River Deep, Mountain High (Ike and Tina Turner)

13 JULY 1966


Another classic masterpiece of 1966 big ballad production to stand alongside Dusty's 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' and the Walker Brothers' 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine [Anymore]'. This was Ike and Tina Turner’s ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, which was at its peak UK chart position of #3 on this day. Incredibly, the song flopped in the US, reaching only #88 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This song was produced by Phil Spector and he considered it to be his best work. He was so shocked at its failure in the US that he withdrew from the music industry for two years. It should be remembered, however, that most of Ike and Tina's work did not chart well. None of the other five singles they released in 1965, 1967 and 1968 even broke the top 100 in the US.

B-side. ‘I'll Keep You Happy'
Released. May 1966
Recorded. Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, 1965
Genre. Soul, pop
Length. 3:40
Producer. Phil Spector