Proud Mary
"Proud Mary" | ||||
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Single by Creedence Clearwater Revival | ||||
from the album Bayou Country | ||||
B-side | "Born on the Bayou" | |||
Released | January 1969[1][2] | |||
Recorded | 1968 | |||
Studio | RCA Studios in Hollywood, California[3] | |||
Genre |
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Length | 3:07 | |||
Label | Fantasy | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty | |||
Producer(s) | John Fogerty[1] | |||
Creedence Clearwater Revival singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Proud Mary" (lyric video) on YouTube |
"Proud Mary" is a song written by John Fogerty and first recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released by Fantasy Records as a single from the band's second studio album, Bayou Country, which was issued by the same record company and is generally considered to have been released in early January 1969,[1][2] although one source[3] states that it came out just before Christmas 1968. The song became a major hit in the United States, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1969, the first of five singles to peak at No. 2 for the group.[7][8]
A cover version by Ike and Tina Turner, released two years later in 1971, did nearly as well, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning a Grammy Award.
Background and recording[]
In a 1969 interview, Fogerty said that he wrote it in the two days after he was discharged from the National Guard.[9] In the liner notes for the 2008 expanded reissue of Bayou Country, Joel Selvin explained that the songs for the album started when Fogerty was in the National Guard, that the riffs for “Proud Mary”, “Born on the Bayou”, and “Keep on Chooglin'” were conceived by Fogerty at a concert in the Avalon Ballroom, and “Proud Mary” was arranged from parts of different songs, one of which was about a washerwoman named Mary.[3] The line "Left a good job in the city" was written following Fogerty's discharge from the National Guard, and the line "rollin' on the river" was from a movie by Will Rogers.[10]
"Proud Mary's" singer, a low-wage earner, leaves what he considers a "good job," which he might define as steady work, even though for long hours under a dictatorial boss. He decides to follow his impulse and imagination and hitches a ride on a riverboat queen, bidding farewell to the city. Only when the boat pulls out does he see the "good side of the city"—which, for him, is one in the distance, far removed from his life. Down by the river and on the boat, the singer finds protection from "the man" and salvation from his working-class pains in the nurturing spirit and generosity of simple people who "are happy to give" even "if you have no money." The river in Fogerty and traditionally in literature and song is a place holding biblical and epical implications. ... Indeed, the river in "Proud Mary" offers not only escape but also rebirth to the singer.[11]
The song is a seamless mix of black and white roots music ..."Proud Mary" is, of course, a steamboat traveling up and down the river. Fogerty's lyric sketches out a vivid picture of the protagonist finding a comfortable niche in a community of outsiders ... The story connects back to Mark Twain; it brings the myth [of "the rambling man and life along the Mississippi"] into the sixties.[12]
In the Macintosh program "Garage Band", Fogerty explained that he liked Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and wanted to open a song with a similar intro (descending by a third), implying the way "Proud Mary" opens with the repeated C chord to A chord. Fogerty wanted to evoke male gospel harmonies, as exemplified by groups he was familiar with such as the Swan Silvertones, the Sensational Nightingales, and the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi; especially on the line, "Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river"; and in the guitar solo he did his "best [imitation of] Steve Cropper."[13] The basic track for "Proud Mary", as with the other songs on the album, was recorded by John Fogerty (lead guitar), Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitar), Stu Cook (bass), and Doug Clifford (drums) at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, with John overdubbing instruments and all the vocals later.[3]
Billboard described "Proud Mary" as a "driving blues item with a strong beat."[14]
Chart performance[]
"Proud Mary" was the only song by CCR to be kept from the No. 1 spot by two songs, first unable to dethrone "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone and then passed by "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe.
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
Certifications and sales[]
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Solomon Burke version[]
"Proud Mary" | |
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Single by Solomon Burke | |
from the album Proud Mary | |
B-side | "What Am I Living For" |
Released | 1969 |
Recorded | 1969 |
Genre | Country soul |
Length | 3:26 |
Label | Bell Records 783 |
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty |
I know a lot of you folks would like to know what the old Proud Mary is all about. Well, I'd like to tell you about her. She's nothing but a big old boat. You see, my forefathers used to ride the bottoms of her as stokers, cooks, and waiters, and I made a vow that when I grew up I'd take a ride on the old Proud Mary ...
— intro
In 1969 Solomon Burke had a small hit with his cover of the song, which was his second release for Bell and was co-produced by singer Tamiko Jones,[33] who was being rehabilitated after a bout of polio,[34] and was at the time Burke's fiancée and manager. Burke recalls: "We went to Muscle Shoals and recorded Proud Mary, which they didn't like at all. They thought it was stupid to record a song Proud Mary, which was already on the charts. I was explaining to them that it was a very big record, but it's a very white record, a pop record. We will redo the record, open up the doors for it to get on the r&b charts and make the black stations to play the record ... It was a Solomon Burke record made in Muscle Shoals. We proved that we can make a hit record without Jerry Wexler eating sandwiches with us. This record was a hit without anybody's help. Proud Mary was only promoted by Tamiko Jones and myself." According to Mark Denning, "While that may have seemed like a bald-faced bid for pop radio play, in Burke's hands the song became a bracing tale of life in the Deep South as African-Americans searched for liberation aboard the ship that carried them as slaves and put them to undignified labor serving wealthy whites."[35]
John Fogerty, the song's composer, was impressed by Burke's version of his song: "Two thousand miles away this man had crawled right up inside my head to learn what Proud Mary was all about. Sure, it's great when someone sings your song, but when he understands it, you listen like it was the first time." "Reworked as a celebration of black consciousness, his potent mix of gospel and country – the kind that defined his earlier sides for Atlantic – and driven by a Southern funk-like strut, . ... it returned Burke to the US R&B Top 20",[36] with the single reaching No. 15 on the R&B charts and No. 45 on the pop charts. According to Burke in a 2002 interview: "I was in Vegas for sixteen weeks at the Sands Hotel. I missed this record being a hit, because we weren't there to promote the record, we had no backing. The greatest thing I ever did was tell Ike Turner, "Hey man, you should get on this record ... I think you and Tina could tear this thing up."[37] On 24 May 1969 Burke sang his version of "Proud Mary" on American Bandstand.[38][39][40]
The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles version[]
"Proud Mary" | |
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Single by Checkmates, Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles | |
from the album Proud Mary | |
B-side | "Do You Love Your Baby" |
Released | 1969 |
Recorded | 1969 |
Genre | Rock, Funk/Soul, Pop |
Length | 3:30 |
Label | A&M Records 1130X |
Checkmates, Ltd. released a cover of Proud Mary Featuring Sonny Charles in 1969. The song peaked at No. 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week of 1 November 1969.[41] It also reached No. 42 in France.[42]
Ike & Tina Turner version[]
"Proud Mary" | ||||
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![]() Picture sleeve (Spain) | ||||
Single by Ike & Tina Turner | ||||
from the album Workin' Together | ||||
B-side |
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Released | January 1971 | |||
Recorded | 1970 | |||
Studio | Bolic Sound (Inglewood, California) | |||
Genre |
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Length | 5:00 3:15 (7" version) | |||
Label | Liberty Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty | |||
Producer(s) | Ike Turner | |||
Ike & Tina Turner singles chronology | ||||
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"Proud Mary" | ||||
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Single by Tina Turner | ||||
from the album What's Love Got to Do with It | ||||
B-side | "Disco Inferno" | |||
Released | November 19, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1993 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 5:27 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty | |||
Producer(s) |
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Tina Turner singles chronology | ||||
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Ike & Tina Turner released "Proud Mary" In January 1971 as the second single from their 1970 album Workin' Together.[43] Their rendition differs greatly from the structure of the original, but is also well-known and has become one of Tina Turner's most recognizable signature songs.
According to Tina, Ike wasn't keen on the original version, but the cover of "Proud Mary" by the Checkmates, Ltd. piqued his interest.[44] Ike and Tina's version was substantially rearranged by Ike Turner and Soko Richardson.[45][46] The song starts off with a slow, sultry soulful tone in which Tina introduces the song and warned the audience that she and the band were gonna start it off "nice and easy" as "we never do nothing nice and easy" but said they would finish it "nice and rough". After the lyrics are first sung softly by the Turners, the song is then turned into a funk rock vamp with Tina and the Ikettes delivering gospel-influenced vocals.
The single peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on March 27, 1971, two years after the original by Creedence Clearwater Revival was at its peak. It also reached No. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart, and earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group in 1972.[47]
Ike and Tina first performed a version of the song on Playboy After Dark on December 3, 1969; episode aired on February 3, 1970.[48] They also performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 11, 1970, in the film It's Your Thing (1970), and on Soul Train on April 22, 1972.[49] The song became a staple in all of their live shows. Live versions of the song were released on the albums Live at Carnegie Hall (1971) and Live In Paris (1971).
The song continued to be an essential part of Tina's performances. In 1988, a live version was included on the album Tina Live in Europe. In the biopic, What's Love Got to Do with It, the song is performed in a timeline of events in Ike and Tina's career in which the couple are transformed from an opening act to The Rolling Stones to a major headlining act in the 1970s. Tina re-recorded the song for the biopic's 1993 soundtrack album of the same name. This track was released as a promotional single issued to radio stations and DJs. Tina's solo performance was later included on her 2004 greatest hits album All the Best. After a contestant's take on the song on The X Factor in 2010, it entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 62 and fell to No. 121 the next week; it also entered the Scottish Singles Chart at No. 40. Another live version was released in 2009 on the Tina Live album. It was recorded on March 21, 2009 in Arnhem, Netherlands as part of Turner's 50th Anniversary Tour. Tina also performed duets of "Proud Mary" with Beyoncé and Cher.
Critical reception[]
Billboard (January 23, 1971): The John Fogerty classic gets a powerhouse treatment with the Turner originality and drive to put it back up the Hot 100 and soul charts. Dynamite entry.[50]
Cash Box (January 23, 1971): "Slow intro almost belies the power that grows into this revival of the Creedence monument. R&B sales could build enough momentum to put the side into top forty again."[51]
Record World (January 23, 1971): "Ike & Tina play it 'nice and rough' on Creedence Clearwater's contemporary classic. Great to hear Ike join in with his fine bass and Tina's far out intro is worth the price of admission alone."[52]
In-popular culture[]
In 2009, the song was covered in the musical TV series Glee's episode Wheels. In 2010, the Ike and Tina Turner version is featured in the Wii's dancing game Just Dance 2.
Formats and track listings[]
1971 US 7"
- Proud Mary – 3:15
- Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter – 2:40
1993 US 7" and cassette single
- "Proud Mary (Edit Live Version) – 4:32
- "The Best" (Live) – 5:22
1993 US CD single
- "Proud Mary (Edit Live Version) – 4:32
- "Proud Mary (Edit) – 4:10
- "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" (Live) – 4:55
- "The Best" (Live) – 5:22
Chart performance[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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- Tina Turner solo version
Chart (2010) | Rank |
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Scotland (OCC)[66] | 40 |
UK Singles (OCC)[67] | 62 |
Certifications and sales[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Solo version |
Gold | 400,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[69] Duet version |
Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades[]
For their rendition, Ike & Tina Turner won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group in 1972.[47] Both CCR and Ike & Tina Turner's versions of the song received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards, in 1998 and 2003, respectively.[70] "Proud Mary" ranked at No. 155 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[71]
Other versions[]
"Proud Mary" has, over the years, been recorded by a number of artists. Anthony Armstrong Jones' 1969 version reached number 22 on the U.S. country charts. Also in 1969, a version recorded by the Checkmates, Ltd. and produced by Phil Spector reached number 30 on the U.K. Singles Chart and number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.[72] In 1970, the song was recorded by Leonard Nimoy, in his album The New World of Leonard Nimoy.
Elvis Presley began incorporating "Proud Mary" into his live shows in 1970. Presley's version is a full-out rocker and is featured in his 1972 concert film Elvis on Tour, and on his live albums On Stage (1970) and As Recorded at Madison Square Garden (1972).
Amanda Ayala performed a rendition of "Proud Mary" in 2019 on Topgolf TV's "Who Will Rock You?" The performance was subsequently released exclusively on Spotify.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits (CD booklet). Creedence Clearwater Revival. U.S.A.: Fantasy Records. 1991. FCD-CCR2-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bordowitz, Hank. Bad moon rising: the unauthorized history of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Schirmer Books, 1998, p. 58
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Bayou Country : 40th Anniversary : Liner notes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Decurtis, Anthony (November 1, 2005). "John Fogerty Is Closer to Peace With a Label". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Phull, Hardeep (2008). Story Behind the Protest Song: A Reference Guide to the 50 Songs that Changed the 20th Century. Greenwood Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-313-34141-0.
- ^ Various Mojo Magazine (1 November 2007). The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Canongate Books. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-84767-643-6.
- ^ "Creedence Clearwater Revival – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Chart (March 15, 1969)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ John Fogerty interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1970)
- ^ Michael Goldberg (1993). Jann S. Wenner (ed.). "Fortunate Son: John Fogerty – The 1993 Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. United States: Jann S. Wenner. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ Kitts, Thomas M. (2015). John Fogerty: An American Son, [unpaginated]. Routledge. ISBN 9781317961253.
- ^ Campbell, Michael and Brody, James (2007). Rock and Roll: An Introduction, second edition, p.237-8. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781111794538
- ^ Fogerty, John (2015). Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music, [unpaginated]. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316244565.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 4, 1969. p. 48. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6060." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Proud Mary". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1969" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary". VG-lista.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs P-R". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 30, 2020. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Creedence Clearwater Revival"
- ^ "Go-Set Australian charts – Top Records for the Year of 1969". Poparchives.com.au.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1969". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com.
- ^ "American single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ John S. Wilson, "CAREER RESUMED BY TAMIKO JONES; Recent Polio Victim Presents Songs at Rainbow Grill", The New York Times (January 14, 1971):43; "Solomon Burke – Proud Mary"; "Tamiko Jones: The Collection (1963–1986)" (18 November 2009); "Original Soul Man Cared for Spiritual and Temporal Needs Right to the Grave", The Age (October 13, 2010). For more regarding Tamiko Jones, see "Tamiko Jones" Archived 2013-05-05 at archive.today
- ^ Cordell S. Thompson, "New York Beat", Jet (8 October 1970):63.
- ^ The Soul Clan Album & Song Chart History. Billboard.com (July 27, 1968). Retrieved on April 7, 2011.
- ^ Mojo, Issues 158–161 (EMAP Performance Ltd., 2007).
- ^ Solomon Burke, in James Porter, "Songs of Solomon: Solomon Burke Interview", Roctober 33 (2002)
- ^ "Saturday on Eight", Lewiston Evening Journal (May 23, 1969):22
- ^ American Bandstand: The Guess Who / Solomon Burke Episode Summary on. Tv.com. Retrieved on April 7, 2011.
- ^ Watch American Bandstand Season 12 Episode 39|The Guess Who / Solomon Burke. SideReel. Retrieved on April 7, 2011.
- ^ "THE HOT 100". Billboard. November 1, 1969. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1969-12-06. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles - Top 20 Pop Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard: 70. January 23, 1971.
- ^ Turner, Tina; Loder, Kurt (1986). I, Tina: My Life Story. New York: William Morrow and Company. ISBN 9780670808731.
- ^ Soko Richardson Archived 2007-10-06 at the Wayback Machine press release from pressnetwork.com January 30, 2004
- ^ Noted Soul Drummer Soko Richardson Dies Paiste Cymbals, February 2004
- ^ Jump up to: a b "1971 Grammy Champions" (PDF). Billboard: 6. March 25, 1972.
- ^ Runtagh, Jordan (September 28, 2017). "15 Electrifying Musical Performances from Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark". People.
- ^ The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Time Life. 2011.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles: Top 20 Pop Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard: 70. January 23, 1971.
- ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 22. January 23, 1971.
- ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World: 1. January 23, 1971.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Ike & Tina Turner – Proud Mary" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5223." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ike & Tina Turner – Proud Mary" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ike & Tina Turner – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box: 4. April 3, 1971.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 60 In R&B Locations" (PDF). Cash Box: 39. March 27, 1971.
- ^ "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World: 33. April 3, 1971.
- ^ "The R&B Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World: 58. April 17, 1971.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ike & Tina Turner – Proud Mary". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 30, 2020. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Ike & Tina Turner"
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1971" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1971" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "The Year in Music: 1971" (PDF). Billboard. December 25, 1971. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Best Records and Artists of 1971" (PDF). Cash Box. December 25, 1971.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ "British single certifications – Tina Turner – Proud Mary". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ike and Tina Turner – Proud Mary". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame". Grammy Awards. United States: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
- ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
- ^ Checkmates, Ltd., "Proud Mary" U.S. chart position Retrieved January 26, 2016.
External links[]
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary on YouTube
- Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary on YouTube
- 1968 songs
- 1969 singles
- 1971 singles
- 1993 singles
- Songs written by John Fogerty
- Creedence Clearwater Revival songs
- Ike & Tina Turner songs
- Tina Turner songs
- Number-one singles in South Africa
- Checkmates, Ltd. songs
- Solomon Burke songs
- Anthony Armstrong Jones songs
- Song recordings produced by John Fogerty
- Fantasy Records singles
- Parlophone singles
- A&M Records singles
- Liberty Records singles
- Bell Records singles
- Songs about Memphis, Tennessee
- Songs about rivers
- Song recordings produced by Ike Turner
- Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
- Male–female vocal duets