Her career spans decades, but it was only in the 1980s that Tina Turner became a chart force in Australia. Of her seven biggest hits in this country, only one comes from the 1970s, while her greatest successes in the 1990s were with new versions of previous singles.
7. "Typical Male”
Released: 1986
Peak: number 20
By 1986, Tina Turner had two recent Australian number 1s under her belt, so you might have expected bigger things from this lead single from the Break Every Rule album, especially since it was written and produced by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, the team behind both of those chart-toppers. Top 20 hit “Typical Male” had another gem tucked away on its B-side, “Don’t Turn Around”, which was later covered by Aswad and Ace Of Base.
6. "Let’s Stay Together”
Released: 1983
Peak: number 19
The song that gave Tina her first ever top 40 hit locally was a cover of the Al Green classic from 1971. A collaboration with British Electric Foundation’s Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware (also of Heaven 17), the remake prompted Tina’s record company to put a rush on her comeback album, Private Dancer, which would end up being the most successful of her solo career.
5. "What You Get Is What You See”
Released: 1987
Peak: number 15
The most successful single from Break Every Rule was another Britten/Lyle composition, and one that was almost a hit twice for Tina. As well as reaching the top 20 in 1987, it peaked just outside the top 50 in 1989 when it was used by the NRL in an advertising campaign to promote the sport – an ad in which Tina appeared. It was the start of a mutually beneficial relationship between the code and the singer. The track featured a collaboration of a different kind, with Eric Clapton playing guitar on the song.
4. "Nutbush City Limits” (with Ike Turner)
Released: 1973
Peak: number 14
The biggest hit single in Australia for the then married couple, “Nutbush City Limits” may have only reached number 14 here, but it spent an entire year on the top 100. The line dancing staple, which got its name from Tina’s home town, returned to the chart in 1991, when Tina released a remix of the track, subtitled “The 90s Version”, to promote her Simply The Best greatest hits album. The update peaked two places lower at number 16.
3. "The Best”
Released: 1989
Peak: number 4
Another tune that visited the top 20 twice for Tina was originally the lead single from 1989’s Foreign Affair album. Actually, “The Best” was originally an unsuccessful 1988 single from Bonnie Tyler’s Hide Your Heart album before Tina tried her hand at the song, which was written by top songwriters Mike Chapman and Holly Knight. Co-produced by Dan Hartman, Tina’s version of “The Best” took her back into the top 5. Then, three years later, she recorded a new take on the song with Jimmy Barnes to promote the 1992 NRL season. Their duet version, retitled “(Simply) The Best”, reached number 14.
2. "What’s Love Got To Do With It”
Released: 1984
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Fun fact: Tina Turner wasn’t the first artist this song, which has since become her signature tune, was offered to. Before she recorded “What’s Love Got To Do With It”, it did the rounds of everyone from Cliff Richard to Donna Summer. Bucks Fizz even recorded it, but didn’t release it at the time. Another fun fact: Tina wasn’t that keen on the song and was talked into recorded it by her manager, Roger Davies. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” went on to win three Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.
1. "We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)”
Released: 1985
Peak: number 1 (three weeks)
Tina’s second number 1 single in Australia spent three weeks at the summit and was taken from the soundtrack to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third film in the post-apocalyptic franchise. Tina also appeared in the movie, playing Aunty Entity opposite Mel Gibson and Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson. Like "What's Love Got To Do With It", the song was a Britten/Lyle creation, with guest vocals provided by a choir from the King’s House School in London.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of "The Best" and in anticipation of Tina's 80th birthday later in November, Simply The Best has been reissued on limited edition blue vinyl, set for release on November 22. Get it here.
Listen to Tina Turner on Spotify
Listen to Tian Turner on Apple Music
