IVORY
Lady Tee's 5th and final album on epic. What a great album! This is Teena back with a new 90's feel R'n'B sound. One thing I've always felt on her albums that were synth orientated is that the music never complemented her vocals; the synth sound is too artifical and Teena's voice was made for real music with real soul & feel. To me that element was missing on "Naked To The World", so when I heard this album I was over the moon. Every track is brilliant but my favorites are "SINCE DAY ONE" with that "soul to soul" groove and Teena's arrangements & production - what a blend!! The note she hits at the end goes on for an eternity.
"HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU" - funky, funky, funky; you've got the lot in this one - tuff beats, T.SOUND 90'S STYLEE... BAD MUTHA OF A TUNE.I have to mention "HOW CAN YOU RESIST IT" - what beautiful acoustic laid back track. This shows another side of Teena and is a wonderful song - if you wanna chill put this track on.
Next are the three wicked ballads, "IF I WERE A BELL", "CUPID IS A REAL STRAIGHT SHOOTER" and "MIRACLES NEED WINGS TO FLY" all wonderful songs with a very strong vocal performance by Teena.
"MR ICE CREAM", "THE SUGAR SHACK" and "JUST US TWO" are all classy up-tempo tracks, pure quality and another 'must have' album for any TEE FAN. This may have been her last album on epic but there the loss is at an end, thats a certainty. {1990 EPIC }
Chart Positions "Here's Looking at You"reached NO. 11 R&B "If I Were a Bell" reached No.8 R&B
playlist
1.Here's looking at you. {teena marie}
2. The Sugar Shack Prelude {Teena Marie/P.J.}
3. The Sugar Shack {Teena Marie/James Stewart}
4. If I Were a Bell {Teena Marie}
5. Just Us Two {Teena Marie/James Reese}
6.ivory{a tone poem}{teena marie}
7. Mr. Icecream {Teena Marie}
8. Cupid is a Real Straight Shooter {Teena Marie}
9. How Can You Resist It {Teena Marie/P.J.}
10. Since Day One {Teena Marie/Jazzie B/Mike McEvoy}
11. Miracles Need Wings to Fly {Teena Marie}
12. Snap Your Fingers {Teena Marie/James Allen}
13. The Red Zone {Teena Marie}