Ike Turner
Blues Unplugged III
Carpenter Performing Arts Center - Cal State Long Beach
Long Beach, California
April 17, 1990

Ike Turner is best known for his career as half of the duo Ike & Tina Turner with his former wife Tina Turner, but before he discovered her, Ike was already a pioneer in rhythm & blues and rock & roll.

Izear Luster Turner Jr. was born on November 5, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
His father Izear Luster Turner Sr. was a Baptist minister and was beaten by a white mob and succumbed to his injuries when Turner was 5 years old.

Ike Turner lived in an abusive home and quit school in the eighth grade, becoming an elevator operator at the Alcazar Hotel in downtown Clarksdale
He learned boogie-woogie piano firsthand from his inspiration, Pinetop Perkins, and he talked himself into a DJ slot on the local radio station, where he played everything from the jump blues of Louis Jordan to country & western.

He formed his first band while still in high school, an outfit dubbed "The Kings of Rhythm", and in 1951 they traveled to Memphis to record at Sam Phillips' Sun studio.
Their first song, "Rocket 88," zoomed to the top of the R&B charts and is today regarded by many critics as being quite possibly the first true rock & roll record.
Turner and his band went on to back Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Robert Nighthawk, Buddy Guy, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, plus a variety of Sun artists.

One of his fans, a teen-aged Anna Mae Bullock, joined his band as his lead vocalist in 1957.
He renamed her Tina Turner, and they released their first record as the duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1960 with the "A Fool In Love" which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart.
They toured relentlessly throughout the 1960s and put on high energy performances, their dynamic act is showcased in the concert film "The Big T.N.T. Show" (1966).
Following their tour with the Rolling Stones in 1969, the duo crossed over to mainstream success.
However, Turner's drug use and volatile behavior was taking a toll on their personal relationship and they separated in 1976.

After the duo of Ike & Tina broke up, Turner went on a downward spiral with run-ins with the law, which resulted in a 18-month prison term for a drug conviction in the early 1990s.
Following the release of his ex-wife's book in which she recounted incidents of domestic violence Turner received media scrutiny which further hindered his career.
Turner had been drug free for over a decade, but he relapsed and died from a cocaine overdose on December 12, 2007.

Ike Turner - piano, guitar and vocals
Joe Kelly - guitar (joins Ike at "Rocket 88")
Pinetop Perkins - piano (joins Ike and Joe Kelly at "I Almost Lost My Mind")

encore jam guests:
Homesick James - guitar
Lucky Peterson - guitar
Charles Wright -
James Harmon - harmonica

01. Introduction
02. Pinetop's Boggie
03. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
04. Suffering The Blues
05. Another Mule Kickin’ in Your Stall
06. Rocket 88
07. Tore Up
08. I Don’t Know
09. Steel Guitar Rag > Mama Don't Allow > Steel Guitar Rag
10. Early In The Morning
11. What I Say
12. Chariots Of Fire (Ike only)
13. I Almost Lost My Mind
14. The Honeydripper
---encore/jam---
15. Band Introductions
16. Baby Please Set A Date
17. Pickin' The Blues
[62:37]

From master DAT tape recorded by Bill W.
Sony ECM-909A Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone > Sony TCD7 @ LP

note: Recorded on the Long Play setting with a reduced bandwidth of 16KHz.

Transfer by Flying -M- (3/2021)
Otari DTR 8S > Korg MR 2000S
Har-Bal 3.7 & iZotope RX 8 advanced (prep) > CD Wave > Korg Aqua (16-44) > TLH

Thanks to Bill for recording and loaning me his masters so this could be shared.

For historical reference only and not intended for resale or any commercial use
Support the artists and the venues that host live music
Buy the official releases and go to a concert

Enjoy…
-M- (July 2022)

FLYING M PRODUCTIONS