I don’t know a lot about this recording, but I’m going to make some guesses, based on how it sounds and stuff I read in “I, Tina.”
In the ’70s Ike and Tina revitalized their career by covering rock songs. “Never Been to Spain” was a hit for Three Dog Night in the early ’70s, and was later covered by Waylon Jennings and Elvis.
I think Ike and Tina probably started performing this song during their stints playing Vegas.
Well I ain’t never been to England / But I really do like the men there / But I did take a trip down to Las Vegas / Cuz I really do dig the bread there / I can’t refuse it, cuz I can’t stand to lose it, so I [???] on the music.
As you can see, the lyrics in Ike and Tina’s version diverge quite a bit from the original words, probably Ike’s changes. (I say that because they took out the line about liking the Beatles, which I think Tina would have left as is.) There’s some funky piano playing and semi-psychedelic guitars. The production is a bit fussy and has an annoying synth part in the middle. I read that Ike got all caught up in his fancy equipment once he built his own studio, so maybe that’s why.
I’ve been a big fan of “Never Been to Spain” ever since I first saw the movie Scotland, PA. The Ike and Tina version doesn’t do it for me as much as Three Dog Night’s, but I still like it. Tina actually gets to sing quite a bit on this track (as opposed to wailing, which she does here, too).
This song is from the waning days of Ike and Tina’s marriage, so when Tina sings, “I ain’t never ever been nowhere much/but I really really wanna go everywhere,” it gives me a twinge of happiness. You will, Tina, you will! Everything is going to turn around for you!
“Never Been to Spain” also makes me think of Tina’s affinity for Europe, and the fact that she’ll choose to live the rest of her life there. In this song Ike has her singing “take me on a trip on down to Mississippi,” but that’s the furthest thing from Tina’s real personality. Once she’s able, she hightails it away from all the “Cussin’, Cryin’, and Carryin’ On” to live in Switzerland. Who would have ever guessed?
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