| "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Ikettes | ||||
| Released | November 1961 | |||
| Recorded | 1961 | |||
| Genre | R&B, Soul | |||
| Length | 2:33 | |||
| Label | Atco | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ike Turner | |||
| Producer(s) | Ike & Tina Turner | |||
| The Ikettes singles chronology | ||||
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"I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" is a song written by Ike Turner and recorded by Ike & Tina Turner's backing trio The Ikettes in 1961. [1] In 2017, Billboard ranked the song No. 63 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time. [2]
Like most of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue's music during this time, it was recorded while the group was on the road. By 1961, the formerly known Artettes had been singing as a backing trio with Ike & Tina for over a year, having been involved since the hit, "A Fool in Love". To bide time in the studio, Ike Turner wrote a song custom-made for the girl group.
Tina Turner herself was involved in the recording, helping to arrange the vocals and could be heard singing along in the background. Ike Turner credited the song's production to him and Tina. Since Ike & Tina recorded for Sue Records, Ike Turner decided to distribute the record to another company, agreeing to sign an advance to Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary in late 1961 for the song.
Released in November 1961, [1] the song became a national hit reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the R&B chart. [3] "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" was the fifth hit single associated with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and the first of three charting singles for the original Ikettes between 1962 and 1965.
The song would later be recorded by:
Weekly charts
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Ike & Tina Turner were 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 Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists called the Ikettes. The Ike & Tina Turner Revue was regarded as "one of the most potent live acts on the R&B circuit."
The Ikettes, originally The Artettes, were a trio of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite their origins, the Ikettes became successful artists in their own right. In the 1960s they had hits such as "I'm Blue " and "Peaches 'N' Cream." In 2017, Billboard ranked "I'm Blue " No. 63 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine" is a song written by Rose Marie McCoy and Joe Seneca. It was originally released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1961 as a single from their album Dynamite! (1962). The record is noted for being their first Grammy nominated song and their second million-selling single after "A Fool In Love".
River Deep – Mountain High is a studio album by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner. It was originally released by London Records in the UK in 1966, and later A&M Records in the US in 1969. In 2017, Pitchfork ranked it at No. 40 on their list of the 200 Best Albums of the 1960s.
This article contains information about albums and singles released by American R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner.
The Soul of Ike & Tina Turner is the debut album by Ike & Tina Turner. It was released on the Sue Records in February 1961. The album is noted for containing the duo's debut single "A Fool in Love" and their follow-up singles "I Idolize You" and "I'm Jealous."
Josephine Armstead, also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the early 1960s. She also had some success as a solo singer, her biggest hit being "A Stone Good Lover" in 1968. As a songwriter, Armstead teamed up with Ashford & Simpson. The trio wrote hits for various artists, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tina Britt, Ronnie Milsap, and Syl Johnson. In the 1970s, Armstead appeared in the Broadway musicals Don't Play Us Cheap! and Seesaw.
"I Idolize You" is a soul blues song written and produced by Ike Turner. It was released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1960 as the second single from their debut album The Soul of Ike & Tina Turner.
Come Together is a studio album by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner and their backing vocalists the Ikettes, released on Liberty Records in May 1970.
In Person is a live album by the R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner and their backing vocalists the Ikettes. It was released on Minit Records in 1969.
Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live is the first live album by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner released on Kent Records in 1964.
Soul The Hits is the debut album by American girl group the Ikettes, released on Modern Records in 1966.
(G)Old & New is a studio album by American girl group the Ikettes, released on United Artists in 1974. The Ikettes were backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. (G)Old & New is their second and final studio album, containing new songs and different version of previously released tracks such as their hit "I'm Blue " which featured Tina Turner singing background vocals.
Teena Records was a record label founded by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1963. Ike Turner named the label after his wife Tina Turner. Records on Teena were distributed by CIRCA distributing firm. CIRCA was formed in 1962 to operate as a releasing company for independent labels by working with various distributors around the US.
Pat Powdrill was an American soul singer and songwriter. Powdrill was best known for being a member of the Ikettes in the 1960s. She began her career as a solo artist recording for Reprise Records and Downey Records. She later performed as backing vocalist for various artists.
The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
Jessie Smith was an American R&B vocalist. She began her career singing with musician Benny Sharp, recording as Little Miss Jessie, and became best known as one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She later sang backing vocals for various artists, including Dr. John, Paul Williams, Al Kooper, José Feliciano, and Leon Ware.
"Peaches 'N' Cream" is a song written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce, originally released by The Ikettes on Modern Records in 1965. It became the first Billboard Top 40 single for The Ikettes since their debut "I'm Blue " in 1961.
Edna Woods, also known as LeJeune Richardson, is an American singer, dancer and actress. She was an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s and 1970s, and later a dancer for Tina Turner in the 1980s and 1990s. Richardson was a backing vocalist for Gayle McCormick and John Mayall. She was also a member of the vocal group Silver, Platinum & Gold.