Includes: Square Biz, Don'T Look Back, It Must Be Magic, Opus Iii And More.
CD Reviews
I Should of been here before (Deja Vu)
Peter Townsend | United Kingdom | 07/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The music on this album is about 20 years old. I've got half the tracks on vinyl, and did not expect to be still discovering how very talented Teena Marie is . For me the ultimate track on this CD is Deja Vu . Heard it at a wedding last week, bought this album from Amazon - haven't stopped listening yet. From the slow relaxed start, comes the sweet sound of Lady T :-"I'm young and I'm old, I'm rich and I'm poor, Feel like I've been on this earth, many times before."THEN the pace is increased with some sweet horns blowing in the wind, whilst she elightens us WITH :-"If hate is on your mind, and you can't give love the time. If anger is your friend, don't you know when you die you'll come back again. It's in the masters plan, you'll come back woman or man, If your life is full of fear, don't you know when you die, you'll come back again I thank God, thank God, thank God I'm not coming back no more, been here before ...."If you want a change from your usual boy-meets-girl lovesong, or just in need of spiritual upliftment, then you can't beat this timeless classic. I'm just sorry it took me so long to discover it - I should of been here before !"
Bubbly, funky Teena
Pieter | Johannesburg | 10/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
She has Graduated from the Genius Of Rick James
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 08/31/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lady T.has Graduated from the Genius of Rick James&Ran with it.you name the Instrument or Vibe she can do it.She deserves way more Love than Many of the no-Talent Hacks out today.not only does Her Voice sound Fantastic but Her Playing Skills are Tight.on Guitar,Bass,Keys,etc... Lady T is a One Woman Band.Deja Vu a track Rick James Wrote is Timeless.What a Piece of Words&Music it is?The Rest Of The Material is Very Essential&Classic Soul.Folks in the Know know that their's nothing out now that Matches Her Feelin'."
The Best of Marie's Motown Hits
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | 01/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While Marie had yet to come into her own artistically (she would accomplish that with her subsequent move to Epic Records in the early 1980's), this Motown compilation offers some wonderful gems from the fiery singer/songwriter/producer. Among the best: the dance classic "I Need Your Lovin,'" the catchy "It Must Be Magic," the engaging "Aladdin's Lamp," and the jazzy, clever "The Ballad Of Cradle Rob and Me," which features a rocking horn section and Teena scatting: what could be a better combination than that? The finest moment in this collection occurs with the 12th track, the ballad "Yes Indeed." Featuring Patrice ("Forget-Me-Nots") Rushen on piano as well as a flourshing string section, this ballad is one of Teena Marie's most luminous to date, even after she reached her full ballad-singing potential on Epic. This song is worth the price of this whole CD. Marie starts off quietly, sounding at peace with her love relationship, and "Yes Indeed" does sound like an affirmation. But by the end of the song, the mood has subtly changed, and now the words "yes indeed" become those of heatbreak and of desparation. One can only imagine what it would have been like to witness the recording of this song, as Marie lets her powerful voice go full-throttle by the end of the song, baring every emotion. By the end, the instruments drop off for a moment as Marie asks, "Do I love you...." and then luciously descends the scale, searching for her answer, as we wait. Finally, she finds it, and as the instruments swell to a finish. This song is emotionally-draining and it's presence alone makes this CD a must-have over Marie's other Motown greatest-hits compilations."
The one that got away
m kelly | Camden, NJ USA | 01/17/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"teena is bad, make no mistake. this cd has the usual fare of the other compilation discs. the stand out feature is the cut, "gonna have my cake...". this cut is not on any other disc except the original--wild and peaceful. the jazz flavor of this cut can only be appreciated by true teena fans. ..."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1