Superb 2CD set by the late, great Teena Marie, who remains revered as a multi-talented icon in the world of soul music.
Covering almost a decade (1983-1991), the 25 tracks include all of Teena’s chart hits for Epic Records.
Teena gained prominence at Motown working with funk king Rick James, scoring her first major R&B hit in 1979 with ‘I’m A Sucker For Your Love’ followed by the global chartmaker, ‘I Need Your Lovin’’ in 1980.
Disc One,’Work It’ focuses on uptempo grooves and dance floor favourites such as ‘Lovergirl,’ Teena’s 1984
pop breakthrough hit (heard here in a special 12” dance mix) and ‘Jammin’’ and includes a number of rare mixes
such as ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ and ‘Bad Boy,’ a 1989 nonalbum single.
Disc Two, ‘The Once And Future Dream’ includes some of Teena’s most beloved ballads. As a slow jam musical queen, Teena’s mastery is exemplified by her 1988 No. 1 R&B hit, ‘Ooo La La La,’; her soul legend ode, ‘My Dear Mr. Gaye,’ the remarkable ‘Out On A Limb’; and also includes Teena’s 1991 single with Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B. (‘Since Day One’) and an exceptional rarity, the duet ‘Soulmates,’ by the group Q.T. Hush who she produced in 1985. Renowned US author and journalist Rashod Ollison contributed stellar notes to this sumptuous set.