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. Following the relative commercial failure of her previous album, Robbery, Starchild became the highest-selling album of Marie's career. It peaked at #9 on the US Black Albums chart and #31 on the Billboard Albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 1, 1985.

The album's success was driven by lead single "Lovergirl" which become a major US hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and her only top 30 hit on that chart. Marie also received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the single at the 27th Grammy Awards-her second nomination in that category.

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.

It was re-released by SoulMusic Records in 2012 as an Expanded Edition, containing 5 mixes as bonus tracks (see track listing below).

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
 * 1) "Lovergirl" (US Single Edit) - 3:59
 * 2) "Lovergirl" (US Special 12" Dance Mix) - 5:53
 * 3) "Lovergirl" (US Single - Instrumental) - 6:10
 * 4) "Jammin'" (Dance Mix - Long Version) - 8:20
 * 5) "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 Tillman Waters – backing vocals
 * Maxine Willard Waters – 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