Following on from the tribute to Teena Marie commemorating the tenth year of her passing, I started to look for cover versions of her songs.
Marsha Ambrosius [2010] - Yes Indeed [Unreleased]
'Yes Indeed' was an album track from 'It Must Be Magic' album from 1981 and was released as the flip to 'It Must Be Magic' single. Marsha Ambrosius performed it at London's Dingwalls on 27th Dec 2010, the day after Teena Maries' death. It was a studio recording which she didn't actually perfom live, she played the recording to the audience to hear as a tribute to Lady Tee, it wasn't scheduled for the performance. As far as I can tell it has never been released, which is a shame as it's a very good version. Marsha Ambrisoia was with Floetry and turned solo in 2011.
Curiosity [1992] - I Need Your Lovin' [Arista #74321 11313 7]
'I Need Your Lovin'' is probably my favourite 'dancer' from her which I distinctly remember getting spins by Colin Curtis at Cassinelli's on release in 1980 taken from her follow up album to Wild And Peaceful', 'Irons In The Fire'.
UK pop act Curiosity Killed The Cat, name was later shortened to just Curiosity, released their version of 'I Need Your Lovin'' in 1992 with a few different mixes released on 12". It reached #47 on UK Pop chart. The single prior to this release was a cover of Johnny Bristol's 'Hang On In There Baby' which got to #3!
Curiosity [1992] - I Need Your Lovin' [Arista #74321 11313 7]
A better 'beefed up' Driza Bone extended mix from the 12".
The Cover Girls [1996] - I Need Your Lovin' [Quality #QALCD-6730]
Here's a decent cover by The Cover Girls from 1996, released as 12" with various mixes and also on their 'Satisy' album. It got a digital only reissue in 2017. This is the album version and some of the 12" remixes are a bit 'dubious'!
Sheena Easton [2001] - Fabulous [Universal #UICO-2010]
Yet another UK cover by Sheen Easton from Glasgow who rose to fame in UK in 1980 after winning a talent show. She collaborated with Prince in the late 80s and there was speculation that they were linked romantically which she has always denied. This track was released only as a bonus track on the Japaneses release of her 2001 album Fabulous which appears to an album full of cover versions and is the last album she has recorded.
Martin 'Mayhem' & Timmi 'Magic' Feat. Elisabeth Troy [2005] - I Need Your Lovin' (Classic Vox Mix) [Soul Purpose #SP 008]
A UK house track from 2005.
Reel People Feat. LaSharVu [2018] - I Need Your Lovin' [Reel People Music #RPMCD006]
Another, more recent and sympathetic, UK cover by Reel People featuring LaShureVu. Taken from their Retroflection album which features cover versions of a dozen dance classics by various featured vocalists.
Here's a great bit of vintage footage of Teena Marie performing on Soul Train in 1980 (the sound has been over dubbed).
Ramsey Lewis Feat. Donica Henderson [1998] - Portuguese Love [GRP #RD-9904]
Now here's a great version of Portuguese Love I first heard from a UK compilation CD 'Spirit Of The Street' released by Jazz FM in 2000. It was taken from Ramsey Lewis' 'Dance Of The Soul' from 1998 and features Donica Henderson on vocals.
Bah Samba [2004] - Portuguese Love (Phil Asher Restless Soul Mix) [BKO #12BK02]
Another UK cover which features Alice Russell on vocals. Even though the sound clip is 9:50 I think it's been cut short as the track listing states it should be 11:23.
Pete Escovedo Feat. Alysha Antonino [2018] - Portuguese Love [Esco]
Percussionist Pete Escovedo and his brother Coke were members of Santana. This track is from his 2018 album 'Back To The Bay' which consists entrely of jazzy cover versions of some classic soul tracks. Three of the tracks feature Sy Smith, an artist I saw perfrom a few years ago in her home town of Washington D.C. at Blues Alley purely by chance whilst I was visiting. She does a great job on 'Let's Stay Together', 'I Can't Help It' and 'Never Too Much'. You can have a listen to the full album here.
Maynard Ferguson [1983] - Portuguese Love [Columbia #FC 37713]
Canadian jazz trumpeter, Maynard Ferguson covered 'Portuguese Love' on his Hollywood album in 1982 which was full of cover versions, and I got interested when I saw Deja Vu on the track list but it's the Dionne Warwick song (which is still a good song) not the Lady Tee classic!
Johnny Gill & Coko [1987] - Fire & Desire [Jive #01241-41610-2]
Released on OST for 'Booty Call' is a cover of Rick James Feat. Teena Marie's deep soul masterpiece 'Fire & Desire' by Johnny Gill & Coko (Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble former lead singer with SWV).
It's a good effort, but for me doesn't have the same impact as the original. The original was initially an album track only on Rick James' 'Street Songs' from 1981, but was released on the B side to 'You Turn Me On' in 1984. Apart from the album, the best way to own in is on UK 12" with the full length album version as it wasn't on the US promo only 12" and the 45 version is a short version. Curiously Teena Marie isn't officalllly credited.
B.E.F. [2013] - Co-Pilot To Pilot [Wall of Sound #WOS120D]
B.E.F. is British Electric Foundation formed by ex Human League, then Heaven17 members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh. Craig Marsh left in 2007 before the release of 'Music Of Quality And Distinction Volume 3 - Dark' from which this cover is taken. Kelly Barnes sang with Heaven 17 standing in for Billie Godfrey.
The song is an obscure Teena Marie recording released only as a 'hidden' bonus track on the 1991 CD reissue of Lady T. It was later released on posthumous compilation First Class Love: Rare Tee.
Here's Teena Marie's version:
Several Hip-Hop / Neo Soul artists have sampled Lady Tee's recordings, here's a few of them:
The Fugees - Fu-Gee-La samples Ooh La La La
Raekwon - Ooh La La La samples Ooh La La La
Mobb Deep (Feat. 50 Cent & Mary J. Bluge) - It's Alright samples Ooh La La La
Niki Minaj & Jadakiss - Firm Biz 08 also samples Square Biz
Ludacris - Child Of The Night samples Portuguese Love
Pastor Troy - Licence To Kill samples Out On A Limb
Jadakiss Feat. Ne-Yo - By My Side samples I Need Your Lovin'
Snoop Dogg Feat. Charlie Wilson - Peaches N Cream samples I Need Your Lovin'
MF DOOM - Operation: Greenbacks samples I Need Your Lovin'
Anthony Hamilton feat. Rick James - Back Together samples Fire And Desire
Joke - Diamant & Cigarios samples Fire And Desire
Tru - Photo Book - samples DeJa Vu
DJ Aakmael - Just a Track 5 sampled Casanova Brown
Borvoe McMidnite - Initiate Accumulating samples Yes Indeed
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