Contents

Black Coffee (Ike & Tina Turner song)

Humble Pie version[edit]

"Black Coffee"
SinglebyHumble Pie
from the album Eat It
B-side	"Say No More"
Released	February 1973
Genre	Blues rock
Length	3:09
Label	A&M Records
Songwriter(s)	Ike & Tina Turner
Producer(s)	The Pie
Humble Pie singles chronology
"30 Days In The Hole" (1972) "Black Coffee" (1973) "Get Down To It" (1973)

Humble Pie covered "Black Coffee" for their 1973 album Eat ItonA&M Records. Their version features the Blackberries singing backing vocals. Steve Marriott adjusted some of the lyrics. In the original version, Tina Turner sings, "My skin is brown but my mind is black." Marriott sings, "My skin is white but my soul is black." When questioned about the lyrics by journalist James Johnson of NME, Marriott said: "I just sang it 'cos I loved the song and it was an interpretation of somebody else's lyrics. People should have known that I've been into black music for years anyway."^[2]

Humble Pie promoted the song on the British TV program The Old Grey Whistle Test in March 1973.^[3] The single didn't make an impression on the charts, but it became one of Humble Pie's best known songs, and is considered one of Marriott's best vocal performances.^[2]

In 1989, Marriott and Clem Clempson recorded the song as a jingle for Nescafé coffee's new product – Blend 37. They won a Gold Medal Award for the top Commercial 1989.^[4]

Critical reception[edit]

Cash Box (March 3, 1973): "From their forthcoming album, 'Eat It' comes this enticing Ike & Tina Turner composition tailor made for Steve Marriott's raspy vocals. This is a slice of the Pie you won't want to miss.^[5]

Chart performance[edit]

References[edit]