Emerald City (Teena Marie album)

Emerald City
Studio album by Teena Marie
Released	July 22, 1986
Recorded	1985–1986
Genre	Rock[1] R&B[1] funk[1]
Length	43:03
Label	Epic/CBS Records FE 40318
Producer	Teena Marie
Teena Marie chronology
Starchild (1984) Emerald City (1986) Naked to the World (1988)

Emerald City is the seventh album by Teena Marie, released on July 22, 1986. It is a stylistic departure for her, with strong blues and rock influences favored over her established soul/funk style, and is a concept album. This proved puzzling for fans and critics, and the album sold poorly, peaking at number 20 on the US Black Albums chart and number 81 on the Billboard Albums chart.

Two singles, "Lips to Find You" and "Love Me Down Easy", were released. They reached #28 and #76 respectively on the Black Singles chart, but neither charted on the Billboard Hot 100. However, "Shangri-La", while it never became a single or charted anywhere, became a staple of Quiet storm programming blocks on adult R&B radio.

Stevie Ray Vaughan composed and performed the guitar solo on "You So Heavy", Bootsy Collins provided vocals on the title album track, and Stanley Clarke played bass on "Sunny Skies".

In his 1991 book Stairway to Hell: The 500 Best Heavy Metal Albums in the Universe, rock critic Chuck Eddy put Emerald City in the ninth spot; it is the lone entry in the book that does not fit traditional categories of heavy metal.

The album was reissued by SoulMusic Records in 2012, with five bonus tracks.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie, except where noted.

1. "Emerald City" - 4:10
2. "Once Is Not Enough" - 5:47
3. "Lips to Find You" (Bendrix, Marie) - 5:11
4. "You So Heavy" (Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson) - 5:07
5. "Shangri-La" (Marie, Johnson) - 5:04
6. "Batucada Suite" - 5:06
7. "Love Me Down Easy" - 5:24
8. "Sunny Skies" - 7:14

Bonus tracks - 2012 SoulMusic reissue

1. "Lips To Find You" (US instrumental) - Expanded Edition
2. "Love Me Down Easy" (US 12-inch single) - Expanded Edition
3. "Love Me Down Easy" (US instrumental 12-inch single) - Expanded Edition
4. "14K" (track from "The Goonies" soundtrack) - Expanded Edition
5. "Lead Me On" (from the "Top Gun" soundtrack) - Expanded Edition

References

1. Deggans, Eric (January 1, 1998). "Teena Marie". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 374–375.
2. Bernstein, Jonathan (1995). "Teena Marie". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 240–241. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.