Sapphire
Key item features
Teena Marie has loads of soul. She came to popular attention with her debut LP, Wild And Peaceful in 1979. "I'm Just A Sucker For Your Love," the hit duet from that record, catapulted the young soul singer to fame. Those were the days of hits off radio play, so it took several years for most of America to figure out that Lady T was a white girl. Like Edgar Winter in similar circumstances; by then it didn't signify. Ya got soul in ya soul -- ya got soul. The last time Teena Marie topped the pop charts was twenty years ago with "Lovergirl." We didn't hear anything from Teena for several years, then here she comes again with La Dona, peaking at six on the Billboard Charts. Her latest Sapphire is bigger, better, and more Teena, than we've heard for a long time.
Sapphire is her second release for Cash Money/Universal, and it seems as if Teena's got her groove back. This set features duets with both the legendary Smokey Robinson and rapper, Kurupt. Smokey shows up at jump street on "God Has Created." It's an intro length set-up for the balance of the CD, and highlight's Marie's stone soul chops at the start. These two are ideally matched, in timbre, style and maturity. Unlike the plethora of forced duets prevalent in today's market, Smokey and Teena get it right, right away. While the Cash Money team of Williams and Williams are the exec's, Teena Marie is clearly the producer. All those years with Rick James pay off on this set. The single, "Ooo Wee," has that old school groove and vocal lines like singers sing. The groove isn't just in the track, it's in the "Ooo Wee," and the way she squeezes those words into the spaces in between. There's plenty of scat in Teena's vocal style, and you'll remember why you thought all those Prince records were cool. Intimations of Hendrix, Ella and Sly abound, and they are all hinted at with reverence and wit. Teena Marie owns this history, and doesn't need to borrow this dress to wear it with style.
"Baby, Who's Is It" features Karupt, and it's the most Mary J. cut in the collection. There's a bit of a cheap trick feeling in the cut. Rap may be current, but soul is timeless. For a real dance bag, get on into "Ladies Choice." Like Smokey, Teena does it best when she sings from her soul in her own tight groove. All those late eighties records (from both artists) seem like treading water. This is stroking back to a familiar shore. For something completely new that is the real deal, check out the vaguely reggae jam, "Simmer Down." Marie's voice just sails over the groove. She's got pipes, and they show all over this record. Her signature is written large on every track. Teena Marie is back. She's older and smoother than she was back in the day, but the mileage didn't seem to put any wear and tear on Teena. She's got an old soul, and it shows in every line she sings.
By Dave Morgan
Specs
- PerformerTeena Marie
- Music genrePop Rock, Pop
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Teena Marie has loads of soul. She came to popular attention with her debut LP, Wild And Peaceful in 1979. "I'm Just A Sucker For Your Love," the hit duet from that record, catapulted the young soul singer to fame. Those were the days of hits off radio play, so it took several years for most of America to figure out that Lady T was a white girl. Like Edgar Winter in similar circumstances; by then it didn't signify. Ya got soul in ya soul -- ya got soul. The last time Teena Marie topped the pop charts was twenty years ago with "Lovergirl." We didn't hear anything from Teena for several years, then here she comes again with La Dona, peaking at six on the Billboard Charts. Her latest Sapphire is bigger, better, and more Teena, than we've heard for a long time.
Sapphire is her second release for Cash Money/Universal, and it seems as if Teena's got her groove back. This set features duets with both the legendary Smokey Robinson and rapper, Kurupt. Smokey shows up at jump street on "God Has Created." It's an intro length set-up for the balance of the CD, and highlight's Marie's stone soul chops at the start. These two are ideally matched, in timbre, style and maturity. Unlike the plethora of forced duets prevalent in today's market, Smokey and Teena get it right, right away. While the Cash Money team of Williams and Williams are the exec's, Teena Marie is clearly the producer. All those years with Rick James pay off on this set. The single, "Ooo Wee," has that old school groove and vocal lines like singers sing. The groove isn't just in the track, it's in the "Ooo Wee," and the way she squeezes those words into the spaces in between. There's plenty of scat in Teena's vocal style, and you'll remember why you thought all those Prince records were cool. Intimations of Hendrix, Ella and Sly abound, and they are all hinted at with reverence and wit. Teena Marie owns this history, and doesn't need to borrow this dress to wear it with style.
"Baby, Who's Is It" features Karupt, and it's the most Mary J. cut in the collection. There's a bit of a cheap trick feeling in the cut. Rap may be current, but soul is timeless. For a real dance bag, get on into "Ladies Choice." Like Smokey, Teena does it best when she sings from her soul in her own tight groove. All those late eighties records (from both artists) seem like treading water. This is stroking back to a familiar shore. For something completely new that is the real deal, check out the vaguely reggae jam, "Simmer Down." Marie's voice just sails over the groove. She's got pipes, and they show all over this record. Her signature is written large on every track. Teena Marie is back. She's older and smoother than she was back in the day, but the mileage didn't seem to put any wear and tear on Teena. She's got an old soul, and it shows in every line she sings.
By Dave Morgan
