Robbery (album)

Robbery
Studio album by Teena Marie
Released	September 18, 1983
Recorded	1982-83
Genre	R&B soul funk
Length	49:18 (Original release) 69:18 (Expanded edition)
Label	Epic
Producer	Teena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
It Must Be Magic (1981) Robbery (1983) Starchild (1984)

Robbery is the fifth album by Teena Marie, released in 1983. It is her first album for Epic Records, following her acrimonious departure from Motown the previous year. The album was written and produced by Marie herself and features contributions from Patrice Rushen, Paulinho da Costa, and Steve Ferrone among others. However, the album did not repeat the success of her last Motown release It Must Be Magic, stalling at #13 on the Black Albums chart and only reaching #119 on the Billboard Albums chart.

In 2012, the album was re-released in a remastered and expanded CD edition containing four additional tracks.

Cassanova Brown

Included on this album is the infamous song, "Cassanova Brown". After meeting Rick James in the 70's and being signed to the same label, James and Marie began a relationship, first professional, progressing (according to Marie) to a romantic one, and finally leading to an engagement. Although James himself denied ever having a romantic involvement with Marie, she said they were engaged for a few weeks. When James' alleged infidelities came to light, Marie realized that she herself was a mistress; James had a girlfriend, Alfie Davidson, who would later substantiate that James and Marie were once an item, while she was his girlfriend. After the breakup, their relationship waned to a tumultuous friendship. The lyrics are very thinly veiled in her contempt for the situation.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie.

1. "Robbery" - 5:23
2. "Playboy" - 5:23
3. "Shadow Boxing" - 6:49
4. "Midnight Magnet" - 6:02
5. "Fix It" - 4:44
6. "Ask Your Momma" - 5:25
7. "Dear Lover" - 5:18
8. "Stop the World" - 4:16
9. "Cassanova Brown" - 5:58
10. "Playboy" (US 12" Remix) - 5:51 (Expanded edition)
11. "Fix It" (US 12" Remix) - 6:30 (Expanded edition)
12. "Fix It" (Instrumental)(US 12" Remix) - 8:16 (Expanded edition)
13. "Midnight Magnet" (US 12" Instrumental) - 6:00 (Expanded edition)

Personnel

Credits for Robbery adapted from Allmusic^[1]

Keith Alexander- guitar James Allen- clapping, background vocals Steven Berkowitz- A&R Harry Bluestone- concert master John A. Bokowski, Jr.- Fender Rhodes, piano, synthesizer Anthony Boyce- background vocals Stacey Boyle- A&R, artist coordination Anthony Allan Brockert- monologue Robert Brooks- engineer, mixing Nick Brown- guitar Nick Ceroli- drums Brian Chin- liner notes Stanley Clarke- upright bass Todd Cochran- synthesizer Paulinho Da Costa- percussion Nathan East- bass, synthesizer bass Charles Fearing- guitar Steve Ferrone- drums Chuck Findley- trumpet Howard Fritzson- art direction Lynn Goldsmith- photography Gary Grant- trumpet Jo Hay- design Mickey Hearn- monologue Marlo Henderson- guitar Gary Herbig- tenor saxophone Paul Hines- drums Jeremy Holiday- A&R, artist coordination Dick Hyde- trombone Anthony Jackson- bass Paul Jackson, Jr.- guitar, soloist Car Johnson- background vocals Abraham Laboriel, Sr.- bass Ricky Lawson- drums Daniel LeMelle- saxophone, soloist

Charles Loper- trombone Teena Marie- arranger, horn arrangements, monologue, rhythm arrangements, string arrangements, synthesizer, synthesizer arrangements, vocal arrangement, background vocals Patti Matheny- A&R, artist coordination Fred Mirza- horn arrangements, string arrangements Joy Gilbert Monfried- project director Eric O'Neal- synthesizer, synthesizer arrangements Joseph M. Palmaccio- mastering Recco Philmore- background vocals Darryl Phinnessee- background vocals Greg Poree- guitar (acoustic) Paul Riser- conductor, horn arrangements, string arrangements, string conductor John "4 Daddman" Robinson- drums, Simmons drums Patrice Rushen- synthesizer Leo Sacks- reissue producer Darren Salmieri- A&R, artist coordination Ron Slenzak- cover photo, photography Dianne Spoto- packaging manager Sweet Baby Note- background vocals Julia Waters Tilman- background vocals Carmen Twillie- background vocals Ernie Watts- alto saxophone Nathan Watts- bass, rhythm arrangements Dwayne Wedlaw- synthesizer arrangements Maxine Willard Waters- background vocals

References

1. http://www.allmusic.com/album/robbery-r782291/credits