Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2025 December 26 • Friday

The 50th anniversary release of Tina Turner's first solo album, Tina Turns the Country On!, was a big hit here at Gutbrain.

But it turns out not to have been her first solo album, not really. She'd already recorded a whole country record but while her label was into the idea they didn't like that execution of it.

And so she recorded Tina Turns the Country On!, her second solo record as well as her second country record, and that was released as her first solo and first country record.

And now we can also listen to that first album: Good Hearted Woman.

This is a really good record and Turner's vocal performance is fantastic as always.

The song list leans a little more heavily on the familiar than the second record does, with "Lovin' Him Was Easier", "Stand By Your Man" and "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man" being particularly well known.

We'll never know what would have happened if this record had just been released as Turner's first solo album, but I think the label's instincts were right.

There's nothing wrong with this record but Tina Turns the Country On! is more intense and exciting. And reaching back for a Hank Snow classic for the second record was an inspired choice that resulted in one of the most exciting tracks. Good Hearted Woman feels restrained and a little too middle of the road.

Hey, it's still great. It's just not astounding in the way that Tina Turns the Country On! is.