Wikipedia

Nutbush City Limits

For the album, seeNutbush City Limits (album).

"Nutbush City Limits"is a semi-autobiographical song written byTina Turnerwhich commemorates her rural hometown ofNutbushinHaywood County, Tennessee,United States. Originally released as a single onUnited Artists Recordsin August 1973, it is one of the last hits that husband-wife R&B duoIke & Tina Turnerreleased together.

"Nutbush City Limits"
SinglebyIke & Tina Turner
from the albumNutbush City Limits
B-side"Help Him"
ReleasedAugust 1973(1973-08)
StudioBolic Sound (Inglewood, California)
Genre
Length2:57
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Tina Turner
Producer(s)Ike Turner
Ike & Tina Turnersingles chronology
"Work On Me"
(1973) 		"Nutbush City Limits"
(1973) 		"Sweet Rhode Island Red"
(1974)
Official Audio
"Nutbush City Limits"onYouTube
"Nutbush City Limits (Live)"
SinglebyTina Turner
from the albumTina Live in Europe
B-side"Overnight Sensation" (live), "Legs" (live)
ReleasedMarch 16, 1988(1988-03-16)
GenreRock
Length3:30
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Tina Turner
Producer(s)John Hudson
Tina Turnersingles chronology
"Afterglow"
(1987) 		"Nutbush City Limits (Live)"
(1988) 		"Addicted to Love (Live)"
(1988)
"Nutbush City Limits
(The 90s Version) "
SinglebyTina Turner
from the albumSimply the Best
B-side"The Best"
ReleasedSeptember 1991(1991-09)[4]
GenreDance-pop
Length3:42
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Tina Turner
Producer(s)Chris "C. J." Mackintosh,
Dave Dorrell
Tina Turnersingles chronology
"It Takes Two"
(1990) 		"Nutbush City Limits
(The 90s Version)"
(1991) 		"Way of the World"
(1991)
Music video
"Nutbush City Limits"onYouTube

In the years since, "Nutbush City Limits" has been performed by popular artists such asBob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band,and Turner herself re-recorded several different versions of the song.

As an unincorporated rural community, Nutbush does not have geographical city limits; rather, its general boundaries are indicated by signs reading "Nutbush, Unincorporated" which are posted on the local highway (Tennessee State Route 19).[5]

A line dance to the song, called the"Nutbush",created in the1970s discoera, took off in Australia during the 1980s, and it has seen sustained success, gaining viral popularity internationally throughTikTok.[6][7] In May 2024, ABC News Australia reported on research indicating that the dance routine for Nutbush City Limits was invented by the education department of the State of New South Wales in Australia, having been distributed to teacher training institutions as a teaching aid in 1975.[8][9]

Recording and release

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Produced byIke Turner,"Nutbush City Limits" was recorded at the Turners'Bolic Soundrecording studio inInglewood, Californiain May 1973. The song is characterized by inventive guitar sounds, aclavinet,a substantialMoog synthesizersolo by Ike,[10]and afunkybrasssection.

Typical of the period, none of thesession musicianswho contributed to "Nutbush City Limits" were given specific mention in the song credits. Alan Krigger, the future drummer ofGiuffria,claimed being the drummer in an interview.[11]It has been rumored for years thatMarc Bolan,frontman for theglam rockbandT. Rex,played guitar on the track.[12]Gloria Jones,his girlfriend at the time—who herself provided backing vocals for Ike & Tina Turner during the 1960s—asserted that this was the case in the 2007BBC4documentaryMarc Bolan: The Final Word.[verification needed]This claim is bolstered by the fact that Bolan toured the U.S. extensively and resided in theLos Angelesarea during the mid-1970s, and is also acknowledged to have played on the Ike & Tina Turner singles "Sexy Ida (Part 2)" and "Baby—Get It On".[citation needed]However, a 2008Ebonymagazine article about Ike Turner's death identified James "Bino" Lewis, then a member of Ike & Tina's backing bandKings of Rhythm,as the guitarist.[13]It has also been suggested that James Lewis is the guitarist on "Baby—Get It On". But there are two guitars on that track: fuzz rhythm centre pan (which could be Bolan), with wah-wah guitar in the right channel, very typical of Afro-American playing like Lewis's.[according to whom?]

Originally released as a single onUnited Artists Recordsin August 1973,[14]it's one of the last hits that husband-wife R&B duoIke & Tina Turnerreleased together.[citation needed]

In 1984, a live version of "Nutbush City Limits" was released as the b-side of Tina Turner's single "Private Dancer"(the fourth U.S. single released from her"Private Dancer"album).[15]This is a different version from the 1988 live version of the song, released as single in Europe, from herBreak Every Rule world tour.[16]

Reception and awards

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The single received positive reviews.[17]A reviewer forCash Box(August 11, 1973) wrote:

"Proud Mary"was the single that brought this dynamic group to national attention. Well, here's one that leaves all of their prior efforts in the dust. Absolutely sensational is the only way this future smash can be described. Has to go top 20.[14]

The single was a hit in various countries, peaking at No. 11 on theBillboardR&B singleschart, No. 22 on theBillboardHot 100,and No. 4 on theUK Singles Chart.[18][19][20]It also reached No. 1 in Austria, and No. 2 in Switzerland and West Germany.[21]In Australia, the single peaked at No. 14, spent 52 weeks in the top 100,[22]and is still a party staple amongGeneration XandYwhere it is accompanied bya dance of the same name.

The song was the lead single from albumNutbush City Limits,released in November 1973, which peaked at No. 22 on theBillboardR&B albumschart.[23]

In 1973, the single was certifiedsilverby theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI)for selling a quarter of a million units.[24]In 1974, the Turners received the first ever Golden European Award for selling more than one million records of "Nutbush City Limits" in Europe.[25]

1988 live version

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Following the couple's split, the song became a staple of Tina's live show where she reworked the funky studio version into a hard-driving rock and roll showstopper. A live recording of "Nutbush City Limits" from Turner's 1986–1987Break Every Rule Tourwas released as the lead single to promote the 1988 double albumTina Live in Europe,but it was in fact a different recording than the one that appeared on the official concert album. While this version did not manage to register much of an impact on any charts, the single is notable for being one of the first by Turner to be released oncompact disc,at that time a relatively new format, in addition to 7 "and 3-track 12" vinyl editions.

Both the CD and 12 "singles featured a 10-minute 57-second live rendition ofZZ Top's song "Legs"from their 1983 albumEliminator,which was not included on theTina Live in Europealbum. A shorter version of "Legs", recorded during Turner's 1993What's Love? Tour,would later appear on her 1994 CD box setThe Collected Recordings - Sixties to Nineties.

  • "Nutbush City Limits" (live) –3:30
  • Tina Live in Europealbum track –3:43

1991 remixes

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Turner re-recorded "Nutbush City Limits" in a modern dance style—subtitled "The 90s Version" —for inclusion on her 1991 compilation albumSimply the Best.Upon its release as a single, the song peaked at No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart and was a Top 20 hit in several other European countries. A different rendition, entitled "Nutbush City Limits ('91)", appeared alongside "The 90s Version". This funkier yet more laid-back arrangement is actually the one for which Turner recorded new vocals that were laterremixedby producersChris "C. J." Mackintoshand Dave Dorrell to become "The 90s Version". The 12 "single also featured an extended six-minute version of the dance remix, and a limited-release promotionalDJedition from the UK included still another take, "A Little Bit o' Bush". The correspondingmusic videofor "The 90s Version" shows Turner recording the song in studio, intercut with footage of the various landmarks mentioned.

  • "Nutbush City Limits (The 90s Version)" –3:43
  • "Nutbush City Limits ('91)" –4:16
  • "Nutbush City Limits (Nutbush City '91)" –6:00
  • "A Little Bit o' Bush" –5:01

1993 re-recording

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In 1993, Turner re-recorded the track as a re-working of the original studio arrangement for theWhat's Love Got to Do with Itsoundtrack album.

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Nutbush City Limits"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24]
Physical sales 		Silver 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[67]
Digital sales since 2004 		Silver 200,000‡

^Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Nutbush dance

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Main article:Nutbush (dance)

The song has gained cult popularity in Australia, particularly due to theNutbush dance.The dance is often performed at weddings, school concerts, andbushdances.[68]Turner never performed the dance to the song, although there are similarities between it and performances by Turner andThe Ikettesin the seventies.[69][70]

References

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  1. ^Henry Epps (August 29, 2012).Great Achievements by African-American Women vol II.Lulu.com. pp. 47–.ISBN978-1-300-13855-6.
  2. ^Elliott, Paul (May 30, 2016)."The Top 20 Greatest Funk Rock Songs".TeamRock.Team Rock Limited.Archivedfrom the original on June 2, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 31,2017.
  3. ^abRolling Stone Staff (May 24, 2023)."Tina Turner: 15 Essential Songs".Rolling Stone.RetrievedMay 24,2023.The result was "Nutbush City Limits," a grease R&B-meets-country-rock stomp...
  4. ^Strong, Martin Charles (1995).The Great Rock Discography.Canongate Press. p. 847.ISBN9780862415419.
  5. ^Machnitzki, Thomas R. (October 11, 2004)."Nutbush, TN 38063 Tina Turner's Childhood Home in Tennessee".RetrievedNovember 21,2007.Photographic documentation of contemporary Nutbush.
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  8. ^"Nutbush City Limits researchers trace origins of renowned dance to NSW education department".ABC News.May 24, 2024.RetrievedAugust 16,2024.
  9. ^"Doing the Nutbush: how Australia got its very own line dance".Taylor & Francis online.July 25, 2023.RetrievedAugust 16,2024.
  10. ^Nick Hasted (February 9, 2018)."The Story Behind The Song: Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits".Classic Rock.
  11. ^Axeman, Andrew (July 2, 2009)."Hair Metal Mansion Interview with Alan Krigger of Giuffria/Hollywood Allstarz".Hair Metal Mansion.Archived fromthe originalon July 9, 2009.I auditioned and landed the gig! My first recording with them was Nut Bush City Limits, which went GOLD!
  12. ^Lesley-Ann Jones (September 13, 2012).Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan.Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 287–288.ISBN9781444758801.
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  14. ^ab"Singles Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box:18. August 11, 1973.
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  68. ^"Dance of the people: Sourcebook module"(PDF).Qcaa.qld.edu.au.RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  69. ^Ward, Mary (December 15, 2018)."Schoolhouse, outhouse? The mysterious history of the Nutbush".The Sydney Morning Herald.RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  70. ^"The Mysterious Origins of the Nutbush".Honi Soit.September 12, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023.
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