Tina Turner
Twenty Four Seven
(Parlophone)
By Sheila Price
Watch out, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Mandy Moore! Here comes sexy grandma Tina Turner to make an announcement -- what's age got to do, got to do, got to do with it?Like vintage wine, Turner (who recently turned 60) has aged wonderfully and has never looked or sounded better in her fifth solo album"Twenty Four Seven."Looking awesome in the album photos (captured beautifully by celebrity photographer Herb Ritts), she does a sterling job in this outstanding ensemble."Twenty Four Seven"is largely a dance album -- trekking across the techno, funk, and disco frontiers. If your local disc jockey doesn't play this one on the dance floor, he ought to be straightened out, because Turner has kept it trendy and modern by collaborating with the best dance floor remixers/producers -- the Absolute and Metro, who have produced for Spice Girls and Cher. In fact, Turner's new single"When The Heartache Is Over"is reminiscent of Cher's"Believe"-- from the echoes right down to the techno beat, and like Cher's hit, Turner's new single should be a much-requested dance anthem in weeks to come. Another highlight is"Absolutely,"a sophisticated and edgy piece, while"Go Ahead"is a hip-swaying number.Besides dance, there are some feel-good, inspiring tracks like"Whatever You Need"(which makes perfect drive-time music),"All Of Woman,"the heartfelt"Talk To My Heart,"and the sentimental"Don't Leave Me This Way"(which will take you back to the good ol' Lionel Ritchie songs). There is also"I Will Be There,"a never-before-recorded Bee Gees track. To her credit, Turner wisely welcomes back songwriters Terry Bitten and Graham Lyle, who helped launch her solo career with"Private Dancer"15 years ago.Fans will be delighted to discover that Turner does deliver her signature rock 'n' roll stuff on"Without You,"a duet again with loyal friend and fan, Bryan Adams, and the harmonica-laced, Rolling Stone styled number,"Twenty Four Seven,"which will get the Friday bar crowd all fired up.And yes, there's plenty of those sexy trademark purrs and ferocious growls of hers. In the age of cute bubble gum music, thank God, oldies like Turner are here to stay. Very rarely do you come across a collection of songs as solid as these, so do yourself a favor and invest in a copy.
