''Sweet Rhode Island Red'' is a studio album by

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband-and-wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. ...

released on United Artist Records in 1974. The album was created exclusively for the international market. It was available in the US through the

Columbia Record Club Columbia House was an umbrella brand for Columbia Records' mail-order music clubs, the primary iteration of which was the Columbia Record Club, established in 1955. The Columbia House brand was introduced in the early 1970s by Columbia Records ...

. The album charted at No. 41 in Australia.

Recording and content

''Sweet Rhode Island Red'' was recorded at the Ike & Tina Turner's

Bolic Sound Bolic Sound Studios was a recording studio complex in Inglewood, California. It was built by musician Ike Turner in 1970, and remained in operation until it burned down in 1981. History As a young bandleader, Ike Turner had grown skeptical of the ...

studio. A majority of the songs from the album were written by

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

, including the title track which was released as a single in February 1974. " Sweet Rhode Island Red" peaked at No. 43 on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart, No. 43 in Germany, No. 17 in Italy and No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The follow-up single "

Sexy Ida "Sexy Ida" is a single released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner on United Artists Records in August 1974. It features two versions, the A-side "Sexy Ida (Part 1)" and the B-side "Sexy Ida (Part 2)." Overview "Sexy Ida" was written by Tina Turner; prod ...

" was released in two versions: the funk rhythmic A-side, "Sexy Ida (Part 1)", and the up-temp B-side, "Sexy Ida (Part 2)". "Sexy Ida (Part 1)" reached No. 29 on ''Billboard'' R&B chart and No. 65 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In Europe it peaked at No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 35 in Italy. "Sexy Ida (Part 2)" features rock musician

Marc Bolan Marc Bolan ( ; born Mark Feld; 30 September 1947 – 16 September 1977) was an English guitarist, singer-songwriter and poet. He was a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex (band), T. Rex. Bolan strongly i ...

on guitar. It peaked at No. 85 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 on the R&B chart. Both songs were included on the album in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

Critical reception

Sidney Nelson wrote for the ''Evening Post'' (November 8, 1974):

"Sweet Rhode Island Red" finds Ike and Tina Turner producing their high-octane rock-blues-soul combination with Tina breaking into her famous scream at regular, spine-chilling intervals. Strangely, however, it is when she purrs her way through Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City," holding the power back that she really scores on this album. The opener "Let Me Be There" is fine but for the rest, even Tina's dynamic delivery cannot raise mediocre material.

Reissues

''Sweet Rhode Island Red'' was digitally remastered and released by

BGO Records BGO Records (Beat Goes On) is a British record label specializing in classic rock, blues, jazz, and folk music. In 1965, Andy Gray opened Andys Records and set up a market stall in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Year by year he opened up more shops. ...

in 2012 on the compilation CD ''Sweet Rhode Island Red/The Gospel According To Ike & Tina.''

Track listing

Chart performance

References

{{Authority control 1974 albums Ike & Tina Turner albums Albums produced by Ike Turner United Artists Records albums Rock albums by American artists Soul albums by American artists Albums produced by Gerhard Augustin Albums recorded at Bolic Sound