(Oct. 21, 2002) LOS ANGELES -- BUSINESS WIRE) -- These days, Teena Marie is getting her props from Dr. Dre to MC Lyte, Lenny Kravitz to Bahamadia. A pioneering woman of soul who writes and produces her songs, Lady Tee's influence has also been acknowledged with tributes by the Fugees and Soul II Soul. Now her best-loved album, It Must Be Magic, her last for Motown and her first to be gold certified, has been remastered, expanded and reissued in the Motown Classic Albums series.

It Must Be Magic -- Expanded (Motown/UME), released November 12, 2002, revisits the Grammy-nominated 1981 album that hit #2 on Billboard's Soul chart and remained there for an impressive eight weeks. The bonus tracks are the epic live medley of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll Be Free" and "Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)," recorded that summer at a special concert marking the release of her album as well as headliner James's Street Songs, another Motown Classic Album. Also included is the never-on-CD instrumental track for "Square Biz," which had been issued as the B-side of the song's 12-inch single back in the day. All of the selections for It Must Be Magic were digitally remastered from the original half-inch analog masters. The live tracks were mixed from the 24-track live remote reels.

James discovered Teena Marie and took her under his wing, including producing her debut album in 1979, three years after she signed with Motown. But Teena would take over the producing duties with her third album. Her fourth was It Must Be Magic.

The album featured vocal backup by labelmates The Temptations and Rick James. It was led by the single "Square Biz," a Top 5 R&B smash that became Teena's biggest hit to that date. Melvin Franklin, the Temptations' renowned bass singer, appeared on the album's title track -- a Top 30 R&B hit inspired by The Marvelettes' 1967 hit "My Baby Must Be A Magician" -- "The Ballad Of Cradle Rob And Me," a writing collaboration with future Prince protege Jill Jones, and "365," musically a tribute to the Muscle Shoals soul of Aretha Franklin.

A wonderfully diverse album, It Must Be Magic also found Teena traveling further afield. "Portuguese Love" became a huge `Quiet Storm' hit with its rhapsodic Latin jazz odyssey and pillow talk from Teena and Rick (whose Punk Funk Horns are heard throughout the album). The Beatles' Liverpool was locale of the power ballad "Where's California" and she penned "Revolution" after the murder of her favorite Beatle, John Lennon. The meditative "Opus III (Does Anybody Care)" has a classical vibe while the album's closer, "Yes Indeed," with keyboards by Patrice Rushen, showcases Teena's heartwrenching soul singing.

Teena Marie then left Motown and scored further successes. A new album from her is expected soon -- and the magic will surely continue.


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Source: Mercury/UME

Like I've said time and time again, the song "Yes Indeed" from this album is THE SHIT!!! I LOVE this song, and I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who has not heard this song to look for it and listen to it. It'll take you off to "la la" land quickly, and I'm so surprised that this song is so underlooked and underappreciated! Can't wait for this re-issue, by the way!!

Fuck CDNOW they force me 2 deal with Amazon which is something I don't want to do

Harlepolis said:

Why? What's wrong with CDNow?

alexnvrmnd said:

They don't have it.

Yeow! Can't wait to get my mitts on this one! Love what CD has done with these 24 bit digital remasters. Music from back in the day is sounding better now than it did back then!

Peace,
P-Dogz

Yow is right--I was gonna really say that on my own! Teena! Its 1981 summer all over again...swimming everyday in a pool with nothing to do but be a kid and Teena blastin on the radio...flashback whos that? And now shes gonna put Someday We'll All Be Free...shiiit! This gives me a hard on!?

this is gonna be a Blast.Lady T. is long overdue for Major Props IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

True dat. Teena is my all-time favorite female artist. "Young Love" and her duet with Rick "Happy" are my two favorite cuts. Ooh I just can't wait. Thanks Mistermaxx for the info.

That thanks was supposed to go to Harlepolis

SweeTea said:

Its about time someon gave props to Happy and forgot that damned Fire and Desire!! Happy is the shit! You go to my headdd

rdhull said:

Yes lawd. Teena is the shit. I just can't understand why it's taken so long for her props. But she's always in concert in Chicago and has a hardcore fan base there. It would really be nice to see her at the celebration next year. That would be one kickass concert, Prince & Teena on the same stage!!

rdhull said:

I dig "Happy" as well alot.I Remember when RIck Performed it on Piano Solo on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show.

GREAT NEWS!!! I can't wait to get my hands on this re-mastered CD!! 'It Must Be Magic' is my favorite Teena Marie album."Portugese Love" and "Square Biz" are the highlights,imo.Teena is simply incredible!!!

You're gonna be hearing alot from Teena Marie real soon.She has a new CD due real soon on Cash Money Records and in spring 2003,she begins a reunion tour with Rick James.Can't wait!!

alexnvrmnd said:

OH YES...

The whole album is great. My fave Teena joints:

You Make Love Like Springtime
Have My Cake & Eat it Too
Tune in Tomorrow
Yes Indeed
I Need Your Lovin'
I'm Just a Sucker For Your Love
Portuguese Love
365

Here are my favorite Teena Marie jams...


***"Behind The Groove"(1980)---that swaggering groove kicks ass!!

***"Square Biz"(1981)---one of the essential jams from the summer of '81,also one of the first songs where a woman was rapping.

***"Portugese Love"(1981)---"I ain't gonna let you go that easy,you got to say you love me too...I ain't gonna let you go that easy,I'm gonna give it all to you"

***"Stop The World"(1983)---one of her best ballads,taken from the 'Robbery' album.

***"Out On A Limb"(1984)---Oh man,Teena really sings her ass off on this heartfelt number!! It's a moody,hypnotic slow jam that just GRABS you!!

***"Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)"(1979)---Written by Rick James,this is another kickass ballad with Teena's soaring vocals.

***"I Need Your Lovin"(1980)---A breezy,catchy groove with the memorable hook "Cause M-O-N-E-Y never did a thing for L-O-V-I-N" (in 1980,you know you were walking around singing that all the time...lol).

DavidEye said:

I dig all those plus"Casonova Brown","We gotta stop Meeting like this","If I were a Bell"."Deja Vu(I've Been Here Before" I heard a Version Rick did in Concert that was Cool.Rick doesn't get enough Props as a Composer IMHO.Classic Jam.

Several years ago,Teena recorded an inspired remake of the Rose Royce hit "Wishing On A Star",which appeared on the 'New York Undercover' TV show soundtrack.

Don't forget about:

Dear Lover
Midnight Magnet

Dont forget about:
You So Heavy
My Dear Mr Gaye

rdhull said:

I feel like SLAPED so hard on my face whenever I hear this jam.

Harlepolis said:

Translation some body! please!

PFunkjazz said:

The song knocks her for a doo-loop.

DavidEye said:

Stop The World is certainly an underappreciated ballad, but don't forget Shadow Boxing!!! This slow jam has it ALL, but I certainly co-sign with your post too.

Also, don't forget to check out, for you NEW Lady T fans, Cupid Is A Real Straight Shooter and How Can You Resist It from the Ivory album!!! Two pure classics that don't get their due!

alexnvrmnd said:

"Yes Indeed" is a kickass song,and I also love "365",which should have been a single,imo.Can't wait for the reissue,which comes out this Tuesday!!

Teena did sing with him once while P was touring with Rick. In the 1970's. Rick has a hug ego. He began questioning someones's sexualllity. And it didn't help that Rick's mother developed an obsession with him. Rick stop denying you dated Teena. Who Teena loved her some Rick I still don't get it but she did.

Who can forget "Fire and Desire" lord, that was sexy..

Lady T...oh yes, side by side the purple one in my book.
Since P dont do autographs, I had Teena sign my Prince hat :mrGreen:

DeJa Vu...How can U resist it...
shadow boxing...Your so Heavy...Teena Live is an incrediable experience...much so as is Prince.
Seeing her live is seeing just how much she enjoys singing her heart out, and her love for her fans.

I wish my Teena collection was at least half of my Prince collection...I have all her cds and it just fills up a lil over half of one lil section of my cd rack
Cant wait for her Black Rain CD to come out...I been waiting for bout 3 years now?

wouldnt it b a dream come true if Prince would have HER at a celebration
I would join a life time membership of the NPG music club
to have that one experience.
I wonder how Prince feels about her...other than his and Ricks weird past relationship.
When I asked Teena to sign my Prince hat...he just looked at me, no expression on her face for me to even begin to attempt to read her...she just looked at me, I handed her the hat and she signed "Lady T"...then we had small talk bout her new CD Black Rain...that was at least 2 years ago...saw her this year with the Gap band.
The left side of the speakers blew...but Teena continued on, with full passion as always...luckily we were close enough to hear her without the speakers.
Her hard core fans are pretty wild too...lol...it was very cute the way they acted with her and she with them.

i was cookin dinner...and listening to Teena (as inspired to do so from this post topic) and i was thinking about my initial post. I had stated that I would join NPGMC for a life time just to see Teena with Prince on the same stage sharing each others passion for music together...then I started thinking...well dayum, I had 7 nites of Prince doing his thang to the upmost fullest...and yet still people complain.
You know, the ones whom r complaining must NOT have gone to the celebration. Because I am completly satisified with the membership due to his performance at the celebration.
Words cannot even describe that experience. Now that everyone has had a chance to experience the one nite alone tour...take that show and 10 times fold it or more.
Prince performing a different show for 6 nites...incredible shows...shows that left u just sittin in ur seats, or standing somenites...just in full awe...Prince out did himself 100xs more from the celebration shows alone...
those who were there...cannot take that week for granted, how could u?

Shadow Boxing is one of my favorite songs.