“Better Be Good to Me” was originally recorded and released in 1981 by Spider, a group that included one of the song’s co-writers,Holly Knight….who happens to be a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Holly has written or co-written dozens hits over the years–like “love is a Battlefield” for Pat Benatar, “The Warrior” by Scandal, and when Better Be Good to Me” didn’t become a hit, the turned it over to Tina Turner…and  boy, was the song good to Tina, who recorded it for her “Private Dancer” album in 1985.

When the single was released, the goodness became a hit in 12 countries…including Guatemala, of all places, where it reached #7. Here in the US, it climbed to #5 on The Hot 100…and #7 on The Black Chart.

But wait…there’s MORE goodness: “Better Be Good to Me” won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female— one of four total Grammys awarded to The “Private Dancer” album!

“Better be Good to Me” was VERY good to Tina Turner–and not too shabby for Holly Knight either, when you consider the royalty checks she most likely collected.  🙂