1989 - Foreign Affair

Foreign Affair is the seventh solo album by Tina Turner, released on Capitol Records in 1989.
Although the album did not perform as well as Private Dancer and Break Every Rule in the U.S., it was a worldwide hit, selling over 6 million copies. In Europe, six of the album's tracks became hit singles; "The Best" (UK #5), "Steamy Windows" (UK #13), "I Don't Wanna Lose You" (UK #8), "Foreign Affair" (Poland #7), "Look Me In The Heart" (U.S. AC #4 & UK #31) and "Be Tender With Me Baby" (UK #28).

While the album failed to crack the top 30 of the U.S. Billboard 200, Foreign Affair entered the UK album chart at #1 (Turner's first album to do so there) and went on to sell over 1.5 million copies in the UK.
The album reached number one in numerous countries including Germany (4 weeks) and topped the overall European Chart for 4 weeks.

1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - UK1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - UK

1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - USA1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - USA

1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - Japan1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - Japan

1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - Limited Edition - UK1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - Limited Edition - UK1989 - CD - Foreign Affair - Limited Edition - UK

More releases you will find at the excellent Discogs website

Formats: LP, CD
Producers: Dan Hartman
Label: Capitol

Tracklist
1.Steamy Windows
Steamy Windows

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

I was thinking about parking the other night
We was out on a back road
Me and my baby was just getting right
Our systems going overload
The radio blasting in the front seat
Churning out the music fine
And we was snuggled up in the back seat
Making up for lost time

[Chorus:]
Steamy windows
Zero visibility
Steamy windows
Coming from the body heat

You can wine and dine with the men all night
With good intent
But there's something about the confrontation on the back road
Breaks down the defense

[Chorus]

Steamy windows
Ain't nobody can see
Steamy windows
Coming from the body heat

There's a sound outside the front door
And I know that's just the wind
But it makes him snuggle up just a little bit closer
Starts things happening again

[Chorus]

Tony Joe White - 4:03
2.The Best
The Best

Album: Foreign Affair (originally from Bonnie Tyler) - 1989

I call you when I need you, my heart's on fire
You come to me, come to me wild and wild
When you come to me
Give me everything I need
Give me a lifetime promises and a world of dreams
Speak a language of love like you know what it means
And it can't be wrong
Take my heart and make it strong baby

[Chorus:]
You're simply the best
Better than all the rest
Better than anyone
Anyone I've ever met
I'm stuck on your heart
I hang on every word you say
Tear us apart
Baby, I would rather be dead

In your heart, I see the star of every night and every day
In your eyes I get lost, I get washed away
Just as long as I'm here in your arms
I could be in no better place

[Chorus]

Each time you leave me I start losing control
You're walking away with my heart and my soul
I can feel you even when I'm alone
Oh, baby, don't let go

[Chorus]

- Mike Chapman, Holly Knight - 5:28
3.You Know Who (Is Doing You Know What)
You Know Who (Is Doing You Know What)

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

I heard some news this morning
And it almost devastated me
It hit my heart without a warning
The story is on the street
I overheard a conversation it was all about you
I can't believe what they're saying baby, it better not be true
They say you know who is doing you know what
How am I supposed to feel
You know who is doing you know what
I thought our love was real

They say you can't believe everything you hear
But you've got me feeling insecure
I thought you and I had a good thing going
Now baby I'm not so sure
I'm gonna have mixed emotions when I see you tonight
I'm afraid I see the true story when I look in your eyes
They say you know who is doing you know what
Baby I've got to know
You know who is doing you know what
I don't wanna let you go

I don't wanna be jumping to conclusions
I would rather keep my trust in you
Is your love for me just an illusion
Baby tell me is it true
You know who is doing you know what
I've got to keep my courage up
You know who is doing you know what
Are you gonna turn your back on love
You know who is doing you know what
You know who is doing you know what
You know who is doing you know what
You know who is doing you know what
You know who is doing you know what

- White - 3:45>
4.Undercover agent for the blues
Undercover agent for the blues

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

He was my lover, he was working undercover
The fellow knew all of the moves
He really had me romping, bare footing stomping
He just kept igniting my fuse
He was blinded by the blackness of my long silk stockings
He would rock me with an optical illusion
And this ain't how I thought it'd be
He just kept on keeping me in a state of total confusion

He took me for a ride
And rattled me down to my shoes
But I found out
He was an undercover agent for the blues
He never really needed love from any direction no I was just an innocent bystander
He just kept getting kinkier, hook, line and sinker
Just too hot to handle
He took me by storm
It must have been a season for the fools
So bad
He was an undercover agent for the blues

He took me for a ride
And rattled me down to my shoes
But I found out
He was an undercover agent for the blues

- White, Leann White - 5:20
5.Look me in the heart
Look me in the heart

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

Last night, we tried to touch but we never got close
Last night, we tried to talk, the words got caught in our throats
When we finally fell asleep
We couldn't have been farther apart

[Chorus:]
Look me in the heart
If you think that love is blind
Baby, look me in the heart
And you'll see that I'm so crazy about you baby
And it's not in my mind
Can't you look me in the heart
Look me in the heart

You try, to say, that I'm hiding from you
You act, like a spy, always looking for clues
You've read about my past
But why don't we try to make a new start

[Chorus]

Remember how good we used to be together
Remember baby, to be tender baby
Remember the love we said would last forever
I know we can make it like that again

- Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg - 3:42
6.Be tender with me baby
Be tender with me baby

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

You got the right to tell me it's all over
It isn't like me to be, begging you
Don't let go, don't let go
Just stay with me another day
When I'm not myself, please understand me
I'm so confused I don't know, what to do
But don't give up, don't give up
It just may take a little time

[Chorus:]
Be tender with me baby
I'm so afraid you'll go away
Be tender with me baby
Always, for always

I know that you've been patient with my weakness
And that you hate to see me cry
But I know, yes I know
It doesn't hurt to be this way
But I'm so lonely I could die

[Chorus]

Why does my heart keep hurting
Why do I feel like I do
I hope you see this is not really me
It's just a phase that I'm going through

[Chorus]

- Albert Hammond, Knight - 4:18
7.You can't stop me loving you
You can't stop me loving you

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

You can run and you can hide
You can tell me you're untrue
You can play around with my feelings
Say you found somebody new
But there's one thing you can't do
You can't stop me loving you

You know I love you baby
Why do you treat me this way
I don't deserve this kind of treatment
And I'd have been so good like a lover should
And I'd have loved you anyway, Yeah Hey
You can run and you can hide
You can tell me you're untrue
You can play around with my feelings
Say you found somebody new
But there's one thing you can't do
You can't stop me loving you

You're gonna drive me crazy honey
Why are you so blind
Cool, aw you think you're so cool now, baby
But you just can't see all the love in me
When I give you all the time, in time
I know I'm gonna be fine
You ain't gonna pull my chain
I ain't gonna change my mind
How do you feel baby I bet you feel real tall
Why did you leave your manhunt, honey
When I give you love and it's not enough
And you try to make me look small

- Hammond, Knight - 4:00
8.Ask me how I feel
Ask me how I feel

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

Oh, I'm waiting in the storm, ask me how I feel
When things are going wrong, why don't you ask me how I feel
The night is awful cold, ask me how I feel
You're much too loose to hold, why don't you ask me how I feel

I close my eyes, to follow you
To my surprise, you're so untrue
And I'm crying, I'm dying

Oh, I'm waiting in the storm, ask me how I feel
When you keep me hanging on, why don't you ask me how I feel
The waters run so deep, ask me how I feel
When I don't get any sleep, why don't you ask me how I feel

And when you're down, you lean on me
You're a fool, too blind to see
That I'm crying, I'm dying

Oh, I'm waiting in the storm, why don't you ask me how I feel?
What the hell is going on, why don't you ask me how I feel?
When you stay out late at night, ask me how I feel
When you think that I'm uptight, why don't you ask me how I feel oh

You don't treat me tender, no matter what I do
But I'm the great pretender, whoa...

I'm waiting in the storm, ask me how I feel
What the hell is going on?
When you stay out late at night
You never ask me how I feel
You just say that I'm uptight
When you're down, I do for you
And now I find that you're untrue

- Hammond, Knight - 4:46
9.Falling like rain
Falling like rain

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

Really brings me down, I don't know how
That you can say you're not my kind
Couldn't find a cloud, for miles around
Why do you change your story line

It all goes gray again, sometimes I don't know when
To come out of the storm
It feels like forty days and forty nights
I've been beating on your door
I'm falling like rain
Oh, I, I love ya, love ya, love ya
Falling like rain
Oh, I, I'm coming down around ya I will always think about you

My sentimental ways don't seem to phase you
I don't ever wanna force your hand
If you met me one time, just half the way
I could meet you where you are
Just meet me where I am
Cause every now and then you've gotta drive right in
Deeper than deep
You take a chance and then you give the wheel a spin
Anyone can see I'm falling like rain
Oh, I, I love ya, love ya, love ya
Falling like rain
Oh, I, I'm coming down around ya
I will always think about you

- David Munday, Sandy Stewart - 4:03
10.I don't wanna lose you
I don't wanna lose you

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

Women of a certain age
They learn to rely and judge all his responses
Having played the mating game
She doesn't waste time cause all that she wants is
Really honest emotions
Ones he can't help but show
Though I hardly know your name I know about love and I know

[Chorus:]
I don't wanna lose you
I don't even wanna say goodbye
I just wanna hold on
To this true love, true love

Women who have made mistakes
Are a little afraid, they don't like taking chances
She will play the waiting game
She's never impressed by those manly advances
I know, I've only just met you
Maybe, I should know better
But when you look at me that way
There's something inside that's so right

[Chorus:]
I don't wanna lose you
I don't even wanna say goodbye
I just wanna hold on
To this true love, true love
I don't wanna lose you
And I always wanna feel this way
Cause every time I'm with you I feel true love, true love

Tell me you're real
You're not pretending
Let's make a deal
'Coz my heart's depending on you

- Hammond, Graham Lyle - 4:20
11.Not enough romance
Not enough romance

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

Should’ve never made eye contact
Should’ve been a heart of stone
When you stopped me to say hello

Would’ve been twice as easy to just say no
‘Cause I don’t wanna lose at love again
But as a couple we were quite handsome
And the moon was out that night
So we let our hearts go dancing if the thing is missing in my life
There’s not enough romance in this world
No
Not enough romance in this world
There’s too many people thinking only of themselves
You gotta give love for it’s return

Wanna sing about new lovers
Stand up against the odds
Nothing can chagce
A thing that strong
And myself I know my emotions
I got my love to share
And when you need something so tender What you’re looking for is so rare
There’s not enough romance in this world
No
There’s not enough romance in this world
You gotta believe in what your heart tells you is right
And I’m here to say that I believe in love
We take a lot of chances
Playing foolish games
But that’s the only price that you gotta pay
I gotta keep believing hungry hearts run free
Everybody needs a good loving
It’s anything you want it to be

There’s too many people thinking only for themselves
Gotta give love for it’s return
Not enough romance in this world
No
Not enough romance in this world
Gotta believe in what your heart tells you is right
And I’m here to say that I believe in love
Not enough romance in this world
No
Not enough romance in this world

- Dan Hartman - 4:04
12.Foreign Affair
Foreign Affair

Album: Foreign Affair - 1989

A one in a million chance
You know the moment that you cross over the line
A casual glance
No one has to read between the lines
In the south of France it was springtime
Special feelings come alive
There's romance in the air, so they say
Love could be a small cafe away

Love is a piece of cake
And making love is all there is to eat
It's a heart out of a limb
When you start to feel forever in a kiss

But you must remember there's no point of refuge
You only have a part in a lover's play
And you could be the one left in the dark
If someone takes a shortcut to your heart

All too soon you're touching for the last time
No one has to tell you how it is
It's just a memory two people share
File it under foreign affair

- White - 4:27


Length
: 52:16 min.

Singles from Foreign Affair
The Best - 2 September 1989
I Don't Wanna Lose You - 18 November 1989
Steamy Windows - 17 February 1990
Foreign Affair - 5 May 1990
Look Me in the Heart - 11 August 1990
Be Tender With Me Baby - 13 October 1990

1989 - 7 Inch Single - The Best - Europe1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - The Best - Front - Europe1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - The Best - Back - Europe

1989 - 7 Inch Single - I don't wanna lose you - UK1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - I don't wanna lose you - UK1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - I don't want to lose you - Germany

1989 - 7 Inch Single - Steamy Windows - UK1989 - 7 Inch Single - Steamy Windows - UK1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - Steamy Windows - Germany1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - Steamy Windows - Front - Europe1989 - 12 Inch Maxi Single - Steamy Windows - Back - Europe

1990 - 7 Inch Single - Foreign Affair - Europe

1990 - 7 Inch Single - Look me in the heart - UK1990 - 7 Inch Single - Look me in the heart - UK

1990 - 7 Inch Single - Be tender with me baby - Europe1990 - CD Maxi Single - Be tender with me baby - Europe

Personnel
Tina Turner - lead vocals
Tony Joe White - guitar, harmonica, synthesizers
Dan Hartman - guitar, keyboards
Eddie Martinez - guitar
Neil Taylor - guitar
James Ralston - guitar
Gene Black - guitar
Pat Thrall - guitar
Phil Palmer - guitar
Mark Knopfler - guitar
Elliot Lewis - strings, keyboards
Nick Glennie-Smith - strings, keyboards
Gary Barnacle - saxophone
Edgar Winter - saxophone
Timmy Cappello - saxophone
Phil Ashley - keyboards
Philippe Saisse - keyboards
Casey Young - keyboards
Jeff Bova - synthesizer
Carmine Rojas - bass guitar
T.M. Stephens - bass
Rupert Hine - bass
J.T. Lewis - drums
Art Wood - drums
Geoff Dugmore - drums
Albert Hammond - percussion, background vocals
Danny Cummings - percussion
Lance Ellington - background vocals
Tessa Niles - background vocals
Sandy Stewart - background vocals
David Munday - background vocals
Roger Davies - background vocals
Graham Lyle - background vocals
Holly Knight - background vocals

Tina TurnerTina Turner

Production
Dan Hartman - record producer all tracks unless otherwise noted
Roger Davies - executive producer, producer "I Don't Wanna Lose You" & "Foreign Affair"
Tina Turner - executive producer, producer "The Best" & "Ask Me How I Feel"
Rupert Hine - producer "Falling Like Rain"
Albert Hammond - producer "I Don't Wanna Lose You"
Graham Lyle - producer "I Don't Wanna Lose You"
Tony Joe White - producer "Foreign Affair"
Chris Lord-Alge - sound mix
Andrew Scarth - sound engineer
Mike Ging - sound engineer
Nick Froome - sound engineer
Darren Allison - sound engineer (assistant)
Tim Leitner - sound engineer (assistant)
Lee Curle - sound engineer (assistant)
Paul Logus - sound engineer (assistant)
Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York, New York.
Overdubs at Ezee Studios (London), Mayfair Studios (Primrose Hill, London), and Swanyard Studios (London)

 

Charts and Certifications


Review from Allmusic
Turner's last studio album for Capitol was produced by the late Dan Hartman of "Instant Replay" disco fame; however, this was not a retro '70s-style album.
This set was comprised of 12 mature, middle-range, adult rock and pop songs.
Turner tackled rock on "Steamy Windows" and "The Best," the latter a universal hit.
She created fine club tracks such as "Falling Like Rain," "I Don't Wanna Lose You," and "Look Me in the Heart."
Still, she cooled down long enough for a couple of gutbucket ballads in "Be Tender With Me Baby" and "Ask Me How I Feel."
The most interesting cut was the scorching return to Turner's Delta roots on the flawless "Undercover Agent for the Blues," one of the finest pop-blues performances since B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone."
Despite the slight musical style variations, the whole project was wrapped in an enticing pop style that gave it buoyancy and synthesis.

Tina TurnerTina Turner

Review from 1969SL
In 1989 I lived,breathed and dreamt about Tina Turner,that's how good she was.
Other 1980s pop stars were plastic and manufactured,Turner was real woman,bruised butterfly and brave survivor from 1960s ,not to mention exciting live performer. This album continued huge success that started with "Private Dancer" and though U.S. audience lost interest, Europe welcomed her so enthusiastically that Turner eventually moved there permanently.
"Foreign affair" finds 50 year old Turner enjoying her big time - there are Herb Ritts photographs,everything super-polished and professional (several songs she produced herself),music healthy balanced between radio-friendly pop and some effective bluesy numbers (by Tony Joe White,famous author of "Polk salad Annie"),the last ones came as surprise because at this point nobody expected her to go back to blues,but she does it effortlessly. Turner's take on "Undercover agent for the Blues" is stunning,perfect note for note,and it shows how much her singing changed and improved from 1960s.
"The Best","Steamy windows" and "I don't wanna lose you" were big hits - that summer her music blasted from every cafe terrace around Europe - though "Look me in the heart" was my favorite.
The whole album was masterful showcase for what Tina Turner as artist was about - her blues roots sitting comfortably next to big,ballsy rock anthems she was known and some ballads thrown in for good measure.Of all the albums in her discography,this one sounds the most perfectly planned as a concept.

1974 - Tina Turns the Country On!
1975 - Acid Queen
1978 - Rough
1979 - Love Explosion
1984 - Private Dancer
1986 - Break every rule
1989 - Foreign Affair
1993 - What's love got to do with it
1996 - Wildest Dreams
1999 - Twenty Four Seven

Source: Wikipedia and Discogs

 

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Foreign Affair ad

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Tina Turner