A song initially recorded for Tina Turner's smash hit album Private Dancer, thought to be lost, has been rediscovered and aired for the first time on BBC Radio 2.
"Hot For You, Baby" was cut at Capitol Studios in Hollywood with the intention to be an album track. However, it was eventually excluded in favor of iconic hits like "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Better Be Good To Me," and the album's title track.
The master tape of the presumed lost song was found while her record label was compiling a 40th-anniversary re-release of Private Dancer.
An up-tempo rock song featuring flashy guitar chords and a distinctive 1980s cowbell, "Hot For You, Baby" exemplifies Turner's gritty, soulful vocal style.
Produced by John Grant, the executive behind her career resurgence, the song was penned by Australian musicians George Young and Harry Vanda. Notably, it was previously recorded by John Paul Young, the artist known for the disco hit "Love Is In The Air," but went mostly unnoticed upon its 1979 release.
Private Dancer, unleashed in May 1984, marked a remarkable resurgence for Tina Turner, following her escape from an abusive marriage and financial struggles in the late 1970s. Despite initial career setbacks, Turner found success in England and garnered support from music icons such as Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.
Recording Private Dancer with limited studio time and using rejected songs, Turner's collaboration with British producers Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh yielded surprising success. The album, blending Turner's powerful vocals with synth-pop influences, sold over 10 million copies and earned her three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for "What's Love Got To Do With It."
Despite being excluded from the original album, the rediscovery of "Hot For You, Baby" offers fans a glimpse of Turner's prime vocal prowess. The track's forthcoming release as part of a deluxe reissue of Private Dancer will include rare materials, remixes, and live performances from her 1985 tour.
Acknowledging Turner's enduring impact, Mark Goodier of Radio 2 expressed, "To have something new to hear from Tina Turner is a treat for fans of all generations and a reminder of her unique talent."
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