Sweet Rhode Island Red Explained

Sweet Rhode Island Red
Type:studio
Artist:Ike & Tina Turner
Cover:IkeTina RhodeIsland.jpg
Released:October 1974
Recorded:February – June 1974
Studio:Bolic Sound (Inglewood, California)
Genre:
Label:United Artists
Prev Title:The Gospel According to Ike & Tina
Prev Year:1974
Next Title:Greatest Hits
Next Year:1976

Sweet Rhode Island Red is a studio album by Ike & Tina Turner released on United Artist Records in 1974.[2] The album was created exclusively for the international market.[3] It was available in the US through the Columbia Record Club.[4] The album charted at No. 41 in Australia.

Recording and content

Sweet Rhode Island Red was recorded at the Ike & Tina Turner's Bolic Sound studio. A majority of the songs from the album were written by Tina Turner, including the title track which was released as a single in February 1974. "Sweet Rhode Island Red" peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard R&B chart, No. 43 in Germany, No. 17 in Italy and No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] [6]

The follow-up single "Sexy Ida" was released in two versions: the funk rhythmic A-side, "Sexy Ida (Part 1)", and the up-temp B-side, "Sexy Ida (Part 2)". "Sexy Ida (Part 1)" reached No. 29 on Billboard R&B chart and No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] In Europe it peaked at No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 35 in Italy.[8] "Sexy Ida (Part 2)" features rock musician Marc Bolan on guitar.[9] It peaked at No. 85 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 on the R&B chart.[10] Both songs were included on the album in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.[11] [12] [13]

Critical reception

Sidney Nelson wrote for the Evening Post (November 8, 1974):

"Sweet Rhode Island Red" finds Ike and Tina Turner producing their high-octane rock-blues-soul combination with Tina breaking into her famous scream at regular, spine-chilling intervals. Strangely, however, it is when she purrs her way through Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City," holding the power back that she really scores on this album. The opener "Let Me Be There" is fine but for the rest, even Tina's dynamic delivery cannot raise mediocre material.[14]

Reissues

Sweet Rhode Island Red was digitally remastered and released by BGO Records in 2012 on the compilation CD Sweet Rhode Island Red/The Gospel According To Ike & Tina.[15]

Chart performance

Chart (1975)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[16] 41

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ike & Tina Turner: The Ike & Tina Turner Story. PopMatters. en-us. October 11, 2007.
  2. Web site: Tracks on Sweet Rhode Island Red - Ike and Tina Turner (October 1974) SecondHandSongs. secondhandsongs.com.
  3. September 14, 1974. Ike and Tina Tour. Cash Box. 29.
  4. Web site: Ike And Tina Turner – Sweet Rhode Island Red (Club Issue). Discogs.
  5. Web site: Sweet Rhode Island Red (song by Ike & Tina Turner) Music VF, US & UK hits charts. www.musicvf.com.
  6. Web site: Ike & Tina Turner - Sweet Rhode Island Red. Dutch Charts.
  7. Ike & Tina Turner Chart History. Billboard.
  8. Web site: Sexy Ida (Part 1) (song by Ike & Tina Turner) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. www.musicvf.com.
  9. Book: Paytress, Mark.. Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar. 5 November 2009. 9780857120236. Rev.. London. 954133096.
  10. November 9, 1974. Hot 100/Hot Soul Singles - Sexy Ida (Part 2). Billboard.
  11. Web site: Ike & Tina Turner – Sweet Rhode Island Red (Netherlands) . Discogs.
  12. Web site: Ike & Tina Turner – Sweet Rhode Island Red (Germany) . Discogs.
  13. Web site: Ike And Tina Turner* – Sweet Rhode Island Red (Italy) . Discogs. 1974 .
  14. News: Nelson . Sidney . November 8, 1974 . Turn Table . 10 . Evening Post . Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
  15. Web site: The Sweet Rhode Island Red/The Gospel According To Ike & Tina – Ike Turner, Ike & Tina Turner, Tina Turner Releases. AllMusic. en-us.
  16. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. St Ives, N.S.W.. 314.