DO THE SWIM!

On this day in music history: January 8, 1971 - “Proud Mary” by Ike & Tina Turner is released. Written by John Fogerty, it is the fifty seventh single release and biggest hit for the R&B duo from St. Louis, MO. Having spent 60’s as one of the most exciting live acts around, Ike & Tina Turner only chart sporadically after debuting in 1960 with “A Fool In Love” on Sue Records. In 1970, they sign with Liberty Records charting with covers of Sly & The Family Stone’s “I Want To Take You Higher” and The Beatles’ “Come Together”. Around this time, another cover that they incorporate into their live shows is “Proud Mary”. Written by John Fogerty, it originally appears on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s second album “Bayou Country”. Fogerty writes the song after being discharged from the National Guard in 1968, creating its narrative about a washerwoman named Mary. CCR’s version is their first top ten hit and million seller, hitting #2 on the Hot 100 on March 8, 1969. Ike and Tina give the song a dramatic make over, basing it on a version by The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles, but giving it an extra kick in the pants. It is recorded at Ike’s private studio Bolic Sound in Los Angeles, CA in mid 1970. Starting it off slow with Tina adding a spoken monologue with Ike in the background. She states in the beginning, “you know, every now and then I think you’d like to hear something from us, nice and easy…”, then boldly declaring, “we never ever do nothin’ nice and easy. We always do it nice and rough…”. Singing the first two verses up to the chorus slow, the band breaks into an up tempo vamp, turning it into an electrifying showstopper. Along with The Ikettes, Tina comes up with a choreographed routine, accented with karate kicks and wildly throwing their heads back and forth and doing “the swim”. The song is included on the album “Workin’ Together” in the Fall of 1970. The title track is issued first and is only a minor hit, when “Proud Mary” is released as the follow up, editing it down from its five minute LP length to just over three minutes. “Mary” quickly becomes a smash, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at #99 on January 30, 1971 and #28 on the R&B singles chart on February 27, 1971. It peaks at #4 on the Hot 100 on March 27, 1971 and #5 on the R&B chart on April 3, 1971, becoming their one and only million selling single. It also wins them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group in 1972, and is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2003. The single’s original B-side “Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter”, written by Tina’s sister Aillene Bullock also becomes a fan favorite, and is later covered by Nina Simone. Years after the couple divorce and Tina Turner begins the triumphant second phase of her career as a solo artist, she performs “Proud Mary” in concert until retiring from touring in 2009. “Proud Mary” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.