Starchild (Teena Marie album)

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.[3]

Starchild
Studio album by
Teena Marie
ReleasedNovember 11, 1984
Recorded1983–84
Studio
Genre
Length45:36
LabelEpic
ProducerTeena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
Robbery
(1983)		 Starchild
(1984)		 Emerald City
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB[2]

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[4]

  • Teena Marie – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 6), pianos, synthesizers, guitars, drums, drum machine programming, percussion, arrangements, rhythm and vocal arrangements, synthesizer arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 6), string arrangements (7)
  • Walter Afanasieff – synthesizers
  • Wyman Brown – synthesizers
  • Darren Carmichael – synthesizers
  • Randy Kerber – acoustic piano, synthesizers, rhythm and synthesizer arrangements (6), string arrangements (7)
  • Fred Mirza – synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements (1, 4), rhythm arrangements (4)
  • Dan Radlauer – synthesizers
  • Preston Glass – guitars
  • Dann Huff – guitars
  • Tom McDermott – guitars
  • Corrado Rustici – guitars
  • David Taylor – guitars
  • David T. Walker – guitars
  • Nathan East – bass
  • James Jamerson, Jr. – bass
  • Allen McGrier –bass, male lead vocals (2), drum machine programming (6)
  • James Gadson – drums
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums, rhythm arrangements (3)
  • Michael White – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Ernie Watts – saxophone solo (8)
  • Gene Page – string conductor (7, 8), string arrangements (8)
  • Harry Bluestone – concertmaster (7, 8)
  • Billy Griffin – backing vocals
  • Mickey Hearn – backing vocals
  • Penny "PJ" Johnson – backing vocals, vocal arrangements (8)
  • Yvette Marine – backing vocals
  • Leon Ware – backing vocals
  • Julia Tillman Waters – backing vocals
  • Maxine Willard Waters – backing vocals
  • Ronnie McNeir – male lead vocals (7)

Production
  • Larkin Arnold – executive producer
  • Teena Marie – producer, cover concept
  • Bobby Brooks – engineer (1, 2, 4-9), mixing
  • David Frazier – engineer (3)
  • Rick Butz – assistant engineer
  • Elmer Flores – assistant engineer
  • Deni King – assistant engineer
  • Richard McKernan – assistant engineer
  • Magic Moreno – assistant engineer
  • Gary Wagner – assistant engineer
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
  • P.J. – production coordinator, cover concept
  • Tony Lane – art direction
  • Nancy Donald – art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – photography
  • Tim Wild – airbrushing
  • Renny Roberts – back cover illustration
  • The Michael Gardner Company – management

Singles
  • "Lovergirl" #4 US Pop Singles/ #9 US Black Singles
  • "Jammin'" #81 US Pop Singles/ #45 US Black Singles
  • "Out on a Limb" #56 US Black Singles

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


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