Ivory (Teena Marie album)
| Ivory | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 17, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1990 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 69:42 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Teena Marie | |||
| Teena Marie chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Ivory | ||||
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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]
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
[edit]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
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Chicago Tribune | [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[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
[edit]All tracks are written by Teena Marie, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Here's Looking at You" | Teena Marie | 6:15 |
| 2. | "The Sugar Shack Prelude" | Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson | 1:06 |
| 3. | "The Sugar Shack" | Marie, James Stewart | 5:48 |
| 4. | "If I Were a Bell" | Marie | 6:41 |
| 5. | "Just Us Two" | Marie, James Reese | 6:08 |
| 6. | "Mr. Icecream" | Marie | 6:06 |
| 7. | "Ivory (A Tone Poem)" | Marie | 1:21 |
| 8. | "Snap Your Fingers" | Marie, James Allen | 5:07 |
| 9. | "Cupid Is a Real Straight Shooter" | Marie | 5:46 |
| 10. | "How Can You Resist It" | Marie, Johnson | 5:29 |
| 11. | "Since Day One" | Jazzie B, Marie, Michael J McEvoy | 6:44 |
| 12. | "Miracles Need Wings to Fly" | Marie | 5:12 |
| 13. | "The Red Zone" | Marie | 7:59 |
| Total length: | 69:42 | ||
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b Darling, Cary (January 21, 1991). "R&B singer Teena Marie rejects the idea of herself as pioneer". Orange County Register. p. F1.
- ^ a b Britt, Bruce (January 25, 1991). "Teena dancer". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L3.
- ^ a b c May, Mitchell (27 Dec 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
- ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 240–241.
- ^ Summers, Gerrie E. (Nov 3, 1990). "Teena Marie Carves Hit from 'Ivory'". Billboard. 102 (44): 31.
- ^ a b Johnson, Kevin C. (November 2, 1990). "Teena Marie Finds Her Roots Again". USA Today.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 695–696.
- ^ "Ivory Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Connie (28 Oct 1990). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 74.
- ^ "Teena Marie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Teena Marie Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
