THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

485-Ike & Tina Turner-Nutbush City Limits.

1973-Number 4 single.Best Bit-At 0.01. Nutbush isn’t a city, it’s actually a ‘little old town in Tennessee.’ Apparently, a ‘one-horse town.’

Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26th, 1939, in Brownsville, Tennessee, United States. During the war years Bullock was sent to live with her strict religious grandparents, who also lived in Nutbush, Tennessee, while her two sisters were relocated elsewhere, as her parents went to work for the war effort, in Knoxville, Tennessee.Bullock would spend the first 16 years of her life living in Nutbush, and this song is a celebration of her rural hometown.’Nutbush City Limits’ was also the title of Ike & Tina Turner’s 16th studio Album released in 1973, on which Tina Turner is credited with writing five of the 10 tracks, including this one. In the song Tina tells us about life growing up in a close knit community, as she reminisces about everyday life, and the places she knew as a child.When recalling her memories of Nutbush, Tina has said that she didn’t turn any heads, as she was too skinny, and ‘many women there had the goods.’

Tina Turner (see also best songs 752 and 192) has recorded the song on two further occasions for single release.In 1988 she released a live version, which had been recorded on her 1986-1987 ‘Break Every Rule Tour,’ but the single failed to chart. In 1991 for part of the promotion for her first solo greatest hits Album ‘Simply the Best,’ the song was reworked in a 1990’s dance style, and reached Number 23 in the UK.In Australia where the original 1973 version peaked at Number 14, the song has over the years become a staple of social occasions, and celebrations. ‘The ‘Nutbush’ is a line dance that is performed by people of all ages and genders, with it’s own dance moves. On July 16th, 2019, a new record of 2,330 people performed the ‘Nutbush’ at the ‘Big Red Bash’ breaking the previous years record.

In 2002 a segment of Tennessee State Route 19, near Nutbush, was named ‘Tina Turner Highway’ in her honour. Other notable residents of Nutbush include the Blues singers Hambone Willie Newbern, (1901-1965) Sleepy John Estes, (1899 or 1900-1977) and Noah Lewis (1891-1961.)

‘A church house, gin house, a school house, outhouse.On highway number 19 the people keep the city clean.’