Private Dancer
Few have endured such turmoil as Tina Turner. In 1976, after 20 years toil with husband Ike, she was left with nothing but bruises, 36 cents and a Mobil gas card. Oh, and four children. Yet by 1985, with her big highlighted hair and little leather skirt recognised worldwide, she was a 10-million-seller, and a Hollywood star to boot. Collaborating with Heaven 17, Turner had achieved forward momentum. Now, signed to Capitol, she assembled about her a host of famous writer/producers, including Rupert Hine, Terry Brittan and Mike Chapman. The result was Private Dancer, a smart, mainstream and melody-heavy fusion of rock, pop and R&B; making the most of Turner's world-weary persona and roughhouse soul inflections and featured huge singles like "What's Love Got to Do with It?" and the title track (written by Dire Straits's Mark Knopfler, guitar courtesy of Jeff Beck). Maybe rock's greatest comeback. --Dominic Wills