Not a beloved man by the pop music masses due to the pain, anguish and ass-beatings inflicted upon a former spouse who will go unnamed. Nonetheless, a gifted musician and producer. Ike was conceptual, genre-bending, and just epic. Sure, he wasn't a nice guy, but there is a price for brilliance.
As much as I love Credence, Fogerty, and the unnamed spouse, it is without question Ike's contribution to the legendary "Proud Mary" that will forever have a spot on my mental audio track. His deeply rounded baritone delivery on the intro and throughout the work were richer than Georgia red clay. Earth, baby -- pure Earth! Ike's delivery packages the essence of the Negro spiritual seeking salvation by hook or crook. Brilliantly, he then uses the power of the spouses electric kick to fire up something far removed from the era of spirituals -- along with powerhouse horns, guitar, percussion and back-up singers. The stage show choreography never hurt, either.
Yup, it was Ike on "Proud Mary" who comforted me during a weird transition in a chaotic work environment.
Left a good job in the city
Workin' for the man, ev'ry night and day.
My intrpretation of his contribution is a bit comic, complex and political. The power of the "workin' for the man" line was at once, taunting as well as cathartic. It was a wake up call to professional strain that I felt could be overcome and forgotten. The lyrics only offer one aspect to comprehending the impact of these few lines. In the Ike and spouse version it was both the delivery and intensity.
The world changes so much within such a short window. While this writer is less than forty,I am old enough to have "Negro" as a racial identifier on my birth certificate. Knowing the Earth as only a Negro can, I related to the power summoned by Ike. Even the song's reference to "rolling on the river" offers a quick tie to Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
Again, I nod to Fogerty and the work of Credence -- they make me smile, bob head and shake a foot. But alas, Ike cold-cocked their work as they never could.
In spite of his less than noble behavior, Ike Turner must be lauded on his musical contributions, creative discipline, and commitment to artistry -- regardless of the ocassional absurdity found within it.
Vive Ike!
