Starchild (Teena Marie album)

Last updated
Starchild
Teenastarchild.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 11, 1984
Recorded198384
Studio
Genre
Length45:36
Label Epic
Producer Teena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
Robbery
(1983)
Starchild
(1984)
Emerald City
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Robert Christgau B [2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 8/10 [3]

Starchild is the sixth studio album by American R&B singer Teena Marie, released on November 11, 1984, by Epic Records. Following the relative commercial failure of her previous album, Robbery , Starchild became the highest-selling album of Marie's career. It peaked at #9 on the US Black Albums chart and #31 on the Billboard Albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 1, 1985. [4]

Contents

The album's success was driven by lead single "Lovergirl" which become a major US hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and her only top 30 hit on that chart. Marie also received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the single at the 27th Grammy Awards-her second nomination in that category.

The album was written and produced by Marie, with contributions from Leon Ware and Narada Michael Walden. The track "My Dear Mr. Gaye" is a tribute to Marvin Gaye, who had been fatally shot and killed by his father on April 1, 1984.

It was re-released by SoulMusic Records in 2012 as an Expanded Edition, containing 5 mixes as bonus tracks (see track listing below).

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie, except where noted.

  1. "Lovergirl" – 4:54
  2. "Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party" (Bendrix, Marie) – 5:44
  3. "Out on a Limb" – 6:37
  4. "Alibi" (Marie, Fred Mirza) – 5:23
  5. "Jammin" – 5:52
  6. "Starchild" – 5:35
  7. "We've Got to Stop (Meeting Like This)" (Duet With Ronnie McNeir) – 5:07
  8. "My Dear Mr. Gaye" (Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson, Leon Ware) – 5:28
  9. "Light" – 1:17
Expanded Edition
  1. "Lovergirl" (US Single Edit) - 3:59
  2. "Lovergirl" (US Special 12" Dance Mix) - 5:53
  3. "Lovergirl" (US Single - Instrumental) - 6:10
  4. "Jammin'" (Dance Mix - Long Version) - 8:20
  5. "Out on a Limb" (US 12" Single Edit) - 5:31

Personnel

Credits for Starchild adapted from Allmusic [5]

Production

Singles

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References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. Christgau, Robert. "Teena Marie: Starchild > Review". Robert Christgau . Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  3. 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.
  4. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America .
  5. "Starchild - Teena Marie | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .