Robbery (album)

Last updated
Robbery
Teenarobbery.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 18, 1983
Recorded198283
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 49:18 (Original release)
    *69:18 (Expanded edition)
Label Epic
Producer Teena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
It Must Be Magic
(1981)
Robbery
(1983)
Starchild
(1984)

Robbery is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Teena Marie, released in September 18, 1983. It is her first album for Epic Records, following her acrimonious departure from Motown the previous year. The album was written and produced by Marie herself and features contributions from Patrice Rushen, Paulinho da Costa, and Steve Ferrone among others. However, the album did not repeat the success of her last Motown release It Must Be Magic (1981) stalling at number 13 on the Black Albums chart and only reaching number 119 on the Billboard Albums chart.

Contents

The album placed three singles on the US Black Singles chart" "Fix It", peaking at #21, followed by "Midnight Magnet" (#31) and "Dear Lover" (#77).

In 2012, the album was re-released in a remastered and expanded CD edition containing four additional tracks.

Cassanova Brown

Included on this album is the infamous song, "Cassanova Brown". After meeting Rick James in the '70s and being signed to the same label, James and Marie began a relationship, first professional, progressing (according to Marie) to a romantic one, and finally leading to an engagement. Although James himself denied ever having a romantic involvement with Marie, she said they were engaged for a few weeks. When James' alleged infidelities came to light, Marie realized that she herself was a mistress; James had a girlfriend, Alfie Davidson, who would later substantiate that James and Marie were once an item, while she was his girlfriend. After the breakup, their relationship waned to a tumultuous friendship. The lyrics are very thinly veiled in her contempt for the situation.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10 [1]

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie.

  1. "Robbery" - 5:23
  2. "Playboy" - 5:23
  3. "Shadow Boxing" - 6:49
  4. "Midnight Magnet" - 6:02
  5. "Fix It" - 4:44
  6. "Ask Your Momma" - 5:25
  7. "Dear Lover" - 5:18
  8. "Stop the World" - 4:16
  9. "Cassanova Brown" - 5:58

Bonus tracks - 2012 SoulMusic reissue

  1. "Playboy" (US 12" Remix) - 5:51 (Expanded edition)
  2. "Fix It" (US 12" Remix) - 6:30 (Expanded edition)
  3. "Fix It" (Instrumental)(US 12" Remix) - 8:16 (Expanded edition)
  4. "Midnight Magnet" (US 12" Instrumental) - 6:00 (Expanded edition)

Personnel

Credits for Robbery adapted from Allmusic [2]

Production

Reissue credits

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References

  1. Bernstein, Jonathan (1995). "Teena Marie". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 240–241. ISBN   0-679-75574-8.
  2. "Robbery - Teena Marie | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .