Customer Reviews

Wild & Peaceful

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best debut albums by an artist. This is a classic piece of music and I don't understand why Motown is dragging it's feet on re-mastering it and getting it out to the masses. I have the vinyl album and tape but unfortunately not the cd. PLEASE GET WITH THE PROGRAM MOTOWN!! Teena has a large legion of fans who support her and would love to own this disc.

Review of songs:

Sucker for Love: infectious duet with Rick James; funky dance track 10/10

Turnin Me On: catchy love song 10/10

Don't Look Back: I never really dug this song after all these years so I can't honestly rate it

DeJa Vu: one of her best ballads, her voice builds to a crescendo as she hits those impossibly high long notes 10/10

I'm Gonna Have My Cake & Eat It Too: great jazz influenced ballad 10/10

I Can't Love Anymore: one of my personal favs, this is a beautiful ballad that also builds to a great ending making full use of Teena's beautiful voice 10/10

**EDITED 11/04/05 - calling all Teena Marie lovers!!! Go to the Hip-O Select website, they are reissuing this disc on 11/18/05!!!The site also states that they will subsequently release 3 other earlier releases from Lady T. I've reserved mine, you better get yours while they last!!!

Teena Marie really shines in her debut 1979 album. From the t song to the last, Teena really gives us a reason to call her Lady T. All of these songs were worthy of single release, and it shouldn;t really have matter that she was either white of black. This album proves that Teena Marie is colorless when it comes to delivering great music.

This is the first release from what I would consider the greatest female r&b singer of the last 30 years. White or black fans can attest to Teena Marie being one of the most influential singers of our or any other time. Listen to Alicia Keys and you can see that and so much more.
This cd is from Hip-O-Select and is a expanded version of Teena's first Gordy issue lp Wild And Peaceful and is produced by Rick James and Art Stewart. This booklet is very informative in that you get a deeper background of who and what made this album . First of the fact that Motown would not allow Rick James to produce a full Diana Ross cd is nonsense to begin with. This Rick James album would have been the album that if done would have taken the place of Diana's The Boss album (which considering how amazing that is in the first place sort of makes sense) but still A RICK JAMES produced album still sounds amazing to me. And that is where Teena comes in. From having "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" turned down as a Ms. Ross record it now became her first Top 10 Black Single and started a career of over 27 years now.
The hits off this album were "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" number 8 Black and "Don't Look Back" which hit number 91 black. As with all of Teena's albums someone at her labels have NO clue as to what should be issued as singles. As great as "I'm A Sucker" is the B-Side is the even more amazing track "Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)" and the b-side to "Don't Look Back" was the even better jazz track "I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too)" which is the only Teena written track on the lp. How could Motown not issue "I Can't Love Anymore" as a track. The No clue from labels in what to issue still continues from her new label Cash Money and the fact that they never issued the superior track "My Body's Hungry" off La Dona .
The full 6 track original album runs about 40 minutes long and is worth your time to own this cd. I originally had it solely as a cassette and finally an affordable cd is available. The BONUS tracks are the Instrumental version of "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" , "You Got The Love" a Rick James left over track that was supposed to be issued on a 1983 lp of the same name as then Teena had moved to Epic records. The final track is a early version of "Fire And Desire" in a cover of "Every Little Bit Hurts" with Teena as the main singer and Rick pleading for love on this version. There was an earlier version of this track on her 1994 Motown hits collection I Need Your Loving.
If the Grammy people had a clue to talent in 1979 the diversity of this 6 track original lp would have given her the Grammy for best new artist . This is hopefully the start of Universal putting out her original lps in remastered and expanded form. Lady T better be next!!! A++++ from start to finish.

This wonderful debut is packed full of talent and emotion. Thank God this has been remastered and now has 3 bonus tracks:
The 12" Instrumental of "I'm Just A Sucker For Your Love", a W & P session outtake called "You Got The Love" (which sounds very similiar to Rick James' "You & I"), and a second W & P session outtake called "Every Little Bits Hurts" (the old Brenda Holloway Motown hit). This version on this remastered cd has Rick James on the end, as a spoken outro. Be sure to get the cd- "I Need Your Lovin': The Best Of Teena Marie" because it has 2 tracks on it that every Teena fan will want for their collection: 1. A demo she recorded before meeting up with Rick James, called "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" (which was written by Teena herself), and 2. "Every Little Bit Hurts" this version does not have Rick James on the end talking. I just love this debut and now that a person doesn't have to spend up to $300 on ebay to get the original cd release, this makes it all worth waiting for. Her next remastered/expanded release will be "Lady T", and a third album of unreleased material- both coming in 2006, so wait for them because she would want you to. God Bless Miss Teena Marie, one of the most important white female singers in music history. This Diva has no competition, and dare I say it.... even Barbra Streisand can't outsing this Lil Vanilla Child.

I agree wtih the last reviewer. Motown needs to get with the program and stop lollygagging around. Please release this CD 2004!

I think this is a great album. And I know it was torture for Motown not to put her picture on the album cover, considering it was her first work. She turned out to be a great artist, and she is still going strong. My favorite song off of this album has to be "Turnin' Me On". I've liked that song since I first heard it like years ago. The only thing is that I don't own this album. I cannot find it ANYWHERE!!!! Amazon has the be the first retailer I've seen that actually has it in stock. Overall, this is a great album, and a good recommendation for Lady Tee fans everywhere.

This cd is a classic and it is one of the many best from Teena Marie it was so hard for me to find it and i am glad that i did

Don't waste your time on price-gouging resellers or waiting for a general re-release, the Hip-O Select division of Universal Music has a limited edition expanded and remastered version available now at their website.

"Wild and Peaceful" was Teena Marie's first studio album and collaboration with Rick James released in 1979.

The pair team up on the irressistible "I'm A Sucker For Your Love", where James gives her the introduction "Give it up for Lady T". The song immediately conjures up images of limousines and cocaine and Studio 54 circa 1980. It's exaggerated baby-doll backup vocals are campy and fun and even if the rest of this album was garbage, it would still be worth getting for this song alone.

The laid-back "Turnin' Me On" coasts smoothly on a simple guitar hook.

"Don't Look Back" is more pop-funk than "Sucker" but just as catchy and Teena really tears into this song with her vocals more raw here.

"Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)" is the big showstopper ballad of this album. Here Teena sings of racial harmony and spirituality ("Rainbow colored people, happy as can be") backed by a subtle saxophone that's so far back in the mix so as not to overpower the vocals. It's undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, heart-lifting things she ever recorded. A gorgeous harp and celestial backing vocals close the song.

"I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too)" won't appeal to you if you don't like jazzy piano standards, otherwise it's proof-positive of Teena's versatility.

The production and backing vocals of "Can't Love Anymore" reminds me of the big, grandiose ballads Vikki Carr and Petula Clark were making a decade or so earlier.

The short track listing makes this look like an EP but all the songs are around the six or seven-minute mark in length.

Overall, a very impressive debut for Lady T!

Length:: 1:53 Mins