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What’s love got to do with it?  Plenty, in fact!  On June 30, Warner Music/Rhino will issue a new 2-CD deluxe edition celebrating the 30th anniversary of Tina Turner’s landmark “comeback” album, Private Dancer.  The four-time Grammy-winning album yielded seven singles and catapulted Tina Turner straight back to the top.

When Private Dancer was issued in May 1984, it was Turner’s first album since 1979’s Love Explosion.  Recorded in England with four different production teams, it marked a departure from the rhythm and blues that characterized her time with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.  Private Dancer introduced a Tina Turner for the eighties – lithe, sexy, and ready to rock.  Emphasizing slickly shimmering pop and rock, Turner’s singular, energetic delivery brought the grit.  The album’s material was diverse, including covers from The Beatles (“Help!”), Al Green (“Let’s Stay Together”), and Ann Peebles (“I Can’t Stand the Rain”).  (“Help!” was eliminated from the original 9-track U.S. LP pressing; the full 10-track CD album is, of course, presented for this reissue.)

But its two most enduring songs had checkered histories.  Mark Knopfler had penned the title track for his band, Dire Straits, but the recording made for the group’s Love Over Gold album was never completed.  Two years later, the members of Dire Straits re-recorded the track for Turner – sans Knopfler, whose lead guitar part was taken by none other than Jeff Beck.  Turner’s sizzling version went to No. 7 Pop/No. 3 R&B in the United States, and to No. 26 in the United Kingdom.  Terry Britten and Graham Lyle originally offered “What’s Love Got to Do with It” to Brit superstar Cliff Richard; when Cliff passed, it subsequently was passed on to Phyllis Hyman, Donna Summer, and the group Bucks Fizz.  The latter actually recorded it, but shelved their version when the song made its way to Turner.  (Their original recording eventually surfaced, in 2000.)  The song resonated deeply for Turner.  Upon its release as a single, it became her first and only U.S. No. 1 hit.  It also made it to No. 3 in England.  “What’s Love” won three Grammys, including the trophies for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Private Dancer, the album, was a U.S. No. 3 album and a U.K. No. 2, eventually going 5x platinum and 3x platinum in those countries, respectively.  The 30th Anniversary Edition includes the original album remastered on the first disc, along with a 15-song second disc of 12-inch mixes, B-sides and three non-album singles, plus duets with Bryan Adams (“It’s Only Love”) and David Bowie (“Tonight”). The reissue also features the track “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)” (with the British Electric Foundation) recorded with Martin Ware of Heaven 17, and Turner’s theme to Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.  The seven bonus tracks from the 2000 reissue are all included, along with eight additional tracks, adding up to a generous bonus disc.  Diehard fans will notice that the set doesn’t include all of the album’s related singles.  Numerous 7-inch and 12-inch mixes are notably absent, including the familiar single edit of “Private Dancer” itself, as well as the instrumental and extended versions of the Mad Max theme and more.

Private Dancer: 30th Anniversary Edition arrives in stores from Warner/Rhino on June 30 and can be pre-ordered at the links below!  A remastered vinyl edition, containing just the original album with no bonus material, arrives the same day!

Tina Turner, Private Dancer: 30th Anniversary Edition (Warner/Rhino, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )

CD 1 – Original Album Remastered (originally issued as Capitol CDP 7 46041 2, 1984)

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. Private Dancer
6. Let’s Stay Together
7. Better Be Good To Me
8. Steel Claw
9. Help!
10. 1984

CD 2 – The Extras

1. Ball of Confusion (With B.E.F) (Remix) (from Virgin VS 500, 1982)
2. I Wrote A Letter (B-side of “Let’s Stay Together,” Capitol B-5322, 1985)
3. Rock ‘N’ Roll Widow (B-side of “Help!,” Capitol CL 325, 1984)
4. Don’t Rush The Good Things (B-side of “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Capitol CL 334, 1984)
5. When I Was Young (B-side of “Better Be Good to Me,” Capitol CL 338, 1984)
6. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (B-side of “Private Dancer,” Capitol CL 343, 1984)
7. Tonight (With David Bowie) [Live At The NEC, Birmingham] (from Tina Live in Europe, Capitol CDP 7 90126 2, 1988)
8. Let’s Pretend We’re Married (Live) (B-side of “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” Capitol CL 352, 1985)
9. What’s Love Got To Do It (Extended 12″ Remix, Capitol 12CL 334, 1984)
10. Better Be Good To Me (Extended 12″ Remix, Capitol V 8609, 1984)
11. I Can’t Stand The Rain (Extended 12″ Remix, Capitol 12CL 352, 1985)
12. Show Some Respect (Extended Mix) (Capitol single V-8635, 1985)
13. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (from Capitol single B 5491, 1985)
14. One Of The Living (from Capitol single B 5518, 1985)
15. It’s Only Love (With Bryan Adams) (from A&M single 2791, 1985)