From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1984 studio album by Teena Marie
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.
[4]
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.
"
Lovergirl " – 4:54
"Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party" (Bendrix, Marie) – 5:44
"Out on a Limb" – 6:37
"Alibi" (Marie, Fred Mirza) – 5:23
"Jammin" – 5:52
"Starchild" – 5:35
"We've Got to Stop (Meeting Like This)" (Duet With
Ronnie McNeir ) – 5:07
"My Dear Mr. Gaye" (Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson,
Leon Ware ) – 5:28
"Light" – 1:17
Expanded Edition
"
Lovergirl " (US Single Edit) - 3:59
"Lovergirl" (US Special 12" Dance Mix) - 5:53
"Lovergirl" (US Single - Instrumental) - 6:10
"Jammin'" (Dance Mix - Long Version) - 8:20
"Out on a Limb" (US 12" Single Edit) - 5:31
Personnel
Credits for Starchild adapted from
Allmusic
[5]
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
Studio albums Singles Related articles