Tell Her Im Not Home

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"Tell Him I`m Not Home" is a song written by Tony Bruno, Brenda Bruno, and Sanford Bellini. The song is about a lover lamenting about a relationship that has lost its flame. It was first recorded by R&B singer Chuck Jackson, and released as a single from his album Encore! on Wand Records in 1963. The single reached No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. [1]

Critical reception

Cash Box (January 12, 1963):

Jackson who`s currently cashing in "Gettin` ready For The Heartbreak" sends up another striking contender for dual-market chartdom. It`s a pulsating, cha cha like romantic heartbreaker, tagged "Tell Him I`m Not Home," that Chuck wrings every once of emotion out of. Standout ork-choral backdrop (with exciting back-and-forth vocal play) conducted by Tony Bruno. The soulful undercut finds a tantalizing rock-a-waltz-like setting. [2]

Ike & Tina Turner version

Ike & Tina Turner covered recorded a version of the song title "Tell Her I`m Not Home." It was produced by Bob Krasnow, head of Loma Records, and released as a non-album track on Loma in 1965. Tina Turner promoted the song on Shindig! in April 1965.[3] The single peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 108 on Bubbling Under The Hot 100.[4][5]

After the success with "River Deep – Mountain High" in England, the song was released as a single by Loma`s parent label, Warner Bros. Records, in the United Kingdom in 1966. It reached No. 48 on the UK Singles chart.[6] In 1975, the song was reissued as a single on Warner Bros. in Germany. It later appeared on the compilation albums Finger Poppin`…The Warner Brothers Years (Edsel Records, 1988) and The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960–1975 (Time Life, 2007).

Critical reception

The single received positive reviews, including a 4-star rating from Billboard.[7][8]

Cash Box (February 13, 1965): "Soulful blues sound follows a telephone talk opening. Could break big in the R&B areas, and spread to a wide range of record buyers. Bob Krasnow produced the tune, and might well see fine results."[9]

Normie Rowe version

Australian singer Normie Rowe`s cover of "Tell Him I`m Not Home" was released as a B-side single in November 1965. It peaked at No. 3 on the Australian Singles chart and was a top 5 hit in most Australian mainland capitals, reaching No. 4 in Sydney, No. 2 in Melbourne, No. 2 in Adelaide and No. 1 in Melbourne.[10] The song was ranked the 13th biggest hit of 1965 on the Kent Music Report list of the Top 25 singles for 1965 in Australia.

Chart performance

Chuck Jackson

Ike & Tina Turner

Normie Rowe