Album of the Week: Private Dancer

I was tossing around the idea with this week's album picker a couple weeks ago that I should maybe talk about Record Club alumni's political beliefs in this introduction at some point. The context was that apparently RC alum Dua Lipa has some outspoken beliefs regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Maybe some other RC artists are outspoken about this kind of stuff. I mean, we've mentioned previously how Halsey wants to do another 9/11 at Pitchfork, how the drummer of Phish feels the Bern, and how the drummer of the bassist of A Day to Remember denies being a rapist. Who else has some strong takes? Are Foals secretly Nazis? Is Duke Deuce pro-life? Was Connie Converse killed by the mob for her beliefs?

After careful reconsideration, I think I'd rather not know any of this. Like, there's a reason we haven't covered Kanye West in Record Club yet, ya know? Sometimes an artist's beliefs make it impossible for you to see them the same way ever again, especially if it is a particularly strong take and a particularly terrible take or both.

Anyways, let's forget about all this, and move onto the next artist. You can first check out the archives or the playlist if you want, but if not, continue below to see what we have in store for ya this week. I promise I won't mention anything about politics.

WEEK 143 — October 24-30, 2021

What we're listening to this week (Sam's pick):

ALBUM: Private Dancer

ARTIST: Tina Turner

RELEASED: May 29, 1984

WHAT GENRE IS THIS: pop / rock / R&B

WHY SAM PICKED IT: "Tina Turner always felt like a figure on Mount Rushmore but someone I didn't know much about. This album seemed like a good entry point to explore Tina at her apex and on her own terms."

TRACKLIST:

1. I Might Have Been Queen
2. What's Love Got to Do with It
3. Show Some Respect
4. I Can't Stand the Rain
5. Better Be Good to Me
6. Let's Stay Together
7. 1984
8. Steel Claw
9. Private Dancer

LENGTH: 44:02

WHERE TO LISTEN FOR FREE: YouTube

READING SOME SHIT: From Sam—"I got turned on to it by the New York Times podcast Still Processing, which did a deep dive on her career." From Joe—fuck podcasts, but that link does have a transcript option, so you can just read it while you're listening to Private Dancer.

PREVIOUSLY ON RECORD CLUB: I'm sure we could go through the extensive credits list and find something, but instead, let's briefly talk about "I Can't Stand the Rain." You may remember Missy Elliott's Supa Dupa Fly, and how her song "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" interpolates the song in its chorus. It actually samples the original version, though, written and recorded by Ann Peebles. Tina Turner's version on Private Dancer is a cover of Peebles'.

Happy listening, fam! Have a great week!