I Idolize You

"I Idolize You"
Song

"I Idolize You" is a soul blues song written and produced by Ike Turner and released as a single by Ike & Tina Turner in 1961.

Overview

After years with male frontmen backing his Kings of Rhythm band, Ike Turner had finally found success after Tina Turner (née Ann Bullock) recorded "A Fool in Love". The song made Tina Turner a rising R&B star and Ike Turner a producer and writer with his biggest hit since "Rocket 88" nearly a decade before. After Sue Records signed the act to their label, the group toured constantly and recorded when they weren't touring.

Another single released after "A Fool in Love", "I'm Jealous", was not as successful as "A Fool in Love". Struggling to hit lightning in a bottle, Ike wrote and produced this song, which shared some similarities to "A Fool in Love" down from the doo-wop backing vocals by The Artettes (later renamed The Ikettes) to Tina Turner's raspy, growling belt to even the piano melody. Released in early 1961, the song made them R&B stars as it peaked at number five on the R&B chart and crossed over to the pop charts at #82.

This song would be one of several songs the duo would cover constantly over the years. The duo re-recorded it in 1965 for the River Deep - Mountain High album. Lizz Wright would cover this song for her 2008 album, The Orchard.

Credits

• Lead vocal by Tina Turner
• Background vocals by The Artettes
• Instrumentation by Ike Turner and The Kings of Rhythm
• Written and produced by Ike Turner