I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)

"I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" is a song written by Ike Turner, produced by Ike & Tina Turner and recorded and released as a single by Ike & Tina's backing trio, The Ikettes. Recorded in 1961, it became a hit for the Ikettes in 1962.

Overview

Like most of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue's music during this time, it was recorded while the group was on the road. By 1961, the formerly known Artettes had been singing with Ike and Tina Turner for over a year, having been involved since the first Ike & Tina hit, "A Fool in Love". To bide time in the studio, Ike Turner wrote a song custom-made for the girl group.

Tina Turner herself was involved in the recording, helping to arrange the vocals and could be heard singing along in the background. Ike Turner credited the song's production to him and Tina. Since Ike & Tina recorded for Sue Records, Ike Turner decided to distribute the record to another company, agreeing to sign an advance to Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary in late 1961 for the song.

Released in early 1962, the song became a national hit reaching number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the R&B chart becoming the third hit single associated with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and the only major hit of the original Ikettes' tenure. The song would later be covered by The Spencer Davis Group, The Newbeats on their debut album Bread & Butter, Sylvie Vartan (called "Gong Gong" and recorded in French), and The Shangri-Las and would famously be sampled by Salt-n-Pepa on their 1993 hit, "Shoop". Upon hearing of the news of his song being sampled, Ike Turner re-recorded the song with Joe Louis Walker that same year.

"I'm Blue" is featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 film Hairspray and appears in Kill Bill Volume 1, where it is performed by The 5.6.7.8's.

Credits

Lead vocal by Delores Johnson
Background vocals by Joshie Armstead, Eloise Hester and Tina Turner
Instrumentation by Ike Turner (piano) and The Kings of Rhythm
Written by Ike Turner
Produced by Ike Turner and Tina Turner (listed as "A I-&-T-T Production")

Ike & Tina Turner

Ike Turner Tina Turner

Studio albums	The Soul of Ike & Tina Turner Dynamite! Don't Play Me Cheap It's Gonna Work Out Fine River Deep - Mountain High Workin' Together

Compilations	Proud Mary: The Best of Ike & Tina Turner Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter

Singles	"A Fool in Love" "Whole Lotta Love" "I Idolize You" "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" "River Deep – Mountain High" "A Love Like Yours" "I've Been Loving You Too Long" "The Hunter "Come Together" "I Want To Take You Higher" "Proud Mary" "Nutbush City Limits"

Related topics	Discography The Ikettes Albums Songs

Book:Tina Turner

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