Starchild (Teena Marie album)

Starchild is the sixth studio album by American R&B singer Teena Marie, released on November 11, 1984, by Epic Records. This album peaked at No. 9 on the US Billboard Top Black Albums chart and No. 31 on the US Billboard 200. Starchild was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Background

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. Starchild was eventually re-released, with five bonus tracks, in 2012 by SoulMusic Records.

Critical reception

Ken Tucker of the Philadelphia Inquirer hailed the album saying, "Teena Marie's version of white rhythm and blues has become so extremely stylized that she has become dance-rock's foremost mannerist. On her new album Starchild...Teena Marie wails, gulps and overemotes so dramatically that her exertions take on a great fascination."

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie, except where noted.

1. "Lovergirl" – 4:54
2. "Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party" (Bendrix, Marie) – 5:44
3. "Out on a Limb" – 6:37
4. "Alibi" (Marie, Fred Mirza) – 5:23
5. "Jammin" – 5:52
6. "Starchild" – 5:35
7. "We've Got to Stop (Meeting Like This)" (duet with Ronnie McNeir) – 5:07
8. "My Dear Mr. Gaye" (Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson, Leon Ware) – 5:28
9. "Light" – 1:17

Expanded Edition

10. "Lovergirl" (US Single Edit) – 3:59
11. "Lovergirl" (US Special 12" Dance Mix) – 5:53
12. "Lovergirl" (US Single - Instrumental) – 6:10
13. "Jammin'" (Dance Mix - Long Version) – 8:20
14. "Out on a Limb" (US 12" Single Edit) – 5:31

Personnel

Credits for Starchild adapted from Allmusic

• 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 Waters Tillman – backing vocals
• Maxine Waters Willard – 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