Break Every Rule - Overview

Overview

The album's predecessor, Private Dancer, set high commercial standards, yet Break Every Rule sold very well worldwide. It reached #4 on the Billboard 200, #2 on the UK albums chart and #1 in Switzerland, and also Germany (for 12 weeks). The RIAA certified Break Every Rule platinum, denoting 1 million shipments in the United States. It was also certified platinum in some European countries including Germany and the UK.

The original A-side of the vinyl album was entirely produced by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, the team behind Turner's 1984 hit single "What's Love Got To Do With It", while side B included tracks produced by Bryan Adams, Bob Clearmountain, Mark Knopfler and Rupert Hine. Out of the album's eleven tracks, eight were released as singles, either in Europe or the U.S. or both; "Typical Male" (U.S. #2) featuring Phil Collins on drums, "What You Get Is What You See" (U.S. #13) with Eric Clapton on guitars, "Two People" (Spain #1, U.S. R&B #18), David Bowie's "Girls" (Poland #11), "Back Where You Started" (U.S. Rock #9) co-written and produced by Bryan Adams, "Afterglow" (U.S. Dance #2) featuring Steve Winwood on keyboards, "Break Every Rule" (Poland #15) co-written and produced by Rupert Hine and "Paradise Is Here" (Ireland #24). Most of the 12" singles included extended or alternate mixes, live versions and/or non-album tracks, the majority of which still remain unreleased on compact disc. Turner also recorded other tracks during the sessions for the album with Steve Lillywhite and Bryan Adams which remain unreleased.

Turner undertook a huge world tour to promote the album, including the record-breaking date in Rio de Janeiro in which she played to 180,000 people. The concert was filmed and released on home video. Further dates from the European leg of her world tour were recorded and released as the live album Tina Live in Europe in 1988.

Following the release of the Break Every Rule album Turner recorded the duet "Tearing Us Apart" with Eric Clapton, included on his Phil Collins produced 1986 album August and also issued as a single in early 1987.