Track Listing

1. I'm A Sucker For Your Love - Rick James, Teena Marie, Art Stewart, Peter Cardinali, Russell Schmitt, Levi Ruffin Jr., Oscar Alston, Lanise Hughes, Shondu Akiem, Chris Boehme, Clarence Sims, Wali Ali
2. Don't Look Back - Rick James, Teena Marie, Art Stewart, Peter Cardinali, Russell Schmitt, Levi Ruffin Jr., Oscar Alston, Lanise Hughes, Shondu Akiem, Chris Boehme, Clarence Sims, Wali Ali
3. Behind The Groove - Richard Rudolph, Teena Marie, Bob "Boogie" Bowles, Jerry Hey
4. I Need Your Lovin' - Paul Riser, Teena Marie
5. Square Biz - Teena Marie, Allen McGrier, Daniel LeMelle
6. It Must Be Magic - Daniel LeMelle, Teena Marie
7. The Ballad Of Cradle Rob And Me - Teena Marie
8. Portuguese Love - Paul Riser, Teena Marie
9. Aladdin's Lamp - Richard Rudolph, Teena Marie
10. Irons In The Fire - Paul Riser, Teena Marie
11. I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too) - Rick James, Teena Marie, Art Stewart, Peter Cardinali, Russell Schmitt, Levi Ruffin Jr., Oscar Alston, Lanise Hughes, Shondu Akiem, Chris Boehme, Clarence Sims, Wali Ali
12. Yes Indeed - Teena Marie
13. Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before) - Rick James, Teena Marie, Art Stewart, Peter Cardinali, Russell Schmitt, Levi Ruffin Jr., Oscar Alston, Lanise Hughes, Shondu Akiem, Chris Boehme, Clarence Sims, Wali Ali
14. Opus III (Does Anybody Care) - Teena Marie

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3735 in Music
• Released on: 1998-05-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 73 minutes

Customer Reviews

Bubbly, funky Teena
Teena Marie is a passionate little engine of funk, soul and R&B. This collection of her early Motown hits kicks off with the wonderful I’m A Sucker For Your Love, a busy number with rollicking instrumentation and great male backing vocal.

Don’t Look Back is more of the same, whilst Behind The Groove sees Teena in a more soulful mood although the track cooks with passion and rhythm. This late 1970/early 1980s Motown funk a la Rick James is really gripping and has stood the test of time very well, full of joie de vivre and highly danceable.

Square Biz is a highlight, a funky number with jittery nervous beat and incredible vocal variety as she sings, croons and raps in turn and It Must Be Magic is another tight number of prime 80s R&B. The Ballad Of Cradle Rob And Me is a great story song and a stunning mix of jazzy inflections and funky beat.

The style changes for Portuguese Love, a lovely torch song with some Latin infusions in the instrumental mix, whilst Aladdin’s Lamp is a beautiful soulful ballad with plenty of tempo variation and poetic lyrics. On a similar note, Irons In The Fire and Yes Indeed are further slow but passionate ballads, the latter with particularly impressive piano.

Déjà Vu is another slow song with gripping poetic imagery and gentle instrumental flourishes. The album closes with the evocative Opus III, a short song with a spiritual undertone.

Teena Marie moves with ease from ebullient uptempo funk to flowing ballads and quiet-storm type torch songs, demonstrating her prowess and mastery of her chosen style, R&B – a great achievement for the petite blonde from California.

What a voice!
I grew up with tunes like Behind the Groove and Portuguese Love so this album took me back to my childhood. There were also tunes on the album that I'd never heard of such as I'm a Sucker for Your Love, produced and written by the late, great Rick James and the ballad I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too), both of which I loved. If your really into your 80's disco funk then this album is for you. A fantastic singer, really good album.

AN ABSOLUTE GEM
What can you say....this album has all her classic disco hits from the late 70's and early 80's. If you are a fan of Teena Marie and would like to buy just one CD with all her hits then this is for you!!