Teena Marie LOVE SONGS

Personnel includes: Teena Marie (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming); Rick James (vocals); Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar); Danny Lemelle, Ernie Watts (saxophone).
Producers: Teena Marie, Rick James.
Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, Teena Marie.
Includes liner notes by Amy Linde.
Personnel: Teena Marie (vocals).
Photographer: Lynn Goldsmith.
Too many significant ballads and midtempo numbers are left off for this to be definitive, but like any Teena Marie collection it's more than worthy. One day someone will put every great ballad Teena recorded on one CD, but until then, Love Songs and other compilations will have to do. Gut-wrenching lamentations like "Casanova Brown," "Dear Lover," and "My Dear Mr. Gaye" will keep your ears perked up and your heart in pain. If "Fire and Desire" isn't the most soulful duet ever recorded then what is? Teena and Rick James wring every drop of emotional from the epic, dramatic ballad that includes spoken dialogue from each, and some of the most harrowing wails ever recorded. Love Songs is heavy on Teena's CBS sides, and contains "Cupid Is a Real Straight Shooter," "If I Were a Bell," "We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This," and other masterful performances by the one and only Lady T. ~ Andrew Hamilton

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B