When you think about a Tina Turner greatest hits collection, your brain probably goes straight to that iconic 1980s hair, the denim jackets, and those legs that seemed to go on for miles. It’s a specific image. But if you actually sit down and listen to her compilations—I’m talking about the heavy hitters like Simply the Best or the massive All the Best—you realize the story isn’t just about a comeback. It’s about a woman who basically had three entirely different careers and somehow made them all fit on one shiny piece of plastic.
Honestly, most people treat her "Best Of" albums like a high-energy workout playlist. While that's totally fair (who doesn't want to power-walk to "The Best"?), there is a lot of nuance tucked between the radio edits. People often forget that her greatest hits aren't just a list of songs; they are a literal map of how she survived an industry that tried to age her out and a personal life that nearly broke her.
The Weird History of "Simply the Best"
You probably own this album. Or your parents do. Released in October 1991, Simply the Best is the definitive Tina Turner greatest hits package for most of the world. In the UK alone, it stayed on the charts for over 140 weeks. That’s more than two years!
But here’s the thing: it’s not just a collection of old songs. Tina and her team were smart. They knew that to sell a "hits" album to people who already had the records, they needed something fresh. So, they tucked in three brand-new tracks: "Love Thing," "I Want You Near Me," and "Way of the World."
They also did something kinda controversial at the time. They re-recorded "Nutbush City Limits."
Purists usually hate it when artists mess with the classics. The 1990s dance version of "Nutbush" has a completely different energy than the 1973 original she did with Ike. The original was gritty and funk-heavy. The '90s version? It was clearly aimed at European dance floors. It worked, though. It became a hit all over again, proving that Tina’s voice was basically future-proof.
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Different Hits for Different Folks
Depending on where you bought the album, you got a different experience.
- The UK/European version: Included "Addicted to Love" (Live) and "Be Tender with Me Baby."
- The US version: Swapped those out for "What You Get Is What You See" and "Look Me in the Heart."
Why the swap? Because Tina was a global phenomenon, but her popularity hit differently in different markets. Europe loved her as a rock goddess; America saw her as the queen of the Adult Contemporary charts.
Why "All the Best" Changed the Game in 2004
If Simply the Best was the "cool 90s" Tina, then All the Best (released in 2004) was the "Legacy" Tina. This was the one that finally gave her the respect she deserved in the US. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. Imagine that—an artist who started her career in the 50s, hitting her highest-ever US chart position in 2005.
This collection is massive. It’s a double CD that actually digs into the Ike years properly. You get "River Deep – Mountain High" and "Proud Mary" sitting right next to "GoldenEye." It’s jarring but brilliant.
One of the standouts on this collection is "Open Arms." It’s a soaring, almost spiritual ballad that showed she hadn't lost an ounce of power at 65. It wasn't just a "greatest hits" filler; it was a statement that she was still very much in the game.
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What Most People Miss About the Tracklists
We need to talk about "River Deep – Mountain High."
If you look at any Tina Turner greatest hits list, that song is usually near the top. But when it was first released in 1966, it was a total flop in the US. Producer Phil Spector was so heartbroken by the failure that he basically retreated from the industry.
The song only became a "hit" in retrospect. It took years for the public to realize that Tina’s vocal performance on that track was one of the greatest things ever captured on tape. She was literally singing for her life. Spector made her sing it over and over for hours until she was drenched in sweat, just to get that specific "Wall of Sound" grit.
Another "missed" detail? "The Best" wasn't even her song.
Bonnie Tyler recorded it first in 1988. It didn't do much. A year later, Tina took it, added that iconic saxophone solo and a bit more "oomph" in the production, and turned it into an anthem used at every sporting event and wedding for the next four decades. That’s the "Tina Magic." She didn't just sing songs; she colonized them.
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The Essential Listening Strategy
If you're looking to dive into her discography, don't just hit "shuffle" on a random playlist. There's a better way to experience her evolution.
- Start with the Grit: Listen to the 1971 version of "Proud Mary." Pay attention to the spoken intro. She tells you exactly what’s going to happen: "We're gonna take the beginning of this song and do it easy... then we're gonna do the finish rough." That is her entire life story in one sentence.
- The Comeback Peak: Listen to "What's Love Got to Do with It." It's actually a very cynical song. She was 44 when it hit #1. In the 80s, being a 44-year-old Black woman in pop was unheard of. She broke the door down.
- The Soundtrack Era: Don't skip "We Don't Need Another Hero." It’s from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. It’s got a children's choir. It’s peak 80s theatricality, and somehow, she makes it feel grounded.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're hunting for the best version of her hits, here's the deal.
For the casual listener: Grab the 1-CD version of All the Best: The Hits. It’s got the big ones. It’s 18 tracks of pure adrenaline.
For the completionist: Look for the 2023 50th Anniversary Edition of Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. It’s a massive 55-track collection that includes her 2020 remix of "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Kygo. It shows the full arc, from the early R&B stuff to the modern EDM collaborations.
Vinyl vs. Digital: Tina’s voice was built for analog. If you can find an original 1991 pressing of Simply the Best, buy it. The compression on modern streaming services sometimes squashes the "growl" in her voice, and you want to hear every bit of that rasp.
Tina Turner didn't just leave behind a bunch of songs. She left a blueprint for how to reinvent yourself when the world thinks you're done. Her greatest hits aren't just a trip down memory lane; they're a masterclass in resilience.
Next time you hear that opening riff of "The Best," remember: that wasn't just a pop song. It was a victory lap.