R2 M5 SKOPE WIN

[rayge]

RD-MH album had 5 pop/soul covers and originals produced by Spector with Tina and the Wrecking Crew - brilliant tracks each and every one – and seven re-recordings of R&B numbers from the band's repertoire (four of them written by Ike) featuring the Ike & Tina band and the Ikettes, produced by Ike. This of course is in the latter group, and while Tina could do no wrong vocally in the decade, the whole west coast/Gold Star set-up didn't suit her gut-bucket R&B screamers as well as the more primitive sounds of the Sue studios where she made Gonna Work Out Fine, Fool in Love, I Idolize You, Poor Fool, The Argument... So, this is OK, basically filler. 4/10

No such baggage of expecatation with this - the first time I've knowingly heard her – and the first thing I think (apart from the silliness of the travelogue video and her awful fashion sense) is that that is one hell of a fine vocal arrangement, with at least a passing resemblance to Laura Nyro or Linda Perhacs, high praise in my book. There's a shuffle rhythm, I suppose, but not a hint of blues that I can hear, so I don't see how it qualifies as what I used to think of as R&B: seen as a piece of glossy, girl-group inspired pop, though – very much up my street – I find it very appealing, so much so that I played it twice.
6/10

B

[nolamike]

A is great, of course, but so is B. I'm a big fan of Solange; she's one of the more interesting modern R&B artists around - and it's a bold choice here, so it gets my vote.

B

[rayge]

Jan 25, 2021 15:33:50 GMT Half Machine Lipschitz said:

Jan 24, 2021 19:58:35 GMT bungo the mungo said:

i stand corrected! i thought spector produced the whole album.

Not that it's proof either way, but the credits listed under the video say it was produced by Spector, and it seems to be a somewhat official Ike & Tina Turner YouTube channel.

According to sleeve notes he also produced the Righteous Brothers' Ebb Tide, For Sentimental Reasons, Unchained Melody and whatever the fourth Bobby Hatfield solo was, but although they were recorded at Gold Star with Larry Levine and the Crew, Bill Medley produced them. Spector liked money, and he liked credit, and he got a lot of both by putting his name where it didn't truly belong, as was the custom with label bosses in the 1960s. Of course the official video channels are going to go along with that, but, trust me on this, Harv, I know whereof I speak. Spector wasn't interested in Ike, the band, or the Ikettes, he just wanted Tina's voice, and Ike was not even allowed into the studio when Phil was supervising the sessions. You don't have to take Ike's word for it: you – well, a fan like me – can definitely hear the difference, in the playing and concept as much as the production. I could hear it the first time I played the album, and I'm not 100% sure it wasn't well-known at the time, or soon after.

[Deleted]

Both songs have similar issues..They never quite take off..For Ike and Tina, that's a crime..For Solange, it is what it is..For the boldness to pick outside the box (Though if one wanted this genre, FKA Twigs would have been more daring) vote B

[fonz]

I wrote a longer answer, but it got lost.

Bottom line: B

[Sneelock]

Hmm. I'm not sure I can work up a head of steam for either. I mean, they're both fine. Still, I had that Ike & Tina LP for years and don't even remember that song.

the Solange track has a neat Bryan Ferry sort of thing going on and the vocal is nice. I guess I could flip a coin.
A.

[DarknessFish]

Jan 25, 2021 13:35:42 GMT fearlessfreap said:

I'll take B over her sister

Personal fantasies have no place here.

[Deleted]

A is a fantastic stomper with a marvellously full production.

B is an interesting selection and the kind of thing I'd like to hear more of in the cup. There are odd touches in the way the backing vocals and the keyboards come in almost randomly that give an interestingly off kilter feel. Nice groove too. The problem, for me, is the main vocal melody is rather dreary meaning the record never quite achieves lift off. A case of good production that needed a better song.

A

[daveythefatboy]

That Ike & Tina track is maybe the 4th or 5th best track on that album. But still good enough to win here.

A

[Reactionary Rage]

I quite liked B and thought it was pleasant enough but like a lot of these sorta records these days some nice touches and sounds but not much of a song.

A is a bit of a stomper and good enough here.

a

[wobblie]

I've never much cared for Ike & Tina but that is clearly the better track here.

Everything about Solange seems contrived to me. While she may have genuine talent I feel nothing other than that she's trying to sell me a luxurious lifestyle.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2021 1:30:00 GMT wobblie said:

I've never much cared for Ike & Tina but that is clearly the better track here.

Everything about Solange seems contrived to me. While she may have genuine talent I feel nothing other than that she's trying to sell me a luxurious lifestyle.

I'm counting this as a vote for A, but it would be great if you could remember to make clear your vote by including the letter in future. Cheers!

Great to see you voting btw - the more the merrier!

[wobblie]

Yes, it's a vote for A. Thought about that after posting but it seemed a bit pointless to edit as there wasn't much of a contest.

Will vote/post correctly in the future.

[clive gash]

Looks like a vote for B there Keith.

Yes, certainly a vote for B.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2021 11:40:28 GMT clive gash said:

Looks like a vote for B there Keith.

Yes, certainly a vote for B.

Oomph...tubs!