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A protracted absence from the studio (a one-year release gap in the '80s was equal to a five-year gap in the early 2000s) caused by a notorious legal dispute with Motown did little to stall Teena Marie's momentum. Robbery, Marie's fifth album and first for Epic, didn't perform nearly as well on the pop chart as 1981's It Must Be Magic, but the devout black following remained, which obviously had no problem with Marie's discreet slipping of a little more rock and Latin jazz into her R&B. Epic wisely let their new acquisition do her thing -- it's the first album written completely by Marie, and the gradual development in her sound would pay off tenfold with 1984's crossover hit "Lovergirl." (Meanwhile, Marie's ex label was nurturing D.O.A. projects like Monalisa Young's Knife and High Inergy's Groove Patrol.) So is Robbery merely transitional? Not at all. While directing a rotating cast of support, including but not limited to the Average White Band's Steve Ferrone, go-to Brazilian percussionist Paulinho da Costa, and undervalued keyboard wiz Patrice Rushen, Marie comes up with a set of songs that rivals anything she did for Motown. There's a little bit of everything here. It's varied but focused, however, highlighted by the torrid mid-tempo groove "Midnight Magic," the club hit "Fix It," and a trio of excellent ballads in "Dear Lover," the particularly elegant "Casanova Brown," and one of the finest Minnie Riperton tributes -- whether intentional or not -- in "Shadow Boxing." Though the album contains some of the then up-to-date technology that flawed a lot of other albums released in 1983, Marie knew not to go hog-wild with it.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Nathan East, Bass - John Robinson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Teena Marie, Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Keith Alexander, Guitar - Eric O'Neal, Synthesizer - Anthony Allen Brockert, AssociatedPerformer - Alicia Gladden, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Darryl Phinnessee, Background Vocal - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Chuck Findley, Trumpet - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Trumpet - Sabrina Buchanek, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Loper, Trombone - NIKO BOLAS, Assistant Engineer - David Egerton, Assistant Engineer - Barbara Rooney, Assistant Engineer - Teena Marie, Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - James Allen, Background Vocal - Robert Brooks, Recording Engineer - Gary Herbig, Tenor Saxophone - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Recco Philmore, Background Vocal - Maxine Wters-Willard, Background Vocal - Car Johnson, Background Vocal - Carwell Johnson, Assistant Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Riser, Conductor, Arranger - Abraham Laboriel, Bass - Chuck Findley, Horn, Trumpet - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Gary Herbig, Tenor Saxophone - Maxine Waters, Background Vocal - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Horn, Trumpet - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass - Charlie Loper, Trombone - Julia Waters, Background Vocal - Nick Brown, Guitar - Nick Ceroli, Drums - Teena Marie, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - Greg Poree, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Hines, Drums - J. Bokowski Jr., Piano
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer - P. J., Composer - Nathan East, Bass - John Robinson, Drums - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Sabrina Buchanek, Assistant Engineer - NIKO BOLAS, Assistant Engineer - Marlo Henderson, Guitar - David Egerton, Assistant Engineer - Barbara Rooney, Assistant Engineer - Teena Marie, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Robert Brooks, Recording Engineer - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal - Keith Alexander, Guitar - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Carwell Johnson, Assistant Engineer - J. Bokowski Jr., Synthesizer - Paulhino de Costa, Percussion
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Todd Cochran, Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Darryl Phinnessee, Background Vocal - Nathan East, Bass - Ricky Lawson, Drums - John Robinson, Drums - Chuck Findley, Trumpet - Ernie Watts, Saxophone - Charles Fearing, Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Gary Herbig, Saxophone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Trumpet - Abe Laboriel, Bass - Charles Loper, Trombone - Marlo Henderson, Guitar - Vince Charles, Drums - Julia Tillman Waters, Background Vocal - Maxine Willard Waters, Background Vocal - Teena Marie, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - James Allen, Background Vocal - Carl Johnson, Background Vocal - Daniel LeMelle, Saxophone - Robert Brooks, Percussion - Keith Alexander, Guitar - Paul Hines, Drums - Eric O'Neal, Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer - Recco Philmore, Background Vocal - J. Bokowski Jr., Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer - Anthony Boyce, Background Vocal - Greg Paree, Guitar
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Patrice Rushen, Synthesizer - Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Teena Marie, Producer, Arranger, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Mickey Hearn, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Mirza, Arranger
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Riser, Conductor, Arranger - Abraham Laboriel, Bass - Chuck Findley, Horn - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Gary Herbig, Tenor Saxophone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Horn - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass - Charlie Loper, Trombone - Nick Brown, Guitar - Nick Ceroli, Drums - Teena Marie, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Paul Hines, Drums - J. Bokowski Jr., Piano
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Riser, Arranger - John Robinson, Drums - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Nathan Watts, Bass - Teena Marie, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Vincent Charles, Drums
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Riser, Conductor - Abraham Laboriel, Bass - Chuck Findley, Horn, Trumpet - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Gary Herbig, Tenor Saxophone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Horn, Trumpet - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass, Contrabassoon - Charlie Loper, Trombone - Nick Brown, Guitar - Nick Ceroli, Drums - Teena Marie, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocal Arranger, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Paul Hines, Drums - J. Bokowski Jr., Piano
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Darryl Phinnessee, Background Vocal - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Chuck Findley, Trumpet - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Dick Hyde, Trombone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Gary Grant, Trumpet - Sabrina Buchanek, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Loper, Trombone - NIKO BOLAS, Assistant Engineer - David Egerton, Assistant Engineer - Barbara Rooney, Assistant Engineer - Teena Marie, Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - James Allen, Background Vocal - Robert Brooks, Recording Engineer - Gary Herbig, Tenor Saxophone - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Recco Philmore, Background Vocal - Maxine Wters-Willard, Background Vocal - Car Johnson, Background Vocal - Carwell Johnson, Assistant Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Allen Mcgrier, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Bass, Synthesizer - Paul Riser, Arranger - Nathan East, Bass - Narada Michael Walden, Drums - Preston Glass, Drums - Jimmy Stewart, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Corrado Rustici, Guitar - Abraham Laboriel, Bass - Dan Huff, Guitar - John Robinson, Drums - Chuck Findley, Horn - Ernie Watts, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Randy Kerber, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - WALTER AFANASIEFF, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer - JAMES GADSON, Drums - David T. Walker, Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - MICHAEL WHITE, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Brian Kilgore, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Nathan Watts, Bass - Dick Hyde, Horn - Gary Herbig, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Steve Ferrone, Drums - David Taylor, Guitar - Gary Grant, Trumpet - John Bokowski, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass - Bobby Brooks, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Charlie Loper, Trombone - Nick Brown, Guitar - Nick Ceroli, Drums - Teena Marie, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Vocal Arranger, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - James Jamerson, Bass - Brenda Lee Eager, Background Vocal, Vocal - Greg Poree, Guitar - Wyman Brown, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Tom McDermott, Guitar - Mickey Hearn, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Radlauer, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal, Vocal - Darren Carmichael, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal, Vocal - Fred Mirza, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer - Paul Hines, Drums - Vincent Charles, Drums - Danny Lemelle, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Carmine Twillie, Background Vocal, Vocal - Nikki Slick, Guitar - John Bokowski Jr., Keyboards
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
T. MARIE, Composer, Lyricist - Teena Marie, Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Todd Cochran, Synthesizer - T. MARIE, Composer - P. J., Composer - Nathan East, Bass - John Robinson, Drums - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Paul Jackson Jr., Guitar - Carmen Twillie, Background Vocal - Sabrina Buchanek, Assistant Engineer - NIKO BOLAS, Assistant Engineer - Marlo Henderson, Guitar - David Egerton, Assistant Engineer - Barbara Rooney, Assistant Engineer - Teena Marie, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Robert Brooks, Recording Engineer - Maxine Waters-Willard, Background Vocal - Keith Alexander, Guitar - Julia Waters-Tillman, Background Vocal - Carwell Johnson, Assistant Engineer - J. Bokowski Jr., Synthesizer - Paulhino de Costa, Percussion
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
A protracted absence from the studio (a one-year release gap in the '80s was equal to a five-year gap in the early 2000s) caused by a notorious legal dispute with Motown did little to stall Teena Marie's momentum. Robbery, Marie's fifth album and first for Epic, didn't perform nearly as well on the pop chart as 1981's It Must Be Magic, but the devout black following remained, which obviously had no problem with Marie's discreet slipping of a little more rock and Latin jazz into her R&B. Epic wisely let their new acquisition do her thing -- it's the first album written completely by Marie, and the gradual development in her sound would pay off tenfold with 1984's crossover hit "Lovergirl." (Meanwhile, Marie's ex label was nurturing D.O.A. projects like Monalisa Young's Knife and High Inergy's Groove Patrol.) So is Robbery merely transitional? Not at all. While directing a rotating cast of support, including but not limited to the Average White Band's Steve Ferrone, go-to Brazilian percussionist Paulinho da Costa, and undervalued keyboard wiz Patrice Rushen, Marie comes up with a set of songs that rivals anything she did for Motown. There's a little bit of everything here. It's varied but focused, however, highlighted by the torrid mid-tempo groove "Midnight Magic," the club hit "Fix It," and a trio of excellent ballads in "Dear Lover," the particularly elegant "Casanova Brown," and one of the finest Minnie Riperton tributes -- whether intentional or not -- in "Shadow Boxing." Though the album contains some of the then up-to-date technology that flawed a lot of other albums released in 1983, Marie knew not to go hog-wild with it.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:15:51
- Main artists: Teena Marie
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic - Legacy
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
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