River Deep – Mountain High

{{short description|1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner}} {{for|the album|River Deep – Mountain High (album)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox song | name = River Deep – Mountain High | cover = Ike-Tina-Turner-River-Deep-1966.jpg | alt = | caption = Dutch picture sleeve | type = single | artist = Ike & Tina Turner | album = River Deep – Mountain High | B-side = I'll Keep You Happy | released = {{Start date|1966|05}} | recorded = March 1966 | studio = Gold Star, Los Angeles | genre = *Soul | length = {{Duration|m=3|s=40}} | label = *Philles (US) * London (Europe) | writer = *Phil Spector * Jeff Barry * Ellie Greenwich | producer = Phil Spector<ref name="pc21" /> | prev_title = Betcha Can't Kiss Me (Just One Time Baby) | prev_year = 1966 | next_title = Anything You Wasn't Born With | next_year = 1966 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Ike & Tina Turner | type = Single | prev_title = The Hunter | prev_year = 1969 | title = River Deep – Mountain High | year = 1969 reissue | next_title = I Know | next_year = 1969 }} }} "'''River Deep – Mountain High'''" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released on Philles Records as the title track to their 1966 studio album. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked "River Deep – Mountain High" No. 33 on their 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/ |title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time |date=April 7, 2011 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref> ''NME'' ranked it No. 37 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-100-1-1421753 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time: 100-1 |last=Barker |first=Emily |date=January 31, 2014 |website=NME |language=en-US}}</ref> The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.<ref name="Rock Hall">{{cite web |url=http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs |title=500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll |year=1995 |website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601180656/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs-tv/ |archive-date=June 1, 2007 |access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref> The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award |title=Grammy Hall of Fame |website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards |date=October 18, 2010}}</ref>

The single did not perform well upon its original release in the US, but it was successful in Europe and especially in the UK. Spector claimed to be pleased with the response from the critics and his peers,<ref name="pc21" /> but he then withdrew from the music industry for two years, beginning his personal decline. After a revival of the song from covers by Eric Burdon and the Animals and Deep Purple in 1968, the original version was reissued by A&M Records in 1969.

== Background == Phil Spector had seen the Ike & Tina Turner Revue perform at a club on the Sunset Strip and invited them to appear on ''The Big T.N.T. Show''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-03-01-8501120240-story.html |title=Tina Turner Stages a Rock-Solid Comeback |last=Loder |first=Kurt |date=March 1, 1985 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> Spector was impressed by Tina Turner and wanted to use her voice with the Wrecking Crew, and his "Wall of Sound" production technique. He went to the Turners' house, and struck a deal with Ike Turner to produce Tina. Ike agreed, but wanted the recordings to be credited to Ike & Tina Turner.<ref name="Brown">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtGGsfW10d0C&pg=PA209 |title=Tearing Down The Wall of Sound: The Rise And Fall of Phil Spector |author=Mick Brown |page=209 |publisher=A&C Black |date=October 17, 2012 |isbn=9781408819500}}</ref> At the time, they were signed to Loma Records (a subsidiary of Warner Bros.). Spector negotiated a deal with Ike & Tina Turner's manager Bob Krasnow, who was also head of Loma.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 23, 1966 |title=Philips Signs Ike & Tina Turner |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB |journal=Cash Box |pages=45}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He offered $20,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|20000|1966|r=-3}} }} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) to have them released from their contract.<ref name=":4" /> After Mike Maitland (then president at Warner Bros.) gave them their release, they signed with Spector's Philles Records.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tales-of-ike-and-tina-turner-237489/ |title=Tales of Ike and Tina Turner |last=Fong-Torres |first=Ben |date=October 14, 1971 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 30, 1966 |title=Ike & Tina To Philles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-04-30.pdf |journal=Cash Box |pages=56}}</ref>

== Recording == "River Deep – Mountain High" was the first recording that Tina Turner did for Philles at Gold Star Studios. It was written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. The track cost a then unheard-of $22,000<ref name="Bego2005">{{cite book |first=Mark |last=Bego |title=Tina Turner: Break Every Rule |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=egQHNLQqiBYC&pg=PA82 |year=2005 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-58979-253-1 |pages=82ff}}</ref> (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|22000|1966|r=-3}} }} in {{Inflation/year|US}}), and required 21 session musicians.

After several rehearsals, and two sessions for the musicians to lay down a backing track, Spector got Tina Turner into the studio on March 7, but she was unable to provide what he wanted. The following week she returned to the studio with Ike Turner.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |first=Mick |last=Brown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtGGsfW10d0C&pg=PA211 |title=Tearing Down The Wall of Sound: The Rise And Fall of Phil Spector |date=October 17, 2012 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=9781408819500 |pages=211–212}}</ref> Due to Spector's perfectionism and tendency to abuse workers in the studio, he made her sing the song over and over for several hours until he felt he had the perfect vocal take for the song. She recalled, "I must have sung that 500,000 times. I was drenched with sweat. I had to take my shirt off and stand there in my bra to sing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/ike-and-tina-turner-river-deep-mountain-high-20110525 |title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time |work=Rolling Stone |date=December 11, 2003 |access-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>

The Blossoms, rather than the Ikettes—Turner's usual backing vocalists—provided backing vocals for the song.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Love |first=Darlene |url=https://archive.org/details/mynameislovedarl00love/page/100/mode/2up?q=grazia |title=My Name Is Love |date=1998 |publisher=William Morrow and Co. |isbn=978-0-688-15657-2 |pages=100 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

It was reported that the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson attended the session, where he sat "transfixed" and "did not say a word."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kubernick |first=Harvey |title=Phil Spector, the musical legacy: Part three |journal=Goldmine |date=March 10, 2011 |url=http://www.goldminemag.com/article/phil-spector-the-musical-legacy-part-three}}</ref>

When Spector inducted Ike & Tina Turner into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, he revealed in his speech that he had invited Ike Turner to play guitar in the session for "River Deep – Mountain High," but Turner did not show up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Spector Inducts and Accepts for Ike & Tina Turner at the 1991 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnUhB9rgeM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_XnUhB9rgeM |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |website=YouTube |date=June 15, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The recording of the song was later dramatized for Tina Turner's 1993 biographical film, ''What's Love Got to Do with It''.

== Personnel == * Lead vocals: Tina Turner * Background vocals: Darlene Love, Fanita James, Jean King, Gracia Nitzsche, Clydie King,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Love |first=Darlene |url=https://archive.org/details/mynameislovedarl00love/page/100/mode/2up?q=grazia |title=My name is Love |date=1998 |publisher=William Morrow and Co. |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-688-15657-2 |pages=100}}</ref> Leon Russell, Glen Campbell * Composer lyricists: Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich * Producer: Phil Spector * Arranger: Jack Nitzsche * Musicians: Leon Russell (keyboards), Michel Rubini (piano, keyboards), Jim Horn (saxophone), Barney Kessel (guitar), Glen Campbell (guitar), Earl Palmer (drums), Carol Kaye (bass), Frank Capp (percussion)

== Release and reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''Record World'' | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref name="RW" /> }} Reviewing the single, ''Billboard'' wrote: "Exciting dance beat production backs a wailin' Tina vocal on a solid rock tune penned by Barry and Greenwich."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 21, 1966 |title=Spotlight Singles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-05-21.pdf |magazine=Billboard |pages=18}}</ref> ''Record World'' predicted that "this will be known as the classic Phil Spector record," stating that "everything goes on while Tina screams her love lyric."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Single Picks of the Week |magazine=Record World |date=May 14, 1966 |page=1 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-05-14.pdf}}</ref> It entered the lower end of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and stopped at No. 88 on the pop chart. The disappointing chart performance resulted in the album being shelved in the US. Spector was so disillusioned that he ceased involvement in the recording industry totally for two years, and only intermittently returned to the studio after that. He effectively became a recluse and began to self-destruct.<ref name="Billig110">{{cite book |first=Michael |last=Billig |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQHJC4F6zeUC&pg=PA110 |title=Rock 'n' roll Jews |page=110 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |access-date=October 24, 2009 |isbn=9780815607052 |year=2001}}</ref>

Ike Turner remarked that "if Phil had released the record and put anybody else's name on it, it would have been a huge hit. But because Tina Turner's name was on it, the white stations classified it an R&B record and wouldn't play it. The white stations say it was too black, and the black stations say it was too white, so that record didn't have a home."<ref name=":0" />

Writer Michael Billig speculated that although earlier records which had mixed black singers with a white pop sound had sold well, by 1966 the black political movement was encouraging African Americans to take pride in their own culture, and "River Deep – Mountain High" was out of step with that movement.<ref name="Billig110" />

The single, released on London Records in Europe, was a hit overseas. It peaked at No. 3 in the UK, No. 9 in the Netherlands, and it reached No. 1 in Spain.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://los40.com/lista40/cuando_naciste/19661217 |title=Cuando nací era número 1 de los 40: (1966-12-17) Ike & Tina Turner–River deep - Mountain high |last=LOS40 |website=LOS40 |language=es |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322142547/https://los40.com/lista40/cuando_naciste/19661217 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

George Harrison praised the record,<ref name="pc21">{{cite web |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19772/m1/ |title=Show 21 – Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark agesb |at=Part 2 |website=UNT Digital Library |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> declaring it "a perfect record from start to finish. You couldn't improve on it."<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Richard |title=Phil Spector: Out of His Head |pages=137–38 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=9780711998643 |year=2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ribowsky |first=Mark |title=He's a Rebel: Phil Spector – Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer |year=2006 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |isbn=978-0-306-81471-6 |page=250}}</ref>

== Reissues == After "River Deep – Mountain High" was revived by other bands, Ike & Tina Turner's original version was reissued by A&M Records in 1969.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 4, 1969 |title=Spotlight Singles: Top 60 Pop Spotlight |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1969/BB-1969-10-04.pdf |magazine=Billboard |pages=88}}</ref> It has since gained the recognition Spector wanted for the record. Reviewing the single, ''Record World'' called it a "classic, perhaps the greatest single of all time."<ref name="RW">{{Cite journal |date=October 11, 1969 |title=Singles Reviews |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-10-11.pdf |journal=Record World |pages=8}}</ref>

Ike & Tina Turner recorded different renditions of the song without Spector's "Wall of Sound" production style. A version on the 1973 album ''Nutbush City Limits'' was released as a single titled "River Deep, Mountain High 1974" on United Artists Records in France. Another version from an undetermined year was released on the 1991 compilation ''Proud Mary: The Best of Ike & Tina Turner.''

Tina Turner recorded a few solo versions, in 1986, 1991 and 1993.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} She included live performances on her albums, ''Tina Live in Europe'' and ''Tina Live''.

== Chart performance == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Original release !Chart (1966) !Peak<br />position |- |Australia (''Go-Set'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1966/19661116.html |title=Go-Set Australian charts - 16 November 1966 |date=November 16, 1966 |website=Poparchives.com.au |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> | align="center" |14 |- |Australia (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48 |title=Billboard Magazine, Hits of the World |date=November 5, 1966 |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref> | align="center" |8 |- {{single chart |Wallonia |26 |song= River Deep - Mountain High |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- {{single chart |Canadatopsingles |62 |chartid= 5756 |access-date= June 7, 2020 |refname=Canadatopsingles66 }} |- {{single chart |Ireland2 |12 |song= River Deep Mountain High |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- {{single chart |Dutch100 |9 |song= River Deep - Mountain High |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- {{single chart |Dutch40 |9 |song= River Deep - Mountain High |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- |Spain (Los 40 Principales)<ref name=":2" /> | align="center" |1 |- |Sweden (''Tio i Topp'')<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hallberg |first1=Eric |title=Tio i Topp - med de utslagna "på försök" 1961–74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium |year=2012 |isbn=978-91-89136-89-2 |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |language=sv |trans-title=Tio I Topp With The Eliminated On Try 1961–1974 |page=450}}</ref> | align="center" |15 |- {{single chart |UKsinglesbyname |3 |song= River Deep – Mountain High |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |artistid= 12560 |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- {{single chart |Billboardhot100 |88 |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- |US ''Cash Box'' Looking Ahead<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 4, 1966 |title=Looking Ahead |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-06-04.pdf |journal=Cash Box |pages=14}}</ref> | align="center" |105 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 50 R&B<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 25, 1966 |title=Cash Box Top 50 in R&B Locations |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/19660625R.html |journal=Cash Box}}</ref> | align="center" |36 |- |US ''Record World'' 100 Top Pops<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=June 18, 1966 |title=100 Top Pops / Top 50 R&B |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-06-18.pdf |journal=Record World |pages=21, 34}}</ref> | align="center" |91 |- |US ''Record World'' Top 50 R&B<ref name=":3" /> | align="center" |41 |} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ 1969 reissue !Chart !Peak<br />position |- {{single chart |Canadatopsingles |57 |chartid= 6067 |access-date= June 7, 2020 |refname=Canadatopsingles69 }} |- |Holland<ref>{{Cite journal |date=May 3, 1969 |title=Holland's Best Sellers |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-05-03.pdf |journal=Cash Box |pages=59}}</ref> | align="center" |8 |- {{single chart |UKsinglesbyname |33 |song= River Deep – Mountain High |artist= Ike & Tina Turner |artistid= 12560 |access-date= June 7, 2020 }} |- |US ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 1, 1969 |title=Bubbling Under the Hot 100 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1969/BB-1969-11-01.pdf |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> | align="center" |112 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Looking Ahead<ref>{{Cite journal |date=October 18, 1969 |title=Looking Ahead |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-10-18.pdf |journal=Cash Box |pages=20}}</ref> | align="center" |129 |- |US ''Record World'' 100 Top Pops<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 18, 1969 |title=100 Top Pops |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-10-18.pdf |magazine=Record World |pages=125}}</ref> | align="center" |95 |} {{col-end}}

== Certifications == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ike & Tina Turner|title=River Deep Mountain High|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=16147-5162-1|access-date=August 17, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

== The Supremes and the Four Tops version == {{Infobox song | name = River Deep – Mountain High | cover = The Supremes & The Four Tops - River Deep, Mountain High.png | alt = | caption = 1970 Dutch single | type = single | artist = the Supremes and the Four Tops | album = The Magnificent 7 | B-side = Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music | released = 1970 | recorded = | studio = | genre = *Soul * pop | length = 3:13 (single version) 4:50 (album version) | label = Motown Records | writer = *Phil Spector * Jeff Barry * Ellie Greenwich | producer = Ashford & Simpson | chronology = The Supremes | prev_title = Stoned Love | prev_year = 1970 | next_title = Nathan Jones | next_year = 1971 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = The Four Tops | type = Single | prev_title = It's All in the Game | prev_year = 1970 | title = River Deep – Mountain High | year = 1970 | next_title = Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) | next_year = 1971 }} }} In 1970, their post-Diana Ross era, the Supremes and the Four Tops released a version. Produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the single was one of several recordings that paired the two Motown groups. The Supremes and Four Tops cover, included on the 1970 LP ''The Magnificent 7'', with its soaring vocals and string section, peaked at No. 7 on the soul chart and No. 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1971,<ref>{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |publisher=Record Research |year=2004 |page=558 |author-link=Joel Whitburn}}</ref> making it the highest-charting version of the song in the United States. Their version also peaked No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 23 in Belgium, and No. 25 on Netherlands' MegaCharts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Supremes & The Four Tops - River Deep - Mountain High |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Supremes+%26+The+Four+Tops&titel=River+Deep+%2D+Mountain+High&cat=s |website=Dutch Charts}}</ref>

=== Charts === {{col-begin|width=70%}} {{col-2}}

==== Weekly charts ==== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Chart (1970–1971) !scope="col"|Peak<br>position |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Flanders|23|artist=The Supremes & The Four Tops|song=River Deep - Mountain High}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Wallonia|35|artist=The Supremes & The Four Tops|song=River Deep - Mountain High}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|20|artist=The Supremes|song=River Deep Mountain High|chartid=3748}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Ireland2|12|artist=The Supremes}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Dutch40|27|artist=Supremes The|song=River Deep – Mountain High}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Dutch100|25|artist=The Supremes & The Four Tops|song=River Deep - Mountain High}} |- !scope="row"| South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{cite web |title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989 |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref> |align="center"|14 |- !scope="row" {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=11282|11|artist=Supremes|song=River Deep, Mountain High}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=The Supremes}} |- !scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|7|artist=The Supremes}} |- !scope="row" |US ''Cashbox'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710102.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles |work=Cashbox |date=January 2, 1971 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413033448/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710102.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15 |- !scope="row" |US ''Cashbox'' R&B<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/70s_files/19710130R.html |title=The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations |work=Cashbox |date=January 30, 1971 |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row" | US ''Record World'' Singles<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/71/RW-1971-01-16-OCR-Page-0027.pdf#search=%22supremes%20stoned%20love%22 |title=THE SINGLES CHART: Week of January 16, 1971 |magazine=Record World |publisher=worldradiohistory.com |date=January 16, 1971 |access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|12 |- !scope="row" | US ''Record World'' R&B Singles<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/71/RW-1971-01-23-OCR-Page-0040.pdf#search=%22supremes%20river%20deep%20mountain%20high%22 |title=THE R&B SINGLES CHART: Week of January 23, 1971 |page=40 |magazine=Record World |publisher=worldradiohistory.com |date=January 23, 1971 |access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |} {{col-2}}

==== Year-end charts ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- !align="left"|Chart (1971) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- !scope="row" |US ''Cashbox'' R&B<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/70s_files/19710102R.html |title=The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations |work=Cashbox |date=January 2, 1971 |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|55 |} {{col-end}}

== Other notable covers == A ten-minute version was recorded by Deep Purple for their 1968 album, ''The Book of Taliesyn''. An edited version was released as a single in the United States and reached number 53 in early 1969 and number 42 on the Canadian ''RPM'' charts.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} It had a progressive rock sound to it, as Deep Purple had not yet adopted the hard rock sound for which they are most famous.

Celine Dion covered the song on her 1996 album ''Falling into You''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/falling-into-you-mw0000647077 |title=Falling into You - Céline Dion &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=September 29, 2016 |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref> At first, Phil Spector showed interest in producing the album track, but left the project; Jim Steinman took over as producer. Spector was unimpressed by Steinman's efforts, calling Steinman a "bad clone" of himself.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Phil Spector : sound of the Sixties |page=153 |last=MacLeod |first=Sean |isbn=9781442267053 |location=Lanham, Maryland |oclc=982465319 |year=2018}}</ref> Dion had previously performed the song in some of her concerts, as included in her live album ''Live à Paris'', recorded in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jose F. |last=Promis |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-%C3%A0-paris-mw0000528950 |title=Live à Paris - Céline Dion &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>

Amber Riley and Naya Rivera covered the song on episode four ("Duets") of the second season of Fox television show ''Glee''. Their version peaked at number 41 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=tolsen |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-10-30/ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Christina Aguilera performed the song at the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in tribute to Tina Turner.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-her-and-mickey-guyton-play-tina-turner-hits-at-rock-hall-2021/ |title=Watch H.E.R. and Mickey Guyton Play Tina Turner Hits at Rock Hall 2021 |publisher=Pitchfork |date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>

England women's national football team footballer Rachel Daly led a karaoke rendition of the song during the Lionesses' victory parade in Trafalgar Square, London following the team's historic win at Euro 2022 at Wembley Stadium<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx8grYGPsxs|title=Rachel Daly entertains England fans with rendition of 'River Deep – Mountain High'|date=August 1, 2022|access-date=May 6, 2026|via=YouTube}}</ref>

Beyoncé performed a shortened version of the song throughout majority of the Renaissance World Tour (2023) as a tribute to Tina following her death, which occurred a week before the tour began.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Beyonce w Polsce: Koncert, kontrowersje i przekaz na telebimie. Szczegóły "Renaissance World Tour" |trans-title=Beyonce in Poland: Concert, controversy and broadcast on television. "Renaissance World Tour" details |url=https://muzyka.interia.pl/wiadomosci/news-beyonce-na-koncercie-uderzyla-w-polski-rzad-fani-od-razu-zar,nId,6871255 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107160846/https://muzyka.interia.pl/wiadomosci/news-beyonce-na-koncercie-uderzyla-w-polski-rzad-fani-od-razu-zar,nId,6871255 |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |website=Muzyka Interia |language=pl}}</ref>

Harry Nilsson sang a cover version of the song. It was also used on Blue Peter in 1972 to introduce Lesley Judd who taught the then current presenters a dance to song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/bluepeter/lesleypetejohn/introduction.shtml |title=BBC - I Love Blue Peter - Lesley Judd, John Noakes, Peter Purves|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=May 6, 2026}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://secondhandsongs.com/work/2138/versions#nav-entity List of cover versions of song] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/riverdeep.shtml BBC.co.uk: Sold on Song - "River Deep - Mountain High"] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster/programmes/genres/music Ralph MacLean]

{{Ike & Tina Turner}} {{Phil Spector}} {{Deep Purple}} {{The Supremes}} {{Four Tops}} {{Four Tops singles}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:River Deep - Mountain High}} Category:1966 songs Category:1966 singles Category:1968 singles Category:1969 singles Category:1970 singles Category:1971 singles Category:Ike & Tina Turner songs Category:Songs written by Ellie Greenwich Category:Songs written by Jeff Barry Category:Songs written by Phil Spector Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Spector Category:The Supremes songs Category:Four Tops songs Category:Tina Turner songs Category:The Animals songs Category:Deep Purple songs Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Wilson (record producer) Category:MGM Records singles Category:Motown singles Category:Philles Records singles Category:A&M Records singles Category:London Records singles Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Category:Number-one singles in Spain Category:Songs about rivers Category:Songs about mountains