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
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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b Darling, Cary (January 21, 1991). "R&B singer Teena Marie rejects the idea of herself as pioneer". Orange County Register. p. F1.
  2. ^ a b Britt, Bruce (January 25, 1991). "Teena dancer". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L3.
  3. ^ a b c May, Mitchell (27 Dec 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  4. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Johnson, Kevin C. (November 2, 1990). "Teena Marie Finds Her Roots Again". USA Today.
  7. ^ a b 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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