Tina Turner Album: “Wildest Dreams [Parlophone Single Disc]”

This 1996 release is equal to Turner's chart-topping"Private Dancer" in scope, delivery, and production. Anydisc that features a duet with Barry White ("In Your Wildest Dreams"), the best James Bond theme ("Goldeneye"), and two smoking versions of a supremely crafted song ("Something Beautiful Remains") deserves to be purchased. When these and other songs are performed by the lady with one of the best pipes in music, the listener wins hands down! The cover and inner photography of the lady and those magnificent legs are worthy of the cost alone. Other diva-wannabees should stand in line far behind the real thing!

Turner's discography has been held to the standard of the amazing 1984 comeback record "Private Dancer" since it's release. While efforts such as 1987's "Break Every Rule" & 1989's "Foreign Affair" came close, no gold in breaking the rule of "Private Dancer" being de-throned as Tina's best solo album.

Then, in 1996 "Wildest Dreams" came along. Now, while ironically this was Tina's most disappointing commercial record in the States, overseas this record would soar well beyond double-platinum status. With commericiality aside, "Wildest Dreams" to me ranks as Tina's finest record in her post-"Private Dancer" catalogue. It is uniform, cohesive, yet there are the elements of sass, romance, & Tina's soulful voice that make this record standout.

Clearly, living in Europe for over a decade had worn off on Tina. While she hinted at this on the look of the predecessor to this album, "Foreign Affair", with pictures of Tina in French cafe's & a such; the record was an American pop/rock record. Here, while you could at first say this a typical "American R&B" album, upon closer inspection, there is a loose, romantic European sheen woven throughout the whole album. It's mood is very European. From the vintage black & white cover with Tina wearing a short skirt & black jacket, to the fashionable approach the record takes.

This is due to the produers, some of Europe's finest, who helmed the project. From Nellee Hooper, the Pet Shop Boys, U2's Bono, all help "Wildest Dreams" shine.

The title track is a steamy duet with the late-Barry White, which has to be heard to really enjoy. The duet seems fresh, sensual, & over a cool ambitious melodic riff & creeping beat, sizzles. Other highlights include the theme to Bond film "Goldeneye" (one of my favorite Bond themes!) which finds Tina getting brassy, "Confidential" is simple Euro-pop at it's finest. This cut finds Tina just relaxed, giving a cool, almost detached delivery, until the chorus where the emotion of being involved with someone who won't be open with a relationship overtakes Tina.

Tina's vocals are in perfect shape as demonstrated on the soul workout of "Whatever You Want" & an awesome cover of 1980's pop staple "Missing You" which starts off quiet, then explodes with Tina's voice & the arrangement follows suit.

I had previously bought "Twenty Four Seven", this album's follow-up first, this record blows that out of the water. "Wildest Dreams" is Tina at her most soulful, sensual, & fun. Highly recommend to any music fan.

I live in Russia, during the USSR here it was practically impossible to hear foreign music on TV or radio. Therefore I have got acquainted with Tina enough late, somewhere in 1988-89 (after the "perestroyka" begins). Then one of the Soviet singers has made the song on music from "We Don't Need Another Hero", and one of the TV channels has shown a video to "Private Dancer". Already after that I have strongly become interested in creativity of Tina, but have fallen in love with her (forever!) after "Goldeneye". I think that "Goldeneye" the greatest song of all times and peoples. Except for it on an album there are some excellent songs - languid, sexual "In Your Wildest Dreams"; the most beautiful "Dancing In My Dreams"; the real cry from the heart "Whatever You Want" and "Missing You" (in studio version it sounds rather weakly, but live Tina perfom it so tremendous, that there are tears of admiration on eyes!). Unfortunately, there is also an awful track - "Thief Of Hearts". I do not understand till now, what for it was recorded! In Moscow Tina did not perfom "Thief Of Hearts", but I saw video from other show so I can testify - with live perfomance the song sounds also disgustingly.

Other songs are simply good. Very good. In a result an album included only one bad song (the big rarity for today's show business!), six very good, four excellent and one great. Deservedly received 5 stars!

PS: sorry for my english

I saw Tina's tour on Oprah's Tina month in 97, and watched her perform the title track with Barry White. And hearing it on CD, this CD is truly dreamy. Beginning with a great cover of John Wait's "Missing you," and the mysterious, sultry, dreamy title track, "In your wildest dreams," a duet with Barry White. Antonio Banderas is on the European version-whom she credits. The haunting "Whatever you want me to do," "Do what you do," and some-what dancy "Thief of hearts." "On silent wings" is a sad good-bye; break-up love song. Haunting "Something beautiful remains," the sultry "Confidential," "The difference between us." The anthem-like "All kinds of people" and "Unfinished sympathy." And the haunting, chilling, mysterious, soundtrack to the movie "Goldeneye." "Dancing in my dreams" is really a put-together of all the songs on here. The booklet's filled with great pictures, credits, (makeup artist king Kevyn Aucoin). This is one of Tina's more relaxing, smoother albums, but its calm, mysterious, haunting, chilling, dreamy, and romantic. I love it.

I just wrote a negative review Of Tina's 24/7 and I'm on a roll. Don't stone me yet! I love Tina and have been obsessed with her since I was a teenage boy. I even have a Tina scrapbook and have seen her live 8 times. Unfortunately this album is a mixed bag. It reminds me of a manic depressive: big highs and big lows! If I were to compile the ultimate Tina collection I would pull only three tracks from this album: Unfinnished Sympathy, Goldeneye and Confidential. These three tracks are worth the purchase alone. Goldeneye is a classic with atmosphere to spare. Confidential (produced by the Pet Shop Boys) is smoldering, sophisticated pop and Tina's delivery is gorgeous and subdued. Unfinnished Sympathy is the best track on the album. Everything works in this song and it explodes into thunderous wails and orchestration. Amazing. Why Unfinnished Sympathy was never released as a single and the lame Missing You and the horrendous On Silent Wings were is mind boggling. Thief Of Hearts is the sort of song I could forgive if it was back in the days when she played McDonalds conventions but there is no excuse for having this bogus psuedo dance track on the album. It is the worst song she has ever recorded. All kinds Of People and Something Beautiful Remains are lovely songs and are sung beautifully. The title track is slinky fun. The rest is boring AC filler that Tina can't elevate. Whatever You Want not excepted!