7“ Vinyl
is a cover from A. Toussaint and was the second single in Europe. Tina promoted it at some TV-Shows and performed it live in her early solo concerts.
Writer: A. Toussaint
Producer: Bob Monaco
Photographer: Claude Mougin
Release: November 1978 (USA) / December 1978 (Europe)
Label: Ariola / United Artists
Format: 7“ Vinyl
is a wonderful ballad, first released from Dan Hill in 1978 and one year later from Tina. It was the only official single in the UK from the album. Tina promoted it at the Kenny Everett Show on April 09, 1979 and performed it live at her early solo concerts. A live version is available on the Wild Lady of Rock home video. The single was released without a picture cover.
Writer: D. Hill, B. Mann
Producer: Bob Monaco
Release: April 1979
Label: United Artists
Format: 7“ Vinyl
was released as a single only in Italy. Tina promoted it at the TV-Show Luna Park on April 21, 1979, where she performed many songs from the album.
Writer: E. & V. Zanki, P. Bellotte
Producer: Bob Monaco
Photographer: Claude Mougin
Release: 1979
Label: derby
Format: 7“ Vinyl
USA: Hot City: Root, Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller, Viva La Money (October 21, 1978) / Midnight Special: Root Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller, Viva La Money, Night Time Is The Right Time, Sometimes When We Touch (January 05, 1979) / Mike Douglas Show: Root Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller, Interview, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Proud Mary (March 01, 1979) / Dinah: The Woman I’m Supposed To Be, Interview (1979)
Italy: Sanremo Festival: Root Toot Undisputable Rock'n Roller (January 13, 1979) / Luna Park: Viva La Money (March 24, 1979), The Woman I'm Supposed To Be (March 31, 1979), Root Toot Undisputable Rock'n Roller (April 07, 1979), Fruits Of The Night (April 21, 1979), The Bitch Is Back (April 28, 1979), Fire Down Below (May 05, 1979), I Wanna Take You Higher (May 12, 1979), Viva La Money (May 19, 1979)
UK: Tonight In Town: Sometimes When We Touch, Interview (March 16, 1979) / Kenny Everett Show: Sometimes When We Touch (April 09, 1979)
Germany: Musikladen: Viva La Money (March 22, 1979), Root, Toot Undisputable Rock'n Roller (July 12, 1979) / Disco Disco Disco: Night Time Is The Right Time, Root Toot Undisputable Rock'n Roller (August 24, 1979)