Ivory (Teena Marie album)

Ivory is the ninth album by the American singer-songwriter Teena Marie, released on July 17, 1990. It was her last album for Epic Records.[4] Marie supported the album with a North American tour.[1]

Ivory
Studio album by
Teena Marie
ReleasedJuly 17, 1990
Recorded1990
Genre
Length69:42
LabelEpic
ProducerTeena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
Naked to the World
(1988)		 Ivory
(1990)		 Passion Play
(1994)
Singles from Ivory
  1. "Here's Looking At You"
    Released: July 13, 1990
  2. "If I Were A Bell"
    Released: October 16, 1990
  3. "Just Us Two"
    Released: January 19, 1991
  4. "Since Day One"
    Released: July 19, 1991

The album reached No. 27 on the US Black Albums chart and No. 132 on the Billboard 200 (her lowest-placing album on both charts up to that date). Two singles from the album, "If I Were a Bell" and "Here's Looking at You", performed respectably on the Black Singles chart, peaking at No. 8 and No. 11 respectively. "Since Day One" reached No. 69 in the UK, Marie's highest charting single in that country since "I Need Your Lovin'" ten years previously.

Production

The album was produced primarily by Marie; she considered it to have a rawer sound than previous albums.[5][6] "Since Day One" was produced by Jazzie B of Soul II Soul.[7] Marie and Michael Bivins rapped on "Here's Looking at You".[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Chicago Tribune[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[4]

The Los Angeles Times noted that "longtime fans should find the title cut inviting—it resembles one of those I-am-womanhood-personified poems that Nikki Giovanni used to write back in the early '70s."[9] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "the ballads ... are crushed beneath the weight of Marie's tedious new age philosophizing."[3] The Los Angeles Daily News deemed Ivory "another singular collection of soul ballads and rhythmic dance numbers."[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Teena Marie, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Here's Looking at You"Teena Marie6:15
2."The Sugar Shack Prelude"Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson1:06
3."The Sugar Shack"Marie, James Stewart5:48
4."If I Were a Bell"Marie6:41
5."Just Us Two"Marie, James Reese6:08
6."Mr. Icecream"Marie6:06
7."Ivory (A Tone Poem)"Marie1:21
8."Snap Your Fingers"Marie, James Allen5:07
9."Cupid Is a Real Straight Shooter"Marie5:46
10."How Can You Resist It"Marie, Johnson5:29
11."Since Day One"Jazzie B, Marie, Michael J McEvoy6:44
12."Miracles Need Wings to Fly"Marie5:12
13."The Red Zone"Marie7:59
Total length:69:42

Charts

References
  1. Darling, Cary (January 21, 1991). "R&B singer Teena Marie rejects the idea of herself as pioneer". Orange County Register. p. F1.
  2. Britt, Bruce (January 25, 1991). "Teena dancer". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L3.
  3. May, Mitchell (27 Dec 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  4. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 240–241.
  5. Summers, Gerrie E. (Nov 3, 1990). "Teena Marie Carves Hit from 'Ivory'". Billboard. 102 (44): 31.
  6. Johnson, Kevin C. (November 2, 1990). "Teena Marie Finds Her Roots Again". USA Today.
  7. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 695–696.
  8. "Ivory Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. Johnson, Connie (28 Oct 1990). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 74.
  10. "Teena Marie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  11. "Teena Marie Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
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