Private Dancer: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A long-playing record of the album Private Dancer recorded by Tina Turner consisting of a vinyl record (a), an album jacket (b), and a record sleeve (c). The vinyl record (a) has a black label with a multicolored edge. The jacket (b) front depicts Tina Turner seated on a silver cloth covered stool. She wears a black, long-sleeve unitard with a plunging V-neckline, fishnet stockings, and black high heels. Her body is slightly turned to the side, but she faces front and gazes at the viewer. Text along the top margin reads [TINA /TURNER] in large white letters. At the bottom right corner, is the album title [Private Dancer] written in small black text. The back of the jacket depicts the back of a Turner’s legs. Standing with her legs apart,Turner is wearing a short black fringed skirt and black high heels. Along the left-hand margin is a vertical list of the songs included on the album. There is a barcode in the upper right corner. The sleeve (c) front depicts Tina Turner seated on a black folding chair. She wears a black sleeveless dress and sits with her legs crossed and her left hand raised by her mouth. A black cat with a white collar stands on the ground in front of her and gazes at the viewer. The back of the sleeve lists each song complete with its lyrics, instrumentalists, writers, and producers. In the bottom right corner is a close-up image of a woman’s ankle and high heel shoe. The album's release number is ST-12330.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1984
• Published by: Capitol Records, American, founded 1942
• Recorded by: Tina Turner, American, 1939 - 2023
• Produced by: John S. Carter
• Produced by: Leon Ndugu Chancler, American, 1952 - 2018
• Produced by: Greg Walsh, British
• Produced by: Martyn Ware, born 1956
• Produced by: Joe Sample, American, 1939 - 2014
• Produced by: Rupert Hine, English, 1947 - 2020
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: vinyl with ink on paper and cardboard
• Dimensions: Diameter (a. record): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (b. jacket): 12 3/8 × 12 3/8 in. (31.4 × 31.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (c. sleeve): 12 × 12 in. (30.5 × 30.5 cm)
• Place made: London, England, Europe
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Popular music
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Rock and roll (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2015.189.2abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © 1984 Capitol Records, Inc Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.