Tina Turner - Rough - Album

Rough

Album / Singles (1978)

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. The album and it’s four singles didn‘t charted.

Producer: Bob Monaco
Photographer: Claude Mougin
Design: Bill Burks
Release: September 1978 / 1990 (CD) / November 2023 (Digital) / 2024 (Reissue)
Label: United Artists (UK, USA) / Ariola (Germany) / EMI, Parlophone (CD, Reissue)
Format: Vinyl (Gatefold) / Cartridge / Cassette / CD / Digital

Tina Turner - Rough - Album

Tracks

  1. Fruits Of The Night 4:05
  2. Written by E. & V. Zanki, P. Bellotte
  3. The Bitch Is Back 3:30
  4. Written by E. John, B. Taupin
  5. The Woman I’m Supposed To Be 3:10
  6. Written by C. Wade
  7. Viva La Money 3:14
  8. Written by A. Toussaint
  9. Funny How Time Slips Away 4:08
  10. Written by W. Nelson
  11. Earthquake And Hurricane 2:30
  12. Written by W. Dixon
  13. Root, Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller 4:29
  14. Written by G. Jackson
  15. Fire Down Below 3:13
  16. Written by B. Seger
  17. Sometimes When We Touch 3:54
  18. Written by D. Hill, B. Mann
  19. A Woman In A Man’s World 2:41
  20. Written by A. Jordan, H. David
  21. Night Time Is The Right Time 6:21
  22. Written by L. Carr

Singles

The Rock’n Roll song Root, Toot Undisputable Rock’n Roller was the first single from the album, following the cover Viva La Money, which was originally released from A. Toussaint. The wonderful ballad Sometimes When We Touch from Dan Hill was the only official single in England and Fruits Of The Night was released only in Italy, promoted from Tina at the show Luna Park.

Billboard

October 07, 1978

A genuinely legendary performer, Turner takes the long awaited solo plunge with an adventurous variety of old and new material which she seeks to make her own in her inimitable pull out the stops fashion. Her delivery has lost none of its snap and crackle, and solid backup support includes Airto Moreiro on percussion, the L.A. Horns, Mary Russell joining a group of fine and funky vocalists and a touch of discofied synthesizer.

October 21, 1978

Rough And Ready - Tina Turner Has The Kind Of Audience That’s Always Ready To Explode Into Platinum Sales. And This Is The Music To Do It. Rough - Tina’s Tough New Album.

CashBox

October 07, 1978

Remember, Miss Tina never does nothing nice ... and easy and on her United Artists solo debut she rocks rough and randy enough to make her pop and soul competitors quiver in their lizard skin tennis shoes. Turner mixes the intensity of the gospel choir with the promised pleasures of the turned-down bed to great effect on 11 covers of artists ranging from Elton John to Dan Hill. As a result, Tina's new thing is hot to go for AOR and black contemporary.

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