The Platinum Collection is a beefed-up, triple-disc version of
Tina!, a far-reaching if haphazardly assembled
Tina Turner compilation released in the run-up to her 2008 world tour. Whereas
Tina! was released in North America,
The Platinum Collection was released in Europe a few months later in anticipation of the European leg of her tour.
The Platinum Collection is almost definitive at 48 tracks in length. It includes all of
Turner's major hits, including six
Ike & Tina Turner-era recordings ("Nutbush City Limits," "River Deep, Mountain High," "I Want to Take You Higher," "Get Back," "Come Together," "Proud Mary"), and goes all the way up to the latter-day hits "When the Heartache Is Over" and "Whatever You Need" from her most recent studio album,
Twenty Four Seven (1999), and "Open Arms," the one-off single from her best-of compilation
All the Best (2004). In addition to all the hits,
The Platinum Collection includes a couple new songs co-written by
Guy Chambers ("It Would Be a Crime," "I'm Ready"), and fortunately it also includes her stunning collaboration with Italian superstar
Eros Ramazzotti on his 1998 hit "Cose Della Vita." Unlike
Tina!,
The Platinum Collection includes the studio versions of "I Can't Stand the Rain" and "Let's Stay Together" rather than live recordings. All in all,
The Platinum Collection is a treasure trove of hits by
Turner. Not only does it include all of her solo hits, but it also includes several songs released by others on which she is featured as a guest (e.g., "Tonight" with
David Bowie, "Tearing Us Apart" with
Eric Clapton, "It Takes Two" with
Rod Stewart). ~ Jason Birchmeier