Get the think pieces ready, because I’m about to set y’all off again with this hot take:
I’m not a big fan of the term “blue-eyed soul.”
The term originated in the 60s for white artists who landed on Black R&B stations. To me, it always felt like an unnecessary distinction. As a lifelong fan of R&B and someone who wants to preserve its legacy, my goal first and foremost is to elevate anyone doing the genre justice. If a new artist hits the scene, my first question isn’t about their race, sex, creed or orientation – I just wanna know if they’re dope.
Don’t get your boy twisted, this ain’t some All Singers Matter rant. White artists who delve into R&B must realize they’re coming into our house, and they must know to treat that house, and our culture, with respect. Blue-eyed, green-eyed, brown-eyed or cock-eyed, if you can’t do that, I’ll show you the door.
(In fact, there’s more than a few Black artists who need to be kicked out on the street, but that’s a rant for another day.)
Simply put, if you’re talented and you treat R&B with the respect it deserves, you’re welcome to join us – regardless of eye color. And one artist who ALWAYS treated our culture with respec was Teena Marie. For the entirety of my lifetime – her debut dropped seven months before my born day (yes I’m old), she was the personification of the fire that R&B can bring. Those vocals erupted from her diaphragm, making you FEEL every note. Her untimely death in 2010 was both shocking and ill-timed, as she was still releasing music that often surpassed the albums of artists half her age. She could have helped keep R&B afloat during those dire days of the 2010s.
Regardless, let’s celebrate what she did give us – a career filled with classic songs, timeless tracks and showstopping performances. Here’s a look back at her entire discography, from bottom to top.
Forget the blue eyes, we’re here for that fiery voice.
14. Congo Square (2009)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: This is a tough one to rank. Congo Square is Lady T’s sole release on the legendary Stax label and her final release before her untimely passing a little over a year later. This has all of the trademark Teena moments – the duets, a touch of blues, a lot of attitude – but there’s a spark missing. Nothing hits as hard as it did in the past. Objectively, the album’s quality isn’t poor – outside of a few mainstream-leaning tracks that feel out of here wheelhouse – but it’s shockingly unremarkable.
Forgotten favorites: “Ms. Coretta”
13. Beautiful (2013)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Teena’s posthumous final album almost didn’t see the light of day. It was recorded shortly before her death in 2010 but shelved, only for her daughter Alia Rose to resurrect it years later. I’m grateful she made it happen. While Teena’s voice isn’t quite as powerful as its peak, she still sounds pretty good, owning every performance with that trademark passion. The writing can be hit or miss in spots but overall it’s a fitting farewell to a stellar career. I’m glad we got to hear it.
Forgotten favorites: “The Long Play,” “Sweet Tooth,” “Wild Horses”
12. Lady T (1980)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: OG T stans are probably grabbing their torches and pitchforks for this low placement but y’all come to me for the real. Here’s the good news: On her second album, you can truly hear Teena’s confidence as a vocalist, sounding like the artist she was destined to become. And, the bad news: she hadn’t yet found her sound. Sure, vocally she sounds great, but a good number of tracks are generic 80s fair, despite a few moments of brilliance. T would discover her sound in a major way later in the year with album No. 3 but, until then, this feels like a bridge to what was still to come.
Forgotten favorites: “Why Did I Fall In Love with You,” “Now That I Have You”
11. Robbery (1983)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Robbery may lack the crossover hits and memorable album cuts of its 80s predecessors, but it’s far from a failure. The production is captivating as usual, and Teena is as passionate as ever, especially on the infamous “Cassanova Brown,” when she lets loose on her former boothang Rick James. But besides that bit of historical R&B tea, there’s not much that begs for a relisten. It’s an enjoyable experience in the moment, but not very memorable.
Forgotten favorites: “Robbery,” “Shadow Boxing,” “Cassanova Brown”
10. Ivory (1990)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: By 1990, the world of R&B was quickly evolving and our girl Lady T wasn’t going to be left behind. “Here’s Looking At You” and “If I Were a Bell” became the next two hits on her already-impressive resume, with the latter especially holding up today. I can’t say the same for some of the New Jack Swing-esque efforts, which were making Young Edd VERY weary in 1990 and Old Man Edd even more so today. Props for Teena for trying to keep up with the times, but Ivory works best when she goes back to those smoldering R&B numbers.
Forgotten favorites: “Cupid is a Real Straight Shooter,” “Just Us Two,” “Snap Your Fingers”
9. La Dona (2004)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: La Dona marked a new era for Teena – it was her first release in a decade under, of ALL labels, Cash Money records. Trust me, the R&B streets were shocked when they heard about Teena linking up with Birdman’s crew. But give them credit, Cash Money keeps those wobbledy-wobbledy distractions to a minimum on this project. Instead, we get an solid update to her 80s sound. It’s a much trendier release that usual for latter-day Teena, but it works. She sounds rejuvenated and that infections energy makes this project more welcoming. Great comeback record.
Forgotten favorites: “A Rose By Any Other Name,” “My Body’s Hungry,” “Makaveli Never Lied”
8. Sapphire (2006)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Teena’s second Cash Money outing is even better than the first! If you told me in the 90s we’d get not one but TWO songs pairing Lady T and Kurupt I’d call you crazy, but Sapphire is full of surprises. Wild pairing aside, Sapphire continues her 21 century career revival. While not as boisterous as her more well known releases, Sapphire retains her signature sultry elements well. Plus, hearing Teena over G-Funk-inspired production is a treat. And there’s plenty of heartfelt messages to befound, including moving tributes to both Rick James and New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I’m a little annoyed that I missed out on this one in 2006, it would have gotten plenty of play in my car’s disc changer.
Forgotten favorites: “Cruise Control,” “God Has Created,” “Love is a Gangsta”
7. Emerald City (1986)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Emerald City was a bit of a detour in Teena’s career, leaning more toward pop rock and blues than her usual soul-powered soliloquies. It feels more like 80s Prince than the Teena we knew at this point, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Tracks like “Lips to Find You” are insanely catchy, like it was plucked from an episode of Jem and the Holograms. Admittedly, the quality can be little uneven at points but I appreciate the new direction and I’m a big fan of the production. I’d call this one underrated.
Forgotten favorites: “Once Is Not Enough,” “Lips to Find You,” “Shangri-La”
6. Passion Play (1994)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Passion Play would be Teena’s final album of the 90s before pausing this portion of her career. The album was released independently with limited distribution, so most of us missed out on this in the 90s. In fact, this post is my first time hearing it in full and its another release I wish I enjoyed in real time. Teena sounds more comfortable amidst these mid-90s R&B grooves than she did on the previous release Ivory. Her cover of “Hypnotized” is a winner and she’s hilariously freaky on “Breakfast in Bed” (“heavy on the cream?” Aight, T). Albums like Passion Play are why I love doing these career retrospectives. There’s nothing better than digging up a hidden gem.
Forgotten favorites: “Passion Play,” “Smooth Tip,” “Breakfast in Bed”
5. Naked to the World (1988)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: After the lukewarm reception to Emerald City (I still say y’all slept), Teena bounced back hard with Naked to the World, which featured her only No. 1 single, “Ooo La La La.” Talk about a timeless hit. And hey, Rick James is even back for a couple of duets! From the hyperactive radio joints to the over-the-top ballads, Teena was back in her bag.
Forgotten favorites: “Naked to the World,” “Surrealistic Pillow,” “The Once and Future Dream”
4. Wild and Peaceful (1979)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Wild and Peaceful was our introduction to Teena Marie, and I wish I was a fly on the wall when Black American discovered that soulful voice behind that faceless album cover belonged to a white woman. Be glad social media wasn’t around back in 79. Longtime collaborator/lover/friend Rick James’ fingerprints are all over this release as she deftly floats from funky cuts to smoky sets tailor-made for a local nightspot. Though it’s bursting with promise, Teena isn’t quite the polished performer she’d evolve into in subsequent releases. Still, this was a very strong start to a near four decade career.
Forgotten favorites: “Turnin Me On,” “Déjà vu (I’ve Been Here Before),” “I Can’t Love Anymore”
3. It Must Be Magic (1981)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: From here on out, a case could be made for any of the next three albums to hit the top spot – they’re all that good. It Must Be Magic is one of Teena’s most successful records and it’s also home to arguably her signature hit, “Square Biz,” as well as the quiet storm scorcher “Portuguese Love.” It Must Be Magic pulsates with that high-octane, post-disco energy, but there are plenty of ballads that also hit the mark. Come for the hits, but stay around for the solid album cuts.
Forgotten favorites: “Where’s California,” “Yes Indeed,” “Opus III (Does Anybody Care)”
2. Irons in the Fire (1980)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Irons in the Fire is Teena’s first self-produced album, as well as her personal favorite, and it’s easy to see why It’s a wonderfully produced and arranged album – sonically it’s her most beautiful LP. Between the intimate writing and her enticing vocals, the project just feels like a warm embrace. Front to back, it’s probably her most air-tight release thanks to the superior song sequencing, but in terms of quality there’s one album I’d give the slight edge to…
Forgotten favorites: “You Make Love Feel Like Springtime,” “Irons in the Fire,” “Chains”
1. Starchild (1984)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: The second those 80s synths slap you in the face when “Lovergirl” kicks off this project, you know you’re going to be in for a ride. From the soaring “Out on a Limb” to the adrenaline rush of “Alibi” and the electro funk of “Jammin,” Starchild is the poster child of 80s R&B. So what gives this release the edge over the last two entries on this list? Simply put, the highs of this album reach just a bit higher. It Must Be Magic has the classic singles, Irons in the Fire has the superior atmosphere, but Starchild’s peaks eclipse all others. BTW, “Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party” might be the best song title of the 80s. Fitting, since Starchild is one of the best albums of the 80s.
Forgotten favorites: “Alibi,” “Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party,” “My Dear Mr Gaye”
How would you rank Lady T’s best works? Share yours below!
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