"Two Is a Couple"
Single by Ike Turner
ReleasedOctober 1965
Genre
Length2:30
LabelSue Records
Songwriter(s)Ike Turner
Producer(s)Ike Turner
Ike Turner singles chronology
"I Don't Need"
(1965) 		"Two Is a Couple"
(1965) 		"Can't Chance a Break Up"
(1965)

"Two Is A Couple" is a song written by Ike Turner. It was recorded and released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1965.

Background and release

After three years with Sue Records, Ike & Tina Turner began recording on Ike Turner's Sonja label in 1963.[1] They released numerous singles on various labels between 1964 and 1965 before re-signing to Sue in 1965.[2] Their first record under the new contract was "Two Is A Couple," released as a non-album track in October 1965. It was written and produced by Ike Turner.[2] The single peaked at No. 15 on the Cash Box R&B chart.[3] Tina Turner performed the song on the TV program Where the Action Is. A different version of "Two Is A Couple" appeared on the album Airwaves (United Artists, 1978). The song later appeared on the compilation album The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960–1975 (Time Life, 2007).

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Record World[4]

The single was chosen as Cash Box's Pick of the Week.[5]

Cash Box (October 16, 1965): "Ike and Tina Turner return to the home of their original hits with this power-packed Sue release dubbed 'Two Is A Couple.' The side is a rollicking, fast-moving pop-r&b handclapper about a somewhat jealous lass who doesn't want any other female messing around with her fella. 'Tin Top House' is a lyrical, lush-sounding blues weeper with a nostalgic years-back sound."[5]

Record World (October 16, 1965): "Couple will escort 'Couple' far and Sue folk must be happy to have them back aboard."[4]

Billboard (October 23, 1965): "A blockbuster that rocks from start to finish. Hot chart item that will hit with great impact."[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ike Turner

No.TitleLength
1."Two Is A Couple"2:30
2."Tin Top House"2:15

Chart performance

Chart Peak
position
US Cash Box Top 50 R&B[3] 15
US Cash Box Looking Ahead[7] 113
US Record World Top 40 R&B[8] 26
US Record World Singles Coming Up[9] 112

References

  1. ^ "Ike Turner Forms Label" (PDF). Billboard. November 9, 1963. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b "Sue Re-Signs Ike & Tina Turner" (PDF). Cash Box. October 2, 1965. p. 22.
  3. ^ a b "Top 50 In R&B Locations" (PDF). Cash Box. November 20, 1965. p. 36.
  4. ^ a b "Singles Reviews: Four Star Picks" (PDF). Record World. October 16, 1965. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b "Record Reviews: Pick of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. October 16, 1965. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Spotlight Singles: R&B Spotlights: Top 10" (PDF). Billboard. October 23, 1965. p. 16.
  7. ^ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. November 13, 1965. p. 16.
  8. ^ "Top 40 R&B" (PDF). Record World. November 20, 1965. p. 26.
  9. ^ "Singles Coming Up" (PDF). Record World. November 27, 1965. p. 29.
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