A previously unreleased song intended for Tina Turner’s iconic 1984 album Private Dancer has been rediscovered after nearly 40 years. The track, titled Hot For You, Baby, is a classic 1980s rock anthem written by Australian musicians George Young and Harry Vanda, with production by John S. Carter.
According to the BBC, Hot For You, Baby was excluded from Private Dancer in favor of now-legendary hits such as What’s Love Got To Do With It and Better Be Good To Me. The reasons behind its omission and its decades-long absence remain unclear. The song’s recently found master tape was played live on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, with one listener describing it as “Tina Turner meets AC/DC.”
Private Dancer was recorded in the UK following Turner’s separation from her abusive ex-husband Ike Turner, except for Hot For You, Baby, which was recorded in Hollywood at the time. Private Dancer was released to be a hit in Europe and eventually the world. The album made it to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list with What’s Love Got to Do With It and peaked at N0.3 on the Billboard’s 200 list. Additionally, the album won three Grammys, including one for its hit track, What’s Love Got To Do With It.
The massive success of Private Dancer cemented Turner’s status as one of the most influential and celebrated artists of her time.
During the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, host Mark Goodier expressed his enthusiasm about the discovery of Hot For You, Baby.
“To have something new to hear from Tina Turner is a treat for fans of all generations and a reminder of her unique talent,” Goodier shared. “I’m lucky enough to have both interviewed Tina and seen her perform live. She was an outrageously good performer and, at the same time, a remarkably graceful lady, whose every note was shaped by her incredible life.”
Fans can now listen to Hot For You, Baby on Tina Turner’s official YouTube channel. The song is set to be released as a standalone single and will also feature in the 40th-anniversary re-release of Private Dancer this March.
